Leica LTM Leica iiif-Dark Banding on Photos

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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sjones

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I recently bought a Leica iiif RD/ST in apparently great shape. However, I have shot two rolls, Tri-X and Ilford FP4 plus, and both sets of negatives exhibited horizontal banding (light on the negative). From what I have read, this could be caused by grime or dirt scraping the backside of the film emulsion or through improper handling during development.

At this stage, I have a professional outlet develop the negatives, and I have not experienced this problem in the past. I've looked at the pressure plate, at least from what I can view from the lens opening, and things look clean. Likewise, opened up the baseplate, and inspected as much as possible. No noticeable obstructions.

Would a CLA rectify this, or could there be something more problematic? Also, could loading be a problem?

You can see the bands just above the sitting girls' heads in this photo:
http://sjones.smugmug.com/gallery/6874677_gGBnT/1/439830480_jfEDN/Large

Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Steve
 
A CLA is not that bad on that model of camera. Youxin Ye would charge you about $80.00 to do a CLA. Even if you needed a new shutter curtain like I did it was only $120.00. Well worth doing, they are so smooth when hes is finished. His email is we7@yahoo.com good luck.
 
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I've talked to Don Goldberg about this, since my IIIf makes the same underexposed bands. It probably needs new curtains. If it's like my IIIf, it's a problem with speeds 1/200 and over. I tried to have mine adjusted, but it didn't work.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. I agree, I was thinking about getting a CLA anyway. The camera is a joy to use, a bit of a challenge still, but fun---just the feel of these things in the hand is impressive enough.

I could probably get an "overhaul," as they call it here in Japan, locally, but the price of sending it to the States might actually work out cheaper, unless any folks have suggestions for Tokyo. The number of Leica oriented shops is certainly not in short supply. Still, I've generally heard great things about Youxin Ye and Don, and I also heard that John Maddox in Greenville, South Carolina does highly reputable work.

Once again, thanks for the help,
Steve
 
Melvin said:
I've talked to Don Goldberg about this, since my IIIf makes the same underexposed bands. It probably needs new curtains. If it's like my IIIf, it's a problem with speeds 1/200 and over. I tried to have mine adjusted, but it didn't work.
Click to expand...

The same with my Leica copy Fed 2d - had it sent in twice to get the curtains adjusted, failed each time; I gave up, but it's fine for slower speeds. Never use it any more since getting my actual Leicas.
 
Wow that's very interesting - how does a fault on the shutter curtain create a dark line on the print?

I can understand a light streak from a pinhole, but ow does the opposite happen - is there an extremely small black hole on the curtain?
 
john neal said:
Wow that's very interesting - how does a fault on the shutter curtain create a dark line on the print?

I can understand a light streak from a pinhole, but ow does the opposite happen - is there an extremely small black hole on the curtain?
Click to expand...

(Stephen Hawking voice)If that were the case my IIIf would have destroyed the world.

As it was described to me, little nubs, or bumps, develop with age along the vertical edge, or the rubber shrinks, or something. It isn't holes in the curtain, it's an uneven edge. At the highest speeds they are enough to cause underexposed streaks. It's worst at 1/1000, barely noticeable at 1/200.
 
Slit width at 1/1000 is about 1mm. So burrs on the edges of the curtains become a significant percentage of the total slit width.
 
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