Black spots on chrome M3

[Berni]

Hi everybody,

I recently inherited an early M3 that was hidden in a cupboard for a couple of years. Upon closer inspection I found some strange black dots on the chrome and I am wondering what those dots could be.

Does anybody know what those dots are?

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[rod64]

Could be corrosion or mould. You could try rubbing it off with a Q-tip dipped in light oil or WD-40

 

[johannielscom]

Welcome to the forum! What the previous poster says, although I think it might be corrosion from the looks of it. The WD-40 treatment is unknown to me but it sounds harmless.

Early M3 you say, what serial number range? If under 710xxx, be extra careful, valuable camera if in good condition!

 

[Berni]

Thank's for the fast replies! I will give the cleaning with alcohol a try and keep it dry from now on.

@ buzzardkid: It's in the 706xxx range. Doublestroke, without the preview lever, and I think still with a glass pressure-plate 😉

 

[peterm1]

I am not sure of the cause but my guess is that pollutants in the air (like sulfur and similar compounds from car exhausts) combines with humidity to discolor and eventually corrode surfaces. I found some goggles for my dual range Summicron that had some dark stains not unlike this on the chrome. At first i thought it was pitting but as the asking price was cheap and I wanted a pair for my DR lens I bought the goggles anyway. Turned out that by using NevrDull wadding polish I was able to remove the marks almost entirely. If it was corrosion I got it early enough. This stuff incidentally is very good for cleaning light corrosion and dirty marks from chrome cameras as it is not abrasive (or of it is abrasive it is so fine that it might as well not be.) It is aslo inexpensive to buy, lasts forever and is widely available. Give it a try. http://www.nippynormans.com/products/acf-50/item/nevr-dull-magic-polishing-wadding-wun-3024522

 

[ray*j*gun]

Sounds like a valuable M3......does look like pitting. No reason it should get any worse if you follow photmoof's advice.

 

[Sparrow]

If it's verdigris (copper carbonate) that's come through the chrome from the underlying brass cover then a little lemon juice on a cloth will neutralise it and remove the corrosion ... sadly the damage, the pitting is permanent.

Personally I wouldn't use wd40 on anything photographic, or anything abrasive on a matt chrome finish

 

[Phil_F_NM]

If you want to clean off copper carbonate and still be very gentle to the rest of the camera, using Tabasco sauce works very well, and it's tasty too. I've had Never-Dull over brighten the chrome on an old camera so I said never-again. Lemon juice is another good recommendation. An acid to neutralize the base of the carbonate. We used Tabasco sauce to polish up brass on my ship back in the Navy since it wasn't flammable and it was incredibly plentiful.

Phil Forrest

 

[Highway 61]

Lighter fluid will remove this way more easily than alcohol.

This may be superficial verdigris which hasn't gone through the chrome, but this may be deep pitting too. Nobody knows but the man who puts his hands on this camera.

If option 1, the lighter fluid-soaked Q-tip will become green very quickly - good.

If option 2, it won't, and the black spots will become red.

This area between the speed dial and the wind lever/shutter release button is very prone to develop some inoffensive verdigris on almost every chrome camera, because it's always in touch with the photographer's relatively hot, sweaty and wet right hand fingers.

Personally I'd bet for option 1 😉.

 

[huntjump]

If you want to clean off copper carbonate and still be very gentle to the rest of the camera, using Tabasco sauce works very well, and it's tasty too. I've had Never-Dull over brighten the chrome on an old camera so I said never-again. Lemon juice is another good recommendation. An acid to neutralize the base of the carbonate. We used Tabasco sauce to polish up brass on my ship back in the Navy since it wasn't flammable and it was incredibly plentiful.

Phil Forrest

Wow never knew that, very cool.

 

[peterm1]

If you want to clean off copper carbonate and still be very gentle to the rest of the camera, using Tabasco sauce works very well, and it's tasty too. I've had Never-Dull over brighten the chrome on an old camera so I said never-again. Lemon juice is another good recommendation. An acid to neutralize the base of the carbonate. We used Tabasco sauce to polish up brass on my ship back in the Navy since it wasn't flammable and it was incredibly plentiful.

Phil Forrest

The secret with NeverDull is not to rub too much. It will shine chrome if you do, but I find it also has the ability to clean grunge off nicely with just a gentle swipe or too. It also seems to rejuvenate polycarbone bodies quite my removing the haze that candevelop from exposure to sun, body acids etc and minor swirl marks.

 

[rod64]

a Q-tip that contains WD-40 on chrome will not cause any harm to the surface of a camera. Have used it many times and it takes grime and minor blemishes off better than alcohol. It is metal not silk!