🔴 Fix Your OWN Leica! (EASY!) | Leica M3 Rangefinder Calibration + M2, M6, M4-P

So Happy!! How to calibrate a Leica M camera, vertical and horizontal adjustment alignment (Easy!)

This video covers adjusting Leica M rangefinder, vertical and horizontal adjustments for Leica M2, Leica M3, Leica M4-P, and also mentions Leica M6 calibration and Leica M240 calibration. Really easy on the cameras I feature with just a small flat head screwdriver. After years of owning and using Leica M film cameras and getting frustrated when the rangefinder patch was knocked out of alignment. I had to send the Leica camera away for months for a Leica repair guy to fix it. Now I can do it myself and it's such a great skill to know as a Leica M shooter. You can too!

**Please note I am not a qualified Leica repairman (not even close)(this was my first attempt) so perhaps I just got lucky. Please consult your repair guy before attempting this.

❕ DISCLAIMER: This description may contain affiliate links. If you purchase an item via clicking a link I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support. Matt

#leica #leicacamera #filmphotography #mrleicacom #leicam

[BrocktonAnderson]

Don't usually comment on videos these days, but appreciate the video. Saved me a completely unnecessary bill and a lot of time.

[AGL]

Nice video Matt. One point:
Be sure to adjust the vertical alignment first. If you do the horizontal first after doing the vertical the horizontal will need to be redone.
2- trial and error for horizontal alignment is suboptimal. In the M2/
M3/M4-2 that I have tried the horizontal adjustment can be done with a lens mounted on the camera. Remove the baseplate and the plate that shows the loading diagram. Beneath it is an easily removable plug blocking an opening through which you can insert a screwdriver and access the roller slot with a lens mounted.

RF adjustment for Barnack cameras and their brethren is even easier…

[peterfarr]

Something to keep in mind is that the focus distance is to the film plane, not to the front of the camera. So when calibrating make sure you set up your ruler to account for the extra distance to the film plane. I couldn't find any specs on this, but I personally measured 25mm from the front of the camera (very close to the back), so I just set some clear printed text (like a box with letters on it) 97.5 cm from the front edge of the camera.

[Phil.Austin]

Another super vid. I fell and landed on my back and camera.... As such i knocked my M9 alignment . Horizontal calibration now great after watching your vid + 2mm Allan key

[raywilson]

All I had to do was *breath* on that vertical alignment screw to get this M3 back happy. Thanks for the video!

[karlwagner]

Another genious VIdeo !! YOU ARE THE REAL DEAL MATTI !! Thank you soooo much !Stay healthy and protected!!

[paulanderson]

I’ve done the horizontal alignment on my m8 and it worked a treat. I focussed to infinity however to calibrate as this was easier than being precise to 0.7m. It would be the same as the M240 and is a 2mm Allen key.

[jlwilliams]

Fine point about the horizontal adjustment: You'll notice (at about 0:33) that it looks as if Matt has filed the tip of his screwdriver on a slight slant — this makes it easier to turn the screw, as you have to reach in through the lens mount at a slight angle and the slanted tip helps the screwdriver engage the slot squarely.

[nicolasfilsdejean]

Hello, Thanks again for a very useful video. Could it be that the "dotless" Leica M cameras (ie: just the flat head screw appearing without the red Leica logo) are named "P" for professional beacause as a pro, you would need to have full and quick access to the horizontal and vertical alignement screws in the field...without waiting for the camera to be sent to a Leica dealer?? Just a thought

[johnnykaldani]

Hello Matt. Just discovered your channel and I like what I see. Cheers!

[RS-Amsterdam]

That M3 looks like new hehehe, great buy !!

[BackFocus]

Excellent! Great to have options since like you said service appointments take soooo long and cost quid. Great video and info Matt. Thanks!

[kevin-parratt-artist]

This is good, thanks Matt. What I struggle with is the binoculars 'goggles' for the DR Summicron. The camera rangefinder is good, but the DR goggles are so far out that they are useless.

[LucyS]

Very informative. Thank you Matt, this was a very useful video.

[klefnf]

Thanks for share a great video, may i ask it's mp (film) same as m3? and speical tools need for adjust vertical alignment need?? thanks

[woopize]

Any tips on how to adjust vertical alignement on barnacks? Specificlly IIIf? The horizontal aligment on mine is ok but vertical is a bit high.

[stephenmoncrieff]

Hi Matt, thanks for the video, think I’ll give it a go! so when you mention checking with a lens at .7m where do you take the measurements from? From the the front of the camera or the curtain? cheers

[genefurio]

Great Video!!! Thank you a lot Matt!!!
Love your Channel👍

[Zetaphotography]

I had asked this in a reddit for my IIIB

[TriggBowlin]

What screwdriver did you use for the horizontal adjustment, I can't seem to find a flathead screw driver that will fit into the screw at that angle. Is the blade of the screwdriver slanted?