Leica II loose viewfinder mount

[pphuang]

I am now the proud owner of a Leica II :D

What a delightfull little camera! However, I mounted one of my external viewfinders in the accessory shoe and found that it is not very snug. Looking at the shoe closely, I notice that there are no springs to help hold the finder in place.

Is this normal for these cameras? Any tricks to keep it in place? I guess I could put a piece of tape across the back, but you people are pretty resourceful and must have other work-arounds. ;)

Thanks!

[Rob-F]

No springs in mine, either. This model was a little early for that. I just tried the following finders in mine:

CV 25mm: slips in easily, but no wiggle room.

CV 75mm: much too tight.

Zeiss 25/28mm: much too tight.

Leitz 5cm: much too tight.

Leica 24mm: much too tight.

Leitz 28mm: much too tight.

My model II shoe has neat little crimps in it to creat some grip, but there's no spring action. The shoe is very correct looking, not at all mashed down. My guess is, someone has actually used accessories in yours, perhaps habitually, and has loosened it up. Mine obviously has a different history. I think you could have it tapped down a little tighter someday when you are having it serviced. I think DAG, Sherry Krauter, John Maddox, etc. could do this without damaging the looks of the camera.

[pphuang]

Ah yes, I see the crimps. I have a Leitz 5 cm and a CV 28/35 minifinder. The Leitz is very loose, but I find that if a give it an extra push, it seems to "click" into place and then seems to be fine. The minifinder is also very loose, and falls out pretty easily when I turn the camera upside down.

I wonder if I could tap the edges down myself using a thick piece of cloth and a small hammer...

[pphuang]

Well, looks like a piece of paper cut to the appropiate size gives just enough thickness/friction to hold everything snugly. I really didn't relish the idea of taking a hammer to my new toy...;)

Cheap and effective! :D

[payasam]

I was about to suggest the paper solution, Paul.

[pphuang]

As they say, Mukul, great minds think alike! ;)

[Rob-F]

I don't know about using cloth. It wouldn't occur to me. I would use a block of soft wood like pine, and a very small hammer, like a jeweler's hammer.

[pphuang]

Yeah, maybe that would be gentler. But the piece of paper is working very well!!

[payasam]

Tap gently with something soft only if all accessories are loose. Springs in the shoe are probably meant to get around the absence of standardisation.