Could you tell me if this is a light leak?

[gerbilthemistake]

Ok, so i purchased a leica m2 6 months ago and since then i've noticed a few photos where there are bright spots. I never paid much attention to it and thought it was because of my developing or something where i messed up. Recently, i took more time in looking into the problem and noticed the white spot is around the same area. Here are three images from different rolls with similar spots. This leica was CLA and i asked if they could check for any issues soon after i purchased it, is this something the repair person should of noticed and should i contact them to see if its under a guarentee or something? Thanks.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/gerbilthemistake/LightLeak3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/gerbilthemistake/Lightleak2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/gerbilthemistake/LightLeak1.jpg

 

[Erik van Straten]

Yes, I think there is very small lightleak (hole) in the first shutter curtain, or, if you do not transport immediatly after the exposure, it could be in the second shutter curtain.
Remedy: try to locate the hole and smear a minute amount of black paint on it, but only on the hole, do not touch the rest of the curtain. Let it dry for 24 hours (do not work the shutter), then try again. If there is still a hole, repeat.

Erik.

 

[yoyo22]

I would say it's a light leak.
Check it yourself: remove the lens, open the rear and place a flashlight on the mount (Maglites D-cell flashlights fit perfectly). Then get in a darkened room, get your eyes used to the darkness, turn on the flashlight on the mount and look at the back of the shutter. You should be able to spot the leaks easily then - at least it worked for me before.

 

[gerbilthemistake]

Yes, I think there is very small lightleak (hole) in the first shutter curtain, or, if you do not transport immediatly after the exposure, it could be in the second shutter curtain.
Remedy: try to locate the hole and smear a minute amount of black paint on it, but only on the hole, do not touch the rest of the curtain. Let it dry for 24 hours (do not work the shutter), then try again. If there is still a hole, repeat.

Erik.

Hmm... if i could remedy this on my own it would be excellent. is there any particular type of paint i need to use (india ink, acrylic)? how do i smear a very minimal amount on it without touching the rest of the shutter (do i use maybe a very small paintbrush)? thanks and i really hope i can solve this issue.

 

[yoyo22]

LET - liquid electrical tape is the best "paint" for fixing pinholes: http://nemeng.com/leica/004ea.shtml

 

[Erik van Straten]

A red sable retouching watercolor paint brush no 0 or 1 will do.

You can use ordinary black laquer (for painting wood) as long as the amount you use is minimal and you let it dry without working the shutter.

I do not know liquid electrical tape, but I think it will work fine.

Erik.

 

[oscroft]

is there any particular type of paint i need to use (india ink, acrylic)?

I used black acrylic paint (which is flexible) to fix a couple of small shutter curtain holes, and it worked fine.

 

[gerbilthemistake]

thanks everybody, i went ahead and bought some liquid electrical tape and applied a little bit on the shutter last night, i'm gonna wait a day or two than try it out.

 

[flippyot]

I may be WAY off, but you never mentioned if you checked the lense. To me if it a shutter problem it would appear in all the photographs you shot. I had a scratch on a lens and it would cacth light in the same manner as yours but only if the light was coming in from the left side. Again I may be way off and hopefully (i should porbably find a better word) the shutter is the problem.

 

[gerbilthemistake]

I may be WAY off, but you never mentioned if you checked the lense. To me if it a shutter problem it would appear in all the photographs you shot. I had a scratch on a lens and it would cacth light in the same manner as yours but only if the light was coming in from the left side. Again I may be way off and hopefully (i should porbably find a better word) the shutter is the problem.

oops, yeah i kinda forgot to mention that. I dont think it is the issue or i hope not because it has happened on more than 2 lenses. I patched the shutter and shot a test roll so all i gotta do now is develop it. hopefully the issue will be resolved. Thanks again everybody.

 

[Windscale]

But have you actually discovered the pinhole before you did the operation?