Leica M2 vertical line, light leak (with images)

[turtureanudan]

I got these vertical lines on some frames, with the following patterns:
- exactly in the same position on the frame
- some cross the upper edge of the film, some not
- if I put a lightbulb in the dark with the camera facing it, I see some light at both curtain margins. This light is visible on half of the curtain on the exposing area. It could not create such a narrow line, I assume..

Thanks for any opinion

 

[keytarjunkie]

(in my opinion) It’s coming from the back. Light coming from the front would not continue outside of the image area with the same sharpness.

Is there a small dent in the baseplate or the lower part of the door?

 

[turtureanudan]

This is what I am also thinking, but I cannot see dents on the back plate

 

[keytarjunkie]

The way to find out is to load a new roll and shine a flashlight or bright sunlight onto the back of the camera for the first two or three images. Then take a strip of electrical tape, or any thick black tape, and cover the area around the door and baseplate for the rest of the roll. It should stop leaking. Once you've identified the source, you can come up with a solution. Hope that helps!