I have just bought the new M Motor for my almost new M6TTL. I am experiencing a problem.

When the camera is horizontal,ie, drive at the bottom, the drive works fine on both low and high speed. When the camera is vertical and the drive is on its side, the drive will not always work on slow speed. The shutter fires but the drive does not always transport the film. I can remove my finger from the shutter release and while the camera is held vertical the drive does not work. As soon as I move the camera to the horizontal, then the drive takes up.

The problem does not seem to occur on high speed.

I am not holding my finger hard down on the release and preventing the drive from operating. There is simply no action. The agent is unsure if the problem is only the drive or if the camera is the problem (or both). The agent is prepared to fix the problem but I do not like sending my camera away unless it is necessary.

After having paid a substantial amount for these things, I am more than a bit annoyed.

Any suggestions or any other users experiencing difficulties with the new M Motor?

-- Wayne Murphy (wayne.murphy@publicworks.qld.gov.au), April 11, 2001

Answers

I haven't seen any sign of problems with mine, but I can't remember if I've tried it in the configuration that's causing you grief. I'll try slow speed/vertical tonight and post my results.

-- Paul Chefurka (paul_chefurka@pmc-sierra.com), April 11, 2001.

I once had a similar problem with one of my M3, if I put it upside down it wouldnīt fire, it happened once and then it stop happening, never knew what it was, but your posting remembered me of that situation, of course it didnīt have to do with any motor drive but with the body itself.Good luck.

-- R Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), April 11, 2001.

Thanks for the comments. I believe that I have discovered the problem. The battery compartment cover is hinged and the battery contact in the cover has an extended curved strip around the hinge which slides over a fixed contact in the winder body as the cover is closed. The sliding strip is just bent to a position which keeps it constantly pressed against the fixed contact.

Close inspection suggested that there was not sufficient spring tension on the curved strip to keep it tightly in contact with the fixed contact. I carefully lifted the strip to increase the pressure against the fixed contact and hooray, problem seems to be solved. I now cannot duplicate the problem and the winder functions in all positions.

The Leica agent certainly was prepared to fix any problems, and I was not suggesting otherwise. It's just a pain and takes time.

The design of this cover and contact is not too good in my opinion, and I predict that there will be a few more people with the same problem. As an aside, the winders are made in Portugal.

-- Wayne Murphy (wayne.murphy@publicworks.qld.gov.au), April 11, 2001.