R6.2 Focus screen / mirror problem

[ramy_sadek]

Last week my camera bag strap unravelled and my bag fell to the

floor. Everything seemed fine since the bag was heavily padded. I

went to shoot, and after mirror returned, the screen fell out. The

fall had knocked it loose. I put it back (incorrectly it seems). On

the next shot, it fell out again (whoops) and got wedged between the

mirror and the body. In carefully removing the screen, careful not to

hurt the mirror, I cracked off the little tab of the screen.

 

So I ordered two new ones from B&H, one Leica, one Beattie

intenscreen.

 

The Leica, of course, fits perfectly and everything works. I tried

the Beattie. It fits clumsily, but I got it to lock in place. Then I

go to fire....jam. Now the mirror is stuck half closed and the screen

doesn't want to budge. I don't know what's going on. Has this

happened to anyone? Is there some special way to remove the Beattie

since they don't quite fit right? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

-Ramy

[sal dimarco]

It sounds like the Beattie screen either doesn't fit properly or you aren't installing it properly. Also, since you tell us your camera took a fall and you found the screen popped out, it might be advisable to send the camera to a repairman to a check up.

Happy Snaps,

Sal

[jay_.]

I'm with Sal. My personal experience is that Beattie screens have always fit, but the company was bought out a couple years back so I can't vouch for their current QC. In any event, if a couple of sharp slaps of the baseplate against the palm of your hand doesn't jar it free, I would get it to Leica rather than force it and cause more damage. I had a mint R6 a few years back that the shutter dial seized up suddenly, and I gave it a little extra force "to work it free" and something inside snapped. 3 months and $525 later it came back from Leica in perfect shape.

[ramy_sadek]

I managed to remove the beattie by grabbing the tab with some very thin tweezers. The ones on a swiss army knife are thin enough to fit between the body and the top of the tab. I then re-inerted it, and with a cotton glove, gently pushed the back of the screen up into the body. This tiny difference in spacing allows the mirror to operate smoothly now, and all is well.

 

I will send it in to Leica for a checkup, but since I only have one camera, that will have to wait until I get the M I've been saving up for. For what it's worth, everything sounds and feels just fine. Thanks for your help.

 

-Ramy