Uneven Exposure Problem (M6 Classic)

[atufte1@mac.com]

Just had my images scanned and found an uneven exposure on the horizontal top of all my images (see the darker area/streak on top) this is with a "brand new" Leica M6 which i just bought, it looked totally unused, and that is probably also the problem (those bloody collectors should start using their equipment, not collect them to death...

This is from two different films, one Tri-x and one Arista Premium, developed separately in a ATL-1500 which has worked flawlessly for a long time... (and i know it's not the scanner since i can see it with my naked eye when pulling down the exposure on the contact sheets, see ref)

(The levels are pulled down on these images to see the problem better, but it's also evident on a right straight level print, so it definitely needs a fix)

Thankfully i got two M6's so i'm not totally screwed, but i would like to know if this is a fixable DIY
since i have all the right Leica service tools myself (adjust shutter or whatever is needed)...?

Thanks in advance for any help...!

 

[nobbylon]

doesnt look like shutter as its horizontal. more like a light leak of some kind from the bottom of the film door. try another film with the door bottom edge black taped up maybe?

 

[colker]

it doesn't look like something cause by a camera body. weird.
it looks like lack of agitation in developer.

 

[atufte1@mac.com]

it doesn't look like something cause by a camera body. weird.
it looks like lack of agitation in developer.

I used a Jobo ATL-1500 for developing, so it's not agitation, but thanks for your suggestion anyway....

 

[atufte1@mac.com]

doesnt look like shutter as its horizontal. more like a light leak of some kind from the bottom of the film door. try another film with the door bottom edge black taped up maybe?

I will try this procedure, but i think it's strange that a "unused" M6 should have this problem, but then again, i could have been this way from the factory, since the previous owner did not use it....

 

[dfoo]

Are you sure you had enough developer in the tank? I had this issue at one point for that reason.

 

[tmfabian]

I gotta go with a development error. It looks like a fairly classic example of chemicals not flowing properly. I used to get this same kind of overdevelopment when i used metal hangers to develop my 4x5 before I switched to bathing them in plain old trays.

Plastic reels are notorious for occasionally causing an uneven flow of chemicals during agitation along with retaining chemical goop over time that can cause some funkiness.

you can try testing for a light leak, but I'd also suggest processing a roll with a metal reel/tank setup to test for a development glitch. Both simple and relatively quick and painless.

 

[colker]

I will try this procedure, but i think it's strange that a "unused" M6 should have this problem, but then again, i could have been this way from the factory, since the previous owner did not use it....

shoot one slide film roll and have it developed at a good lab. slides are the most sensitive of all materials and will tell you if there is anything worng w/ the camera.

 

[atufte1@mac.com]

shoot one slide film roll and have it developed at a good lab. slides are the most sensitive of all materials and will tell you if there is anything worng w/ the camera.

That's a good tip, i will go shoot some slides.....thx