M6 Classic flash sync intermittently fails

enthdegree

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Oct 5, 2020
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Hi everyone, I just put a roll through my M6 non-TTL, all frames at 1/50s with a hot-shoe flash. Most of the shots were fine but 10% of them have exactly the left 1/3 illuminated, even though I'm really sure I left the shutted dial at 1/50s. Among the bad shots it's the exact same 1/3 on every frame with no variation. This is after mirroring, so text in that illuminated 1/3 appears unreversed. I couldn't figure out if that means it's the front or the rear curtain.

This was just CLA'ed by DAG about a year and a half ago so the camera is in great shape otherwise. Flash is niche for me so I didn't notice this until now unfortunately.

Strangely I can't reproduce any misfires without a roll inside. I fired the shutter on 1/50s many times and, looking through the back flap, the flash hit the whole frame every time. I tried in a bunch of orientations, with the bottom plate screwed on, etc. It seems it was only misfiring when there was film in the camera.

I am trying to figure out what could possibly have caused this mechanically. Maybe the film caused it somehow? Does anyone have any guesses?
 
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