New Leica MP - Exposure metering?

drinkingeye · 01-07-2011

hello guys,
just got my Leica MP today - used but looks like new. what a joy

unfortunately it seems I am not able to get exposure metering running - at least no sign of LED lights in the viewer. Have tried already another battery, changed lens and after studying instruction manual still could not find
any explanation.... leica-forum was not very helpful as well. somebody out there with some leica MP experience to give me advice? would be lovely! thanks a lot, cheers, mauro

kzphoto · 01-07-2011

Are you sure the battery has been inserted correctly?
Is the shutter on any setting other than the bulb / off position?
You may need to wind on a frame before it will turn on - My M7 does this.

Rafael · 01-07-2011

Have you advanced the film? The meter only comes on once you have cocked the shutter.

And, just to eliminate the completely obvious, have you turned the shutter speed dial to another setting than B/OFF?

Edit: Ah, beat me to it.

drinkingeye · 01-07-2011

thanks 4 your reply, kz. film loaded, film transport okay, winded, shutter not on bulb/off
position and battery inserted correctly.... and no metering

drinkingeye · 01-07-2011

thanks rafael, everything done as described by you... it seems I will need a service, thanks lord still on warranty. cheers!

kzphoto · 01-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by drinkingeye

thanks 4 your reply, kz. film loaded, film transport okay, winded, shutter not on bulb/off
position and battery inserted correctly.... and no metering

That's all I can think of.... I haven't used an MP so I can't be of more help. Maybe someone else can chime in.

have you checked the contacts on the back of the camera? Pull out your roll of film, and remove the base plate. Lift up the back flap of the camera (the one which holds the pressure plate) and you should see 3 metal contacts. Sometimes these can get dirty or corroded (eek!).

Last idea: Try another ISO setting on the dial on the back of the camera. Maybe it's stuck in a weird position.

Ron (Netherlands) · 01-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by drinkingeye

thanks rafael, everything done as described by you... it seems I will need a service, thanks lord still on warranty. cheers!

try again with a new battery

drinkingeye · 01-07-2011

thanks for yr support. unfortunately no result. running to a leica point of
service tomorrow... what a terrible night it will be

ableforensics · 01-07-2011

I am assuming that once the shutter speed is not on off, a good battery has been installed correctly and the film advanced with shutter cocked, you have pressed the shutter release button down half way to energize the light meter.

Vickko · 01-07-2011

hmmmm. I've had a new MP meter board go bad, one month after its warranty. Pretty much the same symptoms.

Fortunately Leica was forgiving and fixed it under warranty.

Sorry for your misfortune.

Vick

finguanzo · 01-07-2011

Another thing to try, a q-tip, or something like that, clean the metal in the cap, and the contacts inside the camera. Might not look like anything is on it, but this cleared up my meter problems with my M6. Afeter cleaning it, meter came right up.

Vickko · 01-07-2011

Oh, and clean the contacts at the film flap. If they don't contact the ISO dial, it doesn't work.

Vick

sbelyaev · 01-07-2011

Which Leica do you have? mp or mp classic.
Mp classic doesn't have built-in light meter.
Sometimes leicas don't work wit two lr44 batteries. Try DL1/3n battery.

drinkingeye · 01-07-2011

Thanks everybody for the hints. It's dead

going to Leica service today...
sbelyaev, it's a MP (you're right MP classic has no exposure metering and consequently no battery...)i use DL1/3n battery. cheers mauro

drinkingeye · 01-08-2011

yuuuupiej! just back from leica service, It's working again! The problem was the
plastic battery compartment holder. It was a little bit broken (it was not visible for me), thro that the battery could not touch the contacts... Can't wait to shoot
my first film

Thanks again, cheers, mauro

Vickko · 01-08-2011

Wow, do you live down the street from Leica service?

drinkingeye · 01-08-2011

no, but just 7 metro stations appart

sper · 01-08-2011

Are you going to ask them why their $5K camera doesn't work?

If you returned the camera and bought a Bessa you could probably split the difference and afford...one 50mm 1.4 lens from Leica.

Or an entire Zeiss set...and your camera would work!

I work in a camera store. Leica's being dead on delivery is not exactly rare. I've even seen lenses refusing to focus new in the box. I have no idea what they must be doing in that factory but crafting high quality products, they are not.

drinkingeye · 01-08-2011

hi mark, i am not that experienced with leica to argue. my first one was the M9 (bought 1/2 year ago) and I never had any troubles with it. this MP was bought used, but really looks like new. no film used so far, let's wait for the results. I understand you had some bad experience with leica. my biggest disappointment with camera producers was hasselblad - H3DII-camera bought 2008 for $ 17 k was sent 6 times back to service in the first 6 months... just checked your hp: outstanding work! cheers, mauro

John Lawrence · 01-08-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by sper

Are you going to ask them why their $5K camera doesn't work?

I think it would be a little harsh to blame Leica for faults in a used camera.

Presumably the OP doesn't know how the camera has been treated or what has happened to it prior to his purchasing it.

John