Light leak identification help

[Redseele]

Hi all,

I have a Leica M6 that I bought in November last year. It was in almost mint condition when I purchased it, but only now do I see that it had light leak problems all along. They appear mostly in the final 10 frames of a roll, in the same place (lower left corner) and they are round (!!!). Here's a picture of what the negatives look like and by following the link to my dropbox you can see a few samples of how they affect the picture.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1y4n1qmmhkuue6o/AACZiQbhSkGZyJKKdjup-Zoza?dl=0

Can you please help me identify where the M6 could be leaking? I've used my iPhone's lantern in a dark room to try to see where light is leaking in from but to no avail.

Thank you

 

[Erik van Straten]

I think the strap eye on the left (next to the frame counter) is leaking. Fill it up with some black wax or putty. Don't use the eye for your strap, it is probably loose.

When the film winds on its spool it is exposed by this light leak.

Erik.

 

[Redseele]

I think the strap eye on the left (next to the frame counter) is leaking. Fill it up with some black wax or putty. Don't use the eye for your strap, it is probably loose.

When the film winds on its spool it is exposed by this light leak.

Erik.

That's what I thought at the beginning due to the round shape of the leak, but for the life of me I can't replicate the light leak by looking inside there and having a light directed at the strap eye in question. Is there a possibility that it could be something else?

 

[ferider]

That's what I thought at the beginning due to the round shape of the leak, but for the life of me I can't replicate the light leak by looking inside there and having a light directed at the strap eye in question. Is there a possibility that it could be something else?

The strap protector maybe ? If I remember right they are attached to the top plate via small holes.

Roland.

 

[Erik van Straten]

for the life of me I can't replicate the light leak by looking inside there and having a light directed at the strap eye in question

When you could see it, your whole film would be black! Film is much more sensitive then your eye. The hole is very small and exposes your film maybe for hours. To test it, put some putty on the strap eye and put a film in the camera. You can also bring the camera to a competent repairman.

Erik.

 

[Redseele]

Hmmmm, I see your point. I will do this and see if the light leak is still there. Although I'm still very puzzled as to why it is that the round light leak appears in the exact same place in different frames even when they are taken seconds apart, and they also appear in different rolls. My thought is that this if the light were coming from the side then it wouldn't show up in the exact same.

Anyway, I will give this a try. Thank you very much for your suggestions.

 

[Redseele]

Just an update on this issue for those curious. A couple of days after posting on this topic I sent my M6 to get a CLA telling them about the light leak and showing them the negatives. A couple of weeks ago I got the M6 back and immediately shot a color roll with it. Everything's perfect now! Apparently you guys were right in saying that light was coming in from the side. It's been fixed, while also the camera got a cleaning, lube and a rangefinder aligned.

Back to shooting 🙂