craig_shearman1 Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 <p>I was (quite luckily) given a Leica M3 double stroke a couple of years ago, and just recently got the adaptor so I plug a standard PC cord into the proprietary Leica X-sync flash contact.<br /><br />After some experimenting, I've found that the flash will only fire when the shutter speed is at 1/50 or higher. When I set it at 1/25 and lower, it will not fire.<br /><br />Since this is a focal plane shutter and presumably doesn't sync any higher than 1/50, this doesn't make any sense. Flash isn't going to cover the whole frame at higher speeds. But being able to use speeds below 1/50 to drag the shutter to pick up ambient fill could be useful.<br /><br />So is this normal on an M3? Or is something wrong with my camera?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert_Lai Posted January 18, 2017 Share Posted January 18, 2017 <p>I presume that you are using the X-flash port and not the M flash port?<br> If you are using the X synch port, then this is incorrect. The flash should fire at 1/50 and all slower speeds.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_shearman1 Posted January 18, 2017 Author Share Posted January 18, 2017 Yes, using the x sync port not the one for flashbulbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 <p>Of course it's not normal. Some 20 years ago, I had the X cable corroded out somewhere on an M3, and I think I may have had the flash go off outside the shutter opening period, but I no longer recall. I had to have the cable replaced. I think the bulb circuit continued to work.<br> Have you shot flash with the back open? You may find there is no light getting through.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craig_shearman1 Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 <p>I should have checked with back open. Just sent the camera off to have the leather replaced yesterday but will check that when it gets back.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knut_schwinzer Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 <p>The flash should fire at any shutter speed, but from 1/60 upwards you would get increasingly wide black areas in your� negs as the second curtain starts its travelling before the first curtain opened completely. AFAIK there is no prevention of firing the flash at higher speeds present in M film cameras.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lazzari Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 <p>Leica M3, M2, M4 and M5 all have 3 separate internal flash contacts. Any of these three contacts can be adjusted, but the <strong>speed dial contact</strong> in the<br> upper body changes it's position as the shutter speed dial is moved.<br> Cleaning all three contacts during a C L A then recalibrating their positions, should solve your issue.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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