Technical data

120
Tips on maintenance of your Leica camera and
lenses
If your Leica is to be stored for a longer period of
time, please remove the batteries and make sure
the camera as well as the accessories are kept in
a dry, well-ventilated place. Photo cases that
have got wet should be emptied, to ensure that
your equipment is not damaged by moisture and
any leather tanning agent residue. To prevent
fungal growth during use in hot and humid tropical
climates, the camera equipment should be ex-
posed to as much sun and ventilation as possible.
Storage in airtight containers is only recommend-
ed if an additional dessicant, such as silica gel, is
used. As any dirt is also a breeding ground for
micro-organisms, care should be taken to keep
the equipment clean.
All the mechanically operating bearings and glid-
ing surfaces in your LEICA have been lubricated.
Please remember this when the camera is not in
use for a longer period of time: To prevent the
lubricating points from becoming tacky, the
camera should be cocked with no film loaded
every three months and released at all shutter
speeds. Repeated adjustment and use of all other
operating elements, such as the frame selector, is
also recommended. The focusing and aperture
setting rings for the lenses should also be moved
from time to time.
A lens works like a burning glass when bright
sunlight shines on the front of the camera. The
camera should never, therefore, be put aside with-
out protection against strong sunlight.
Damage to the interior of the camera can be
prevented by using the lens cover and keeping the
camera in the shade (or directly in the case).
To remove stains and fingerprints, the camera and
lens are wiped with a clean, lint-free cloth. We
recommend microfiber cloths, that are stored in a
protective container. They can be washed in tem-
peratures up to 40°C (without fabric softener,
never iron!). Rougher dirt in hard-to-reach corners
of the camera body can be removed with a small
brush.
Please do not use any liquid cleaning agents to
clean the camera housing. Dust and lint inside the
camera (e.g. on the film guide) is best removed
carefully using a softhair brush, which has been
repeatedly cleaned with ether and then dried.
Care must be taken not to damage the shutter
curtain, with the handle of the brush, for example.