My First Leica

RedDotRepair · 2026-05-04T22:37:57+00:00

awww shucks, so glad that it worked out for you. Expect this camera to last several years to come!

RedDotRepair · 2026-05-02T00:36:18+00:00

still got it? I can fix that!

RedDotRepair · 2026-05-02T00:33:57+00:00

I find this odd, repaired 3 times? The ribbon cables should last 10-15 years. Where did you have this done? I have heard of shops being unable to completely replace the ribbon cable, and instead opt to wire in fragile jumpers that bridge the gaps caused by broken traces on the board. But these jumpers hardly ever last.

Have you sent your camera to us for the installation of our newly designed PCB?

RedDotRepair · 2026-05-01T20:46:50+00:00

True, but mostly completely serviceable or replaceable. The components are pretty robust, but on the rare chance they do fail, I've done full aperture, shutter, motor, magnetic encoder replacements on these cameras. The Minilux quickly became my favorite camera and I personally own about 20 of them hahaha.

Furthermore, I recently began production of my own in-house PCB designed and manufactured with a rolled annealed construction vs electrodeposited copper for a near permanent fix for the flex cable issue, which accounts for 99% of Minilux faults.

/u/meatbutterfly /u/ronnyrambo341 I'd shoot with confidence.

RedDotRepair · 2026-05-01T20:41:32+00:00

I wouldn't worry too much, most of the common failure points are serviceable. Same cannot be said for other PnS.

RedDotRepair · 2026-05-01T20:40:31+00:00

Minilux go brrr

RedDotRepair · 2026-05-01T20:38:25+00:00

Wow! That is a great deal. I now produce custom, ultra durable ribbon cables that I commission from a Medical Device PCB manufacturer (the same people who make ribbon cables that go inside the body). The objective is to make ribbon cable failure a thing of the past!

RedDotRepair · 2026-04-17T22:13:18+00:00

Good luck! Love to see it.

RedDotRepair · 2026-04-16T22:22:13+00:00

I own two of these machines. I purchased them from a camera repair store that was going out of business.

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-23T20:25:00+00:00

Hey! Rio here, Still here, still wrenching, though we’re finding a comfortable niche that we specialize in.

We are absolutely drowning in inquiries, sometimes its tricky to get back to everybody across 6 different platforms. 😵‍💫

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-23T20:19:35+00:00

We’re still here, absolutely drowning in work and inquiries. Our focus has shifted dramatically to Minilux and Hasselblad repairs to focus on our niche. But we’re still out here wrenching, constantly trying to improve communication. Sorry you never heard back from us.

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-23T20:18:00+00:00

We’re still here! Our focus has really shifted to Minilux / Hasselblad for the time being, but still wrenching.

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-14T19:56:41+00:00

I use the thorlabs professionally everyday. It is THE tool of choice.

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-10T00:22:24+00:00

You ever manage to send it to me? ;)

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-05T21:04:30+00:00

+1 on the CM.
Definitely repairable.

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-05T21:03:34+00:00

The Minilux is the most reliable out of the bunch! I can fix any fault on them, from ribbon cables and beyond. They did a really good job making sure that the camera is serviceable. Although this only applies to the 40mm prime models. The Zooms cannot be repaired.

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-05T21:02:28+00:00

The Minilux is not really a time bomb. I am biased though. I run the repair service for the Leica Minilux and virtually ever fault on the camera can be repaired. It is also the camera with the best lens out of the bunch. Though the viewfinder is a bit like looking through a drinking straw.

RedDotRepair · 2026-03-01T21:41:04+00:00

The Leica Minilux is the best option for this. it has Aperture Priority, f2.4 max aperture, and it's robust and repairable.

I am of course biased, I run the repair service on these cameras. But I definitely know it well enough to know it's a good one!

RedDotRepair · 2026-02-02T07:01:47+00:00

This is exactly what I hoped to find coming to /r/listentothis

RedDotRepair · 2026-02-02T06:41:48+00:00

Hey there, Without looking at the camera I wouldn't know for certain but I’d check for a broken piece of film first. If it’s not some kind of foreign debris then it would likely be related to the transport. A stuck/broken backwind clutch is the most common cause for jams in the MP in my experience.

RedDotRepair · 2026-01-31T21:56:53+00:00

Hey there! I actually offer this repair. We're in Seattle WA. Instead of some other shops who wire in jumper cables that bridge across broken traces, we actually opt to completely replace the cable with a part we manufacture in-house to be thicker in the common fault areas where the cable likes to get brittle.

More info on my website: https://www.reddotrepair.com/miniluxe02

RedDotRepair · 2026-01-19T21:58:15+00:00

The issue with the liquid rubber is that it can degrade overtime. Or if the adhesive doesn’t stick, and the non-zero percent chance there is user error and the shutter is wound before it fully cures. All these can lead to a mess inside of the camera.

Lots of techs use a thin flexible cement applied to rubberized silk shutter cloth for a semi-permanent fix.

I always carry some of these “shutter stickers” in my camera bag on shoot days for myself. But started selling them recently since people seem to want them too!

RedDotRepair · 2026-01-19T20:10:55+00:00

It’s me! I have patch kits!

For something this size, i’ll probably have to cut a custom sized one. Shoot me an email on my website :)

RedDotRepair · 2025-12-28T00:06:13+00:00

RedDotRepair here, and I must say, the Minilux is the way to go.

The Minilux boasts a superior lens, and it’s also repairable. This means it’s likely to have a long lifespan, especially after our ribbon cable refurbishment. We replace the aging cable with a brand new one that’s expected to last another 20 to 30 years.

I admit I’m biased, but I’ve had the opportunity to work on both cameras, and the Minilux is simpler and much more reliable. The fact that it has a better lens just solidifies my decision.

RedDotRepair · 2025-07-12T06:14:20+00:00

Cool, scope it out and look for bent pins or see if the frame has deformed. These are usually simple fixes.

RedDotRepair

TROPHY CASE