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How to unscrew the viewfinder lense (if it's possible ?)


MayaTlab

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Hello,

 

I'd like to know if the original viewfinder lense on the M8 is unscrewable, and if it is, how is it possible to unscrew it without damaging the camera ? I'm asking this question because a particule of dust is squeezed between the body itself and the rubber gasket arround the viewfinder and I'd like to remove it.

 

Thanks !

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The answer is no, not really. The black surround is glued on and the lens is held in place by three screws underneath and I would say it would be quite difficult to avoid damaging it plus glue is difficult to use unless you are using the correct one.

 

Your choices are to live with it, send it to Leica or remove the top yourself which you should only do if you have the right tools and the confidence to do it properly.

 

To remove the top, you'll need a Phillips P000 screwdriver and a long P00 one, 75mm.

 

1. Remove the base, battery and memory card.

2. Use the P000 screwdriver to remove the 5 screws; these are tight and you should press into the screw when first loosening them to stop the head slipping.

3. Remove the plastic plate; look inside the battery compartment and remove the screw nearest the end of the camera using the P00 screwdriver, this screw will come out; you'll need the tweezers to put it back.

4. At the other end, look for the hole in the motor baseplate. Insert the screwdriver and feel for the screwhead; this screw is captive and will not come out.

5. Ground yourself to a water pipe or electrical earth to avoid any static discharge

5. Ease the top off and release the flex-print by lifting the plastic latches and gently pulling it out; avoid touching any electrical contacts.

 

You can then clean up, avoid at all costs getting your finger prints on the inside of the rangefinder windows and the rangefinder components - think about wearing silicone gloves.

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Before you get on the silicone gloves and ground yourself:

 

You might try taking a vibrator to it - Direct contact may dislodge the dust particle... (Don't forget to ask to borrow it first)...

 

Or...

You might sign up for the frame line upgrade!... $400 and you will get the dust removed and a 1 year warranty for the whole camera!...

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You might sign up for the frame line upgrade!... $400 and you will get the dust removed and a 1 year warranty for the whole camera!...

 

Viewfinder upgrade is $800 in US, not $400 btw ... also I'm not sure I'd want to be subjecting my camera to sonic or ultra-sonic vibration directly since this is exactly the type of thing that precision mechanical components hate. I may be paranoid about this but you might end up trading dust specks for shutter failure or worse.

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... You might try taking a vibrator to it - ...

Now there's an insurance claim statement I'd love to see! "I was attempting to remove some dust from the viewfinder of my camera using my girlfriend's ... um ... 'personal health device' when my hand slipped and I cracked the viewfinder glass." :D

 

Pete.

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Viewfinder upgrade is $800 in US, not $400 btw ... also I'm not sure I'd want to be subjecting my camera to sonic or ultra-sonic vibration directly since this is exactly the type of thing that precision mechanical components hate. I may be paranoid about this but you might end up trading dust specks for shutter failure or worse.

 

I was just suggesting a few seconds of exposure to the device... I assumed the M8 could take the stress considering many have taken their M8s to the four corners of the earth in much more stressful enviorments...

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  • 4 years later...

Top cover on my Leica M8.2 became loose in the last days - easy to fix, but only as you when you know how to (the phillips screw in the motor was loose). Thanks for remove instructions Mark - because assembly is always the reverse order, as my classic MG car workshop manual said ;-)

 

Cheers, Andreas

 

PS: There is a sixth screw fixing the plastic cover, below the screen - but this one is really obvious.

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