Is there a Leica doctor in the house?

N

nickchew

Guest
Help.
I've shot about a dozen rolls on my m6ttl and in the last 2 rolls I've noticed a new problem.

Anyone can help diagnose the problem?

I think there is a light leak but I can't think where it comes from?

Thanks

Nick
 
Hi Nick,

Those look like the stuff I get if I load the camera in bright light and try to get a shot on frame #0. Tell us what frames show this kind of light leak?

Regards, Paul C.
 
The first one is on frame 0... so it could be due to that.
but then frame 1 is OK on the same roll and frame 2 has the same problem.

The b+w one is bizzare cos it happened on frame 30 in a 36 roll and the rest of the next 7 frames were ok.

Nick
 
It looks indeed like a light leak.

I can think of 4 places where it could originate (possibly others find more).
1) the body of the camera
2) the curtain
3) the film cassette
4) the development agency.

You can test 1 and 2.
use a new roll (of 12), and load the camera as usual

for 1: shine a strong light (mag-lite, sun) to all parts of the camera while keeping the lens cap on (and diafram on 22).
Advance film and do it again. If you find similar marks on those frames and nowhere else, the body leaks.

For 2: Open diafram fully, remove lens-cap and let camera point to well lit white wall (not directly into sun or strong light! that will burn the curtain). Then 'fire' with cap on lens to avoid actual exposure, and repeat the test.
Idealy do this test twice, one set with expsures before film winding, one set after winding.

For 3: this is usually only if you develop yourself and re-use the cassettes. If you re-use cassettes do test with new one.

For 4: change agency.

I guess that it is the bottom plate. The light comes in from the top of the top of the picture (is the bottom of the camera!). The light may come in only under strong light or specific angles, which is the reason it does not show on all frames.

mad_boy
 
I have made of copy of your suggestions, thanks.
For now I'll put some tape at the bottom plate and hope that there is no more light leak that can destroy the roll I currently have inside.

Nick

P.s maybe I can convince some tabloid magazine that these are shots of ghosts.... ;-)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nick, how long have you had this camera? Did you buy it from a store or an individual?

One of my Leica bodies (like yours, a M6TTL) showed the same problem on scattered frames in a 36 exposure roll. It'd show in the first and/or second, then the 22nd, and the 31st... I sent it to DAG, in Wisconsin. Don replaced the light baffles but the problem persisted until I sent the camera to Leica in NJ, for a refurbishing (they take it apart, give it a CLA and reassemble it). Sure, it had a very small leak so, after another trip to New Jersey, it came back working fine. In fact, I went to Costa Rica, took it with, switched lenses under strong light a number of times (which I've done with my other Leica body often) just to test the limits of the camera. Well, the slides came in yesterday... and there's not a trace of a leak in any of them.

So, in other words, send it to Leica USA, or Canada.

Sorry about the news... But at least, after that, your camera won't play tricks on you.
 
taking the assumption that the image is projected on the emulsion side of the film, upside down, I would say the light is coming in around the back door on the lower right side, near the bottom plate.
Instead of burning a roll of film and developing, take the lens off, set the shutter to "B", hold the shutter release down and shine a light around the back while looking through the camera from the front. This may or may not work but it seems logical, let us know what happens.

Todd
 
I'd also guess that the light is coming in around the back door. It can't be a big leak, because you're not getting all that much fogging. It might be that it's light-tight most of the time, and only admits light occasionally when you're pressing on that part of the camera with your hands.

In addition to the suggestion above -- if you could figure out a way to do it, it might be worth while to remove the lens, lock the shutter open on B, go in a very dark room, and shine a flashlight in through the lens mount while you examine the camera from the back, pressing on the door in various places. The trick would be to trap the light from the flashlight so it doesn't leak around the edges of the camera; aluminum foil, maybe?

It's a long shot, but another possible light leak source on a Leica is a missing or loose strap lug!
 
Got the camera for the last 2 months. Bought it here.

I thought the problem might be the back door too.
Notice how straight the light leak line is?

I hope I don't have to send it back to leica, it is going to be a .... pain in the...
 
I had a leak like that once. It turned out the bottom plate was warped, not quite closing the back door, when I pressed one side of the back door, it leaked light. In my case it was fortunately enough to twist the bottom plate back to straight again (using moderately brute force) to solve the problem. So in your place I would test the bottom plate first by putting it on a completely flat surface and if necessary straighten or replace it if it is warped.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom