M6ttl trying to find the leak, no success yet..

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klapka

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Hello, my M6ttl is in trouble and that brigs my spirits low..

Here's the story. Half a year ago I noticed light leaks on my negs - 2-3 negs out of a 36 frame roll. The leak is always in one and the same place of the frame, same shape and color - orange. Putting one neg over another I see leaks on them coincide 100%.

The leak comes from the front (though it is orange - yes) - I have already found this out performing multiple tests with taping back etc.

The leak comes only in direct bright sun - just a little cloud and no leaks are evident.

Here how it looks:

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In August I have sent the camera to Sherry Krauter who installed a flair shield right behind the bionet and performed CLA, unfortunately this haven't affect the leak. So now before sending my camera back to her I would like to find the reson that causes such a leak..

I've made a research on the web and found this exact leak to be a common issue with M6. Here are some links:

http://en.byleon.com/archives/1908

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/discus_e/messages/2/38182.html

In the last link the man says he had the very same leak on M4-2 and Sherry Krauter was able to fix it on the camera's second visit to her. Evidently, the body shell has a pre-drilled hole under the leatherette that was supposed to be filled with pitch, but through which light was leaking.

Is that possible?

Anyway all the forum discussions of this problem report the problem itself but contain no final solution in the end..

Maybe you have come across same very leak and know for shure what was the reason, could you please share this info?

Thanks beforehand.
 
I can't say where that would come from, maybe the viewfinder or frameline lever. I have found a light leak in a IIIc by buying one of those cheap little keychain lights. I took it apart and taped the superbright led to the battery. I then dropped it in the camera alternately on both sides without spool or film and took it in a darkroom. After my eyes adjusted I could see where the light was coming out. If it can get out it can get in.
 
I did inspect all I could with a powerful led light, but if it comes from a drilled hole in the shell under the letherette - my led is not powerful enough to shine through..
Besides I don't think I will be able to put my M6 together after taking it apart..

But thanks for the reply.
 
Oh, that is a new theory. I also do think the shutter might be involved.
Are you 100% sure it was the shutter. The funniest thing is, I wrote Sherry (as she has repaired the camera this August) and she has no diagnose for this.
And one more thin bothers me, were your leaks orange?

If you got her recipe of leak pics left, would it be possible for me to get them to show Sherry, my mail is: kirillpichugin@gmail.com - just in case it is not too difficult for you.

Anyway, thanks for the idea.
 
Orange light leaks, if color negative is used, are a pretty good indicator that the leaking light had to pass thru the film base - i.e. it came thru the back of the camera. you can also exclude the area around the take-up spool, since film is wound emulsion side out there.
I use the same tool as lacavol described to hunt down the light leaks, and can confirm it's really very effective.
 
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I have found it to be definetly orange but coming through the front at the same time. Have no idea how to link this two facts together.
But, I've performed a test: took 2 36 frame rolls and shot them one after another on a bright sunny day. The first was shot with the camera exposing to light from all possible sides, taking the lens off and putting it back again but all the sutter releases were produced with the lens on the camera closed with the lens cap. Result - clear roll - not a single leak.
For shooting the second roll I have covered the back door, the strap lugs and the rest suspicious places on the camera body with several leyers of black tape and went on shooting through the lens without the lens cap (as most usualy do) - 6 or 7 leaks on the roll (this many because I deliberately shot many frames with sun coming into frame).
So.. the one thing that removes this leaks for sure is the lens cap.
It certanly looks like the shutter ingaged but why the hell is this leak orange instead of white - stays an inigma.. At least for me..
 
Thin I will send the camera back to Sherry tomorrow with the info about the possible shutter issue. Will hope she will handle my problem..
 
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