In-Camera Light Leak?

[dof]

Hello! The three overexposed spots as seen in this image appear in multiple frames of the last 8 rolls I've developed. Given their relative consistency, I think it may be an issue with the shutter on my M6 TTL

I haven't been able to rule out the scanner as I have scanning done at a local lab and don't yet have the negatives back from them.

Does this look familiar enough to anyone here to diagnose the problem?

Thanks for taking a look!

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Do you have any colour photos ?- the colour of the light leak (assuming it is so) will be different depending on whether it comes from behind or the front.

 

[Andrea Taurisano]

You may post a few more of the affected images, so people have more to base their guess on. Clearly, once you get the negatives back, you'll be able to rule out scanning problems, provided that a close inspection of the negatives confirms the problem lies there. But to me, who by chance or choice have had quite a few old, "light leaky" cameras, that doesn't look like typical light leaks. You're sure the negatives are well washed after developing, I guess?

 

[markus_h_photography]

To me that looks like a scanning issue especially the middle and right side marks. I've had similar results on some of my own neg scans .

 

[monopix]

What camera is it? if you suspect a shutter fault then knowing the camera and type of shutter is critical.

More, higher resolution, images would be useful to see how consistent the issue really is.

And, once you get the negatives, checking if the problem extends outside the image area and into the areas between frames or film edges would help.

 

[dof]

Thanks everyone for your insights so far!

Do you have any colour photos ?- the colour of the light leak (assuming it is so) will be different depending on whether it comes from behind or the front.

That’s a good point. Unfortunately, I’ve no color images to share. My film use is almost exclusively black & white.

You may post a few more of the affected images, so people have more to base their guess on. Clearly, once you get the negatives back, you'll be able to rule out scanning problems, provided that a close inspection of the negatives confirms the problem lies there. But to me, who by chance or choice have had quite a few old, "light leaky" cameras, that doesn't look like typical light leaks. You're sure the negatives are well washed after developing, I guess?

Sure thing, I’ll post more examples shortly. Seeing the negatives will answer a large portion of my conjecture. I thought I’d engage the brain trust here to see if this is familiar. I’ve never encountered it in my own work or in posts from others. I used my standard washing technique for all the rolls in question. No changes there in 20 years. But it's 2020. Anything is possible!

To me that looks like a scanning issue especially the middle and right side marks. I've had similar results on some of my own neg scans .

Thanks for that insight. I’ll be able to pick up the negatives this weekend to confirm.

What camera is it? if you suspect a shutter fault then knowing the camera and type of shutter is critical.

More, higher resolution, images would be useful to see how consistent the issue really is.

And, once you get the negatives, checking if the problem extends outside the image area and into the areas between frames or film edges would help.

These are all from an M6 TTL. I’ll post more images, but offering higher resolution is a challenge here. 🙂 I’ll process to bring out as much of the issue as possible. Will look for any tell-tale signs of the exposure oddities between the frames too. Thanks!

 

[dof]

Here are a few more images, each from one of the other rolls in my latest two developing runs. Fortunately, none of them represent a notable addition to the history of photography. 🙂

 

[EarlJam]

The leaks appear similar to one I'm experiencing with an M4-P. I performed the typical "tape off parts of the camera" series of tests, all of which were negative. Recently, I took a closer look at the shutter seal at the top of the film gate, and there's an anomaly that may be the culprit. The M6 TTL seal is different, but I've seen reports that it can buckle in places and allow light into the film chamber.

As shown in the attached, one of the telltales of the leak in my camera is the distinct pattern in the film rebate. Have you noticed anything similar on your negatives?

 

[dof]

The leaks appear similar to one I'm experiencing with an M4-P. I performed the typical "tape off parts of the camera" series of tests, all of which were negative. Recently, I took a closer look at the shutter seal at the top of the film gate, and there's an anomaly that may be the culprit. The M6 TTL seal is different, but I've seen reports that it can buckle in places and allow light into the film chamber.

As shown in the attached, one of the telltales of the leak in my camera is the distinct pattern in the film rebate. Have you noticed anything similar on your negatives?

Interesting! There are distinct similarities between my negatives and yours. The primary issue affects roughly the same lower left area of the images. Differences in the unique exposure "signatures" could be due to differences in the internals of the two models.


Will check back on the film rebate when I've had a chance to look at the negatives later this weekend.

 

[EarlJam]

dof - take a look at post #11 on this RFF thread. It seems to describe the light leak you're experiencing.

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108515

 

[dof]

dof - take a look at post #11 on this RFF thread. It seems to describe the light leak you're experiencing.

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108515

That is it, exactly. Thanks for the research and the link, EarlJam!

My negatives confirm, the light leak is in the camera. Based on info in the referenced thread, I'll be sending my camera in for repair.


Thanks to everyone for your input.