Do any of you have expierence with the old motor M? I'd really like a motor for my m6 and m4-p but the newer model is out of my price range at the moment, and will be for quite some time. A rapidwinder would be great too, but it is also pretty expensive.

My biq question is if they are reliable. I don't mind if they are noisy, I could always take it off, I just don't want to send it in for repairs all the time. You guys are a great source for info, and any expierences you have would be great to hear.

thanks, john locher

-- john locher (locherjohn@hotmail.com), December 03, 2001

Answers

I had one, sold it to buy a 28mm. No reliability problems with mine. While it does make the body more comfortable to grip it also adds some weight resulting a pretty heavy combination.

-- Bert Keuken (bkkn@wanadoo.nl), December 03, 2001.

Hallo John,

if you decide for a WINDER I recommend to look for the most recent one with the Nr. 14403 (housing and 14402 (batterycompartment). This one is somehow mechanically improved, shows a tripod thread underneath and can be easily ditinguished from earlier productions.

Mine, although seldom used (burn enough film even without a winder) works fine with M4- P and M6.

Best wishes

-- K. G. Wofl (k.g.wolf@web.de), December 03, 2001.

John, I have a Motor M and use it quite a bit. I purchased mine used before the new motor was introduced. It is larger and heavier than the newer unit, but can be purchased for much less and is quite reliable. I especially like to use it with the longer lenses - 75 Summilux and 90 Summicron Apo Asph; it improves balance. I have used other motors on other systems that were much louder than this unit, so I don't find the sound objectionable.

-- David (pagedt@chartertn.net), December 03, 2001.

The M camera was never really meant to have a motorised advance. All mechanical cameras are difficult to motorise as the mechanical shutter mechanism needs to reset itself before it is ready to fire again. At speeds slower than the sync speed, this can cause problems if the motor tries to advance the film before the shutter has completed its cycle. Most of the other manufacturers warned agaist using their motors in continuous at speeds slower than the sync speed. Naturally electronically controlled shutters do not have this problem.

I have had, seen and heard about many problems with the Motor/Winder-M. The motor and camera locking, exposures exhibiting curtain problems and the shutter itself being damaged. My advice to you (advice given to me by a very good Leica tech), is never to use continuous at speeds below 1/50. Completely remove your finger from the shutter button between exposures.

I know people will now post on how they use 1 sec on continuous all the time but I have experienced and heard of too many problems to recommend it.

The Winder-M has another problem in that often they are out of adjustment and noisy. I mean M-16 noisy, They clank like a gun firing at close range. Leica can overhaul them to be quiet again: or, you can do the work your self. Here is a site that shows the basic adjustments:

http://www2.bitstream.net/~campbell/

I bought a used Winder-M4-P and had problems with noise and uneven exposures. I sent it to Leica for an overhaul and it is very quiet now. The technician pleaded with me to always lift my finger off the release when the speeds are below 1/50. I listened and have had no problems since then.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), December 03, 2001.