Leica M3 light leak?

[thegman]

Hi all,
Just got back a test roll from my new Leica M3. I think I can see a light leak on both the scans and the negs. It's only on some frames, some worse than others. The leak is within the frame, not on the sprockets, so I can maybe hazard a guess the leak is coming from the lens/shutter.

Here are two examples, one of which is by far the worst on the roll:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/RFF/79100023.JPG
http://s3.amazonaws.com/RFF/79100038.JPG

I leave the M3 without a lens cap on, and as I understand it, a certain amount of light leak in a cloth shutter is to be expected. Is it simply a matter of living with this and getting a lens cap, or is it bad enough to take back to the dealer?

Thanks

Garry

 

[ChrisN]

Most recently http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105567

 

[thegman]

Thanks for the replies, I've emailed the dealer in question... They seem like good guys, so I think I should be OK, just a shame as I'm off on holiday in less than 4 weeks and I'd planned to take it.

 

[thegman]

Just following up, I got a replacement M3, I decided to get another camera rather than wait for repair, as I'm off on holiday soon. So now I've got a very pretty DS M3, with a much more contrasty range finder patch than my last M3, so assuming my test film comes back good, then I'll be recommending the dealer in question to anyone.

 

[ChrisN]

Excellent - good luck with the DS, and don't forget to share the holiday photos. 🙂