Can you tell me what this flare might be?

[gmacgregor]

New M6 owner here. I just got some film developed and in quite a few of the images I'm seeing what looks like flare in the bottom left-ish corner and along the bottom of the frame.

I'm shooting with the Zeiss 35mm f/2 without a hood. Have a look at the pictures below. Is is the lens that's flaring? Bad lab processing (ie. a thumb print)? Something else? I'm dismissing that it might somehow be the body itself because, like I said, it only shows up in some images. In all of the pictures the sun would've been behind me or over my right shoulder …

 

[JHP]

Looks like a light leak to me.
I had that problem with my old M4 on a few frames per roll.
It came and went randomly. I never ended up getting it fixed before I sold it, so I can't help I'm afraid.
I'm sure someone else can.

 

[Biggles]

Agreed. Light leak in the body. I have a CL with one like that except it's dead-center along the bottom edge of the frame, and two top-tier Leica repair techs haven't figured it out. It comes and goes no matter which lens I have on it.

 

[gmacgregor]

Thanks guys. This really sucks. I just got the M6 from KEH about a week ago. I figured they would have had it serviced before shipping it. I'll likely put another roll through it to see what happens and if the problem persists send it off to Kindermann for repair. Anyone have an idea of how much a fix might cost?

 

[mbdiesel]

All used items from KEH comes with a six month of warranty. I would send it back to them and ask for a replacement. If they have it in stock, they usually replace it. If not, they will repair it at no charge. All the equipment I have bought from them worked perfectly. They are very good with respect to defective items.

Good luck.

 

[ChrisP]

If it was anything but UGLY KEH probably would have replaced it. They say everything they sell (other than UGLY) should be working condition

 

[isoterica]

Definitely contact KEH.. I don't know if they film test but they do tell you if a camera doesn't work properly. This is obviously something that doesn't show on dry fire.

 

[mbdiesel]

I just read Keh warranty policy and it does not mention ugly item exclusion from 6 month warranty policy.

 

[ChrisP]

My bad I was thinking about AI (As Is) stuff not ugly. Although I'd be interested in how they deal with warranty on UG items since they can have fungus and other things that affect picture quality

 

[gmacgregor]

All used items from KEH comes with a six month of warranty. I would send it back to them and ask for a replacement. If they have it in stock, they usually replace it. If not, they will repair it at no charge. All the equipment I have bought from them worked perfectly. They are very good with respect to defective items.

Good to know. I'm in Canada and KEH says this about international orders:

International Orders - While KEH will always honor its 14 day return policy and 6 month, non-transferable warranty, due to the high cost of shipping, duties, tariffs, and other charges KEH will not be responsible for such charges on international returns.

Link

Gerry Kindermann has great endorsement around these forums and is local with regards to my location. I suspect that it would cost me less to give him my business and have it fixed than to go through the hassle of exchanging/repairing the camera via KEH. I'd have to pay shipping + taxes + duties + brokerage fees once again. Not cool.

 

[skipjack]

Have Kinderman do a full CLA, see if KEH will credit you some funds. Once he's in their for the light leak, go through the entire body so something else doesn't come up that could have been taken care of. KEH is reasonable about most things.

 

[benlees]

Contact Keh before you do anything. They will try to help you out.

 

[Biggles]

If at all practical, I'd send it back to KEH before I'd send it to Kindermann. KEH only seem concerned about getting dinged with import fees, in that policy statement that was quoted. Are you close enough to the US border to drive it over and mail it back to KEH from a US post office, UPS Store, or Mailboxes Etc.? You certainly will not have any problem taking it back into the US, if you have the KEH receipt in hand and tell US Customs that you're mailing in a warranty repair.

 

[tj01]

Get a half case.

 

[bjorke]

Half-case won't help, the bottom of a printed frame is near the TOP of a negative in-camera. I have had a similar issue, I'm currently suspecting occasional light intrusion from the frame counter window.

 

[veepeedeepee]

Are you perhaps missing one of the plastic strap protectors? Sometimes if one of those comes off, light can make its way in through the top plate.

Oh, I see this thread is 9 years old and got a recent bump. How did it all work out?