Dear Leica friends, Some interresting informations: (1) Be careful with the FUJY VELVIA DX code. Until now I have taken about 30 VELVIA films with my new M7 and had problems with two films. The camera seemed not to read correctly, or did not read at all, the DX code, the film was considered as a 100 ASA. Manual setting is, IMHO, the safest solution. I think there must be a real problem with the FUJY DX codings. I never had the problem with another film. (2) Be sure the speed button of your M7 is correctly screwed and locked (pasted), mine didn't, and I lost it. Best regards Michel

-- michel vandeput (michel.vandeput@ville.namur.be), May 28, 2002

Answers

Well, it is easy to see if there is something wrong with the dx-code on the films, just compare them with a 100 asa film. I use Fuji almost exclusively and the velvia a lot of times and have never had a problem with it.

Most camera's let you check if hte camera has read the dx-code correctly. This is not possible with the M7.

I think the electronics in your camera malfunction and that the problem lies not with the filmcartridges but with your camera. Sorry.

Frank

-- Frank (frank_bunnik@hotmail.com), May 28, 2002.

Thanks Frank for your answer, I forgot to give an information, I am sure it is a problem with the POSITION of the DX coding in front of the readers, because when you turn the rewind button, the position of the film cartidge moves in the camera body and everything becomes OK for a time. Maybe another reason, this problem happened only two times (on the second and third film taken with the new camera), and it could be possible that, on a new camera, the electronic contacts are dirty, so I cleaned them. I don't have the solution, I just hope it is not a more serious problem. Thanks for your experience and best regards from Belgium. Michel

-- michel vandeput (michel.vandeput@ville.namur.be), May 28, 2002.

Dear Michel, you're welcome.

You write that the film cartridge moves a little when turning the rewindknob and that after that, the problem is over. This looks like a problem with the pressure "plates/springs" that keep the cartridge in place. Too much tolerance. I am sure you can have it fixed but maybe it is easier just to set the filmspeed maually.

Good luck from Holland, Frank

-- Frank (frank_bunnik@hotmail.com), May 28, 2002.

I would like to add, just in general, that if I can not check the filmspeed the camera has chosen by using the dx-code, I will never use the automatic filmspeed setting.

-- Frank (frank_bunnik@hotmail.com), May 28, 2002.

The M7 displays the DX value in the viewfinder for two seconds each time the camera is turned on. This will let you see if there is any problem with the DX coding. Please check page 77 of the manual for full details.

-- Mark Rinella (markrinella@earthlink.net), May 28, 2002.

Michael,

My answer was more for Frank than you. Reading your posts again, it appears that you are checking the DX code in the display and that it is flashing 100 which means that it is not reading the cartridge as DX encoded.

How did you clean the contacts? I once had a problem with Contax flash units not working correctly on a new body until I cleaned the hot shoe contacts with a bit of 90% isopropyl alchohol. (Being careful not to allow any excess fluid get in to the camera). For some reason dry wiping just didn't work. After cleaning it worked perfectly.

-- Mark Rinella (markrinella@earthlink.net), May 28, 2002.

Michael and Frank. Mark is correct. When the meter is switched from on to off, the DX coded ISO speed flashes for 2 sec so you can check if the camera has responded properly. If there is no film, the lower red dot flashes continuously. If there is film but the DX code is not readable, the camera defaults to ISO 100 and the lower red dot flashes. Also, I would not automatically assume the camera circuitry is malfunctioning if the DX cannot be read. This has happened on other cameras and there could be a problem with the film.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), May 28, 2002.

Sorry. Should read when the meter is switched from "off to on".

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), May 28, 2002.

Well, I based my opinion on the fact that the m7 does not have an lcd- screen like most other camera's (who show dx setting there). It seemed to me that if the camera shwed it, the owner would know.

Anyway, since I have seen 2 posts now in two days about this problem, it seems that the leica electronics are not that good.

-- Frank (frank_bunnik@hotmail.com), May 29, 2002.