Vanishing Framelines - M2

[kemal_mumcu]

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Hi there, I'm including a picture of my current view through my M2. The pictures shows the 90 frame lines and as you can see about half of the lines have disappeared. All the frame lines do the same thing and different lenses don't change the matter.

 

Has anyone else ever suffered from this problem?

 

I imagine it's not a tough thing to fix, I'm tempted to take the top cover off and fish around but then I think twice about it. The funny thing is, when working with the camera, releasing the shutter (sometimes) solves the problem and the frame lines are back with all their glory. 5 minutes later the problem is back. My guess is that vibrations and movement affect the issue.

 

Any experience or ideas.

 

Thanks

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[russell c. greenberg]

Are you putting one of your fingers over the illuminating window or the small rangefinder window? If not, I suggest first cleaning all 3 windows, second sending your camera for a CLA. These cameras(rangefinders) are now approximately 50 years old and are prone to "getting stuck" If you clean the outside windows, move the rangefinder cam with your finger, (watching the frames move ) and the problem still persists, get a CLA for your M2. Hopes this helps. Russell

[Michael Hiles]

My very strong suspicion is that your camera needs a Clean, Lubrication, and Adjustment. Not unreasonable after 50+ years. This would likely also assure that your shutter is accurate and does not also start sticking in the near-ish future.

[thrid]

Sounds like it needs a cleaning. The lubricants appear to be dried up, so something is sticking.

I had the same problem with an M2 I picked up a few years ago.

 

If you are located in the US or Canada send it to Sherry, DAG, Kindermann etc.

 

: :LHSA : : Independent Camera Repair Facilities

[kemal_mumcu]

I had it CLA'd by a well known repair person about 7 months ago after I initially bought it. The camera had a host of other problems that were cleared up by the CLA but this missing frameline issue came up about 2-3 months after I got the camera back. I don't send it back to the repair person because of the high cost of shipping as I live overseas from where I got it serviced. Plus, If I send it back what will I shoot with?

 

It's possible that the frameline issue became a problem because of my own misuse?

 

The camera was a wonder when it came back, it's just this little issue.

[kemal_mumcu]

Are you putting one of your fingers over the illuminating window or the small rangefinder window? If not, I suggest first cleaning all 3 windows, second sending your camera for a CLA. These cameras(rangefinders) are now approximately 50 years old and are prone to "getting stuck" If you clean the outside windows, move the rangefinder cam with your finger, (watching the frames move ) and the problem still persists, get a CLA for your M2. Hopes this helps. Russell

 

Hi Russell, I've already tried that many many times. I've actually been using the camera like this for almost 6 months.

 

It's actually helped me visualize the FOV without having to rely on the framelines.

[thrid]

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It could also be due to a weakening spring that is attached to the frameline selector.

 

I've also noticed that some lens / body combinations I own produce slightly sticky framelines or they don't fully appear. Unmounting and carefully mounting the lens again seems to solve the problem.