Leica IIIf rotating shutter speed dial

[Toni Nikkanen]

If I am shooting the IIIf wearing thick gloves and make the error of obstructing the shutter speed dial during exposure, what would be the most typical outcome? The images would be exposed wrong, but in which way?

 

[ZeissFan]

You'll drag the shutter, resulting in a longer shutter speed.

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

Could it show up both as a partial overexposure but also as a partial non-exposure as well?

 

[Nikon Bob]

Toni

Can you post some shots that show what is happening? Considering that it is winter in the northern hemisphere, are you shooting in the cold? The cold can make a shutter behave sluggishly too and effect exposure. Old or wrong lubricants can get gummy in the cold. I had a Canon P that was OK inside but outside in the cold the shutter got progressively lazy. When the camera warmed up inside all worked again. A CLA cured the problem in the cold. If you are interferring with the shutter speed dial when using heavy gloves a soft release may help. It will raise your finger to a level above the shutter speed dial.

Bob

 

[ZorkiKat]

Could it show up both as a partial overexposure but also as a partial non-exposure as well?

Yes, depending on the shutter speed you use. The faster ones like 1/500 or 1/1000 can result in more dramatic partial exposures if the shutter dial was hampered.

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

Here are the pics. This was a roll of 33 images (colour negative), all of them turned out great with even exposure, even frame spacing etc except for these two. It was pretty cold when I shot the first one outdoors, and possibly also during the second one.
I was originally asking about the shutter speed dial because I can remember for sure that during one exposure on this roll, I did accidentally obstruct the shutter speed dial while shooting. That would easily explain one picture exposed wrong. Of course I might have done the same mistake twice too. One difference between the 2 pictures is that the first one was shot with a very high shutter speed, possibly even 1/1000 - I had Superia 1600 with a lens that only goes to f/16.... the other one was obviously with a very slow shutter speed, possibly even slower than 1/50s but can't remember for sure.

 

[stevebrot]

I did the same thing last week with my FED-2 (cold day, gloves on). Except for very slow speeds (which the FED lacks), the shutter caps with the second curtain catching up with the first before it completes its transit.


Steve

 

[Nikon Bob]

As you did not do a lot of outside shooting in the cold and can recall interfering with the shutter speed dial twice, you may be right that it is just interfering with the shutter speed dial. That is why I liked using a soft release on my screw mount Leicas when it was cold and I had to wear gloves.

Bob

 

[Toni Nikkanen]

Well I'm just glad to know it's probably because of a simple user error, instead of being a sign of impending shutter repair... I will just have to be more careful from now on.

Edit: the next roll from the camera turned out just perfect. Messing around with the shutter speed dial was very likely the problem.