Leica IIIf RD ST shutter problems?

Hi,

 

Finally I received my Leica IIIF RD ST from KEH. But the shutter sound makes me a bit nervous if the camera is ok.

It seems, that on 1/25 the slow speed mechanism doesn't disengage - the sound is the same as with 1/15 (with a

light "squeezz"). Is it normal?

 

Also the sound of other fast speeds is not as I expected - it's rather loud (not as loud as on my zorkies, but much

louder than on M3) and not pleasant - with a light scraping noise. At the same time, all shutter speeds - fast and

slow, B and T - seems to work fine.

 

I have two assumptions:

1. the slow speed mechanism doesn't disengage when turnin the slow shutter speed to 25;

2. the camera was not used for long period of time (it cosmetically in excellent condition) and it need to be CLA'd.

 

I know, that many will answer to CLA the camera, but its a real problem here in Moscow. Also I don't have

opportunity to send it back to KEH.

 

So, I need help / answers / experience of experienced leica-user.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Georgy

 

P.S.: I'm experienced zorkiy 3 camera user and I have read the manual for IIIf RD, so I know the rules for of such

cameras operation well.

Under any of your scenerios, a CLA will be helpful on a 50+ year-old Leica. Yes, the shutter will be much louder than the M

shutter. Your comment re: slow speed "feel," may or may not reflect a problem with the slow speeds. There are lots of problems

in Moscow I'm told, but try to overcome this one & get a CLA for this wonderful camera you just bought.

My IIIf has the same sound but is actually quite a bit quieter than my M3. Since it sounds like you are stuck with it for a lack of a better term I would run a cheap test roll through in some controlled conditions so you can test all shutter speeds. One roll of film a tripod a good meter and a flat back ground will give you better answers than we can.

I would send it to Oleg Khalyavin, a fellow with an excellent reputation here - on this forum and others. He works on FSU cameras and on Leica's. I believe he is in Moscow or Ukraine.

Thank you, guys!

 

I will try to do CLA. Just I'm very impatient to start shooting with my IIIf and test it simultaneously. Hope, such

shooting won't ruin it before the CLA.

 

The loudness is not really a big problem (of course I was dreaming to receive a very quiet camera :( ). I see the

problem in the sound of 1/25, as I said, the same squeezzz after the exposure, as with 1/15, for which it is normal...

 

So, I understood, that nobody from people answered had the same issue with 1/25 on IIIf.

 

Georgy

I have the same sound with mine. The metel sound you are describing doesn't sound right and as stated above any 50 year old camera should be cla'ed. I think that is even true with us and our beloved Leicas. Four hours to test. Cheap roll of negative $2.00 US, shooting 1 hour with setup, two hours when the dumb processing clerk turns one hour processing into two and and extra for good measure.

What you've described George is a classic over tightened 2nd curtain barrel spring. If it's too tight, it will push through

the slow escapement way too fast. If it's terribly over tightened, continued firing can do curtain & ribbon damage. Get

a qualified CLA tech that has the equipment to balance the 1st & 2nd curtains to factory specs.

Gus, you're frightenning me! But all slow speeds are OK (if to view them with a lens unscrewed) and with normal

sound - could it be with overtightenned 2nd curtain?

 

Doug, I have loaded Tri-X, which was not exposed until the end on my Rollei 35s. This test will be not only for the

Leica, but also for Summitar and Elmar 4/90, which came with it.

 

Could I ask owners of IIIf RDs to listen and describe the sound of 1/25 on their cameras? Should it be just a sound

of a shutter with two distinguishable sounds from 1st and 2nd curtains (like, for example, on zorkies - I don't have

anything else with similar shutter to compare with) or the same but with additional sound of a slow speeds spring (?)

after the 2nd curtain closes.

 

For me it is strange enough to receive not CLAed camera rated to be in EX condition from KEH. Anyway it is a kind

of a lottery.

 

Regards,

 

Georgy

I have a couple f models (BD & RD), and no two sound the same. One IIF you can barely hear the shutter, and one IIIF positively clanks.

It's very loud by comparison. Both were professionally serviced. While acknowledging that a lub job once every decade or so is probably

not a bad idea, I'd run a roll of film through it and see if there is a systematic difference in the shutter speeds. You should be able to look at

the screw heads and see if it has been tampered with or adjusted. Good luck

George, louder sound & faster "slows" describes it classically.

 

You can't just stare in to the open lens mount and read curtain travel times... Exposures can seem alright even

though BOTH curtains have been maladjusted. Some techs turn up the "pressure" (Over tighten) when the slow

speeds begin to get sticky. As I've said in past postings about common repair issues... This is repair 101.