where does your shutter button engage?

where does your shutter button engage?

<p>

mine engages the shutter down level with the button housing.

(ie. the button has to be pressed down so it's flush in order for

the shutter to fire). is this normal?

I think it varies from camera to camera. I was told by Sherry

Krauter that the release point on an M shutter button is adjustable.

<p>

Dennis

A couple of years ago, I had a 1 year old M6 (I purchased new)

that I noticed required deeper and deeper pushing to release the

shutter. This occurred over about a two month period. Finally, I

was having to press as far as I could to get the thing to release.

<p>

Sent back to Leica (actually the dealer did). Two weeks and an

adjustment later, worked just fine. The dealer commented that

this was not uncommon for fairly new Leicas to need such

adjustments.

As I said in a previous thread, I also spoke to Krauter about this

"Point of Release" problem when My camera began hesitating

and the shutter release would sometimes delay as the button

"bottomed out.." She told me that "They Don't make them like

they used to," and it was a very common thing with the M6. She

said it happens most often when the camera is subjected to

violent vibrations, such as (HER EXAMPLE) letting it bounce

around the trunk of a car. She fixed the problem and it hasn't

recurred yet after about two years or so.

By the way, mine was an M6 Classic, built in about 1990, which I

bought used in Pennsylvania.

tom, do you mean that you would have to hold down the button

all the way for a while in order for the shutter to release? that

sounds kinda strange.

<p>

mine engages pretty low but releases right away, once it

reaches a certain point.

<p>

i actually think this makes it a little easier to hold steady while

taking the shot. i think unless it gets worse or breaks, i won't do

anything about it. pehaps adding a softie would help me so that

i'm not having to press it down with my finger tip.

TIM--

<p>

When I had the problem: It was intermittent, but yes, the shutter

would fire as much as a full second after I intended it to. I think it

was intermittent because it depended on my "technique" of

pressing the button---If I SQUEEZED it, it would delay, but if I did

a quick press, it usually fired. This came about gradually...it

wasn't there when I first got the camera.....I think the button was

at the bottom of its adjustable travel range when I sent it out to

Sherry, because I remember at the end, it would go WAY down

before the shutter would trip. I mean it would stop moving

completely.

Tim--

<p>

Flush with the body is about how I remember it. Don't worry

though, it's not a very expensive repair....maybe under a

hundred dollars. If your camera is new, I'm sure the warranty will

cover it.

I recently had the same problem as David and Tom with my M-6

classic, where as the shutter release required a deeper and

deeper reach. Very maddening. Missed some decisive

moments. Finally when my shutter jammed one day, I sent it in

for the old clean and adjust. It came back perfect. The shutter

release on a Leica should be smooth and predictable. Good

luck.

It is a VERY EASY adjustment. See link below:

<p>

<a

href="http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/v20/msg03323.htm

l">

http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/v20/msg03323.html</a>

<p>

My recently purchased M4-2 needed adjustment as well. It only

takes about ten minutes to do if you feel handy with teensy tiny

screws. Be careful on a M6 camera as it is possible to adjust so

the meter is on all the time.

TIM--there are, I guess, a couple of millimeters below the point of

release now...........It's definitely not a hair trigger, but like Ronald

said, it's very predictable, and it matches tthe feel of the other two

M6 bodies I now have.

One other thing here....I beleive, in my own opinion, using a

cable release carelessly may contribute to this ailment. I f you

use one with the camera, do it gently. Does anybody else agree

with this, or am I just LOOPY?

ok, i've followed those directions carefully, but i'm at the point that

i have the camera open and now my shutter doesn't engage at

all. which way am i supposed to move the leaf spring to get the

button to engage the shutter higher?

Tim.....Maybe you should call Sherry at Golden Touch. Her

number is: (845) 496-8834.

<p>

EMAIL: krauter@warwick.net

i know that's the smart thing to do but i'm such an impulsive type.

i just HAD to try it myself first!

<p>

luckily, I got it going ok. i realized that i had to hold the leaf spring

in place while i tightened the screws. sure enough, the shutter

releases higher now.

<p>

i hope i tightened the screws well enough so that it won't move

again...

Go to KMART and get yourself some LOCKTITE to make sure.

<p>

You're on your own now, but I reach where you've just been.

GOOD LUCK!

Good thread which I'm bookmarking - My M4-P, every three months or so,

has developed a habit of the shutter button 'bottoming out', too. When

it eventually fires the actual exposure is about 1/1000th regardless of

the set speed. After about 5-8 frames it starts behaving, so I may at

least LOOK at the bottom spring to see what's up.

<p>

In my case it started after I experimented with adjusting a visoflex -

while getting the trigger arm positioned just right I made several

exposures where I think the Viso was pressing too hard on the shutter

button (Similar to the cable-release theory).

<p>

It's sort of like having a nerve-block applied to your shutter finger -

you WILL the finger to fire the shutter - and nothing happens -

dooohhh!

A <a href="http://greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?

msg_id=007hYQ">similar thread</a> if you're interested.

DO NOT USE LOCKTITE!!! The screws are too small and normal

loctite will mean they will break off the next time. A small dab of

paint or nail polish on the screw head AFTER it is tight will hold it

in place.

<p>

Next time just loosen the screws a little bit and gentle nudge the

flat spring in the right direction.

i'd like to discourage people from attempting this if they really

don't know what they are doing (like me).

<p>

i ended up getting the shutter button to engage higher, but now

all my shutter speeds above 1/50 sec. and the 'B' setting do not

work!

<p>

rather than fiddle any more with it, it looks like the camera is

going to sherry after all...