More help on M5

[PaulDalex]

Hi everybody,
I am asking further help for my M5. It is a mint 1975 body and works perfectly. I don't think she needs a CLA yet.
Some time ago I had two problems, the lazy frame counter, and a peculiar light leak.
Initially I was planning to send it to Solms, but to depart from her would make me very anxious.
Recently, and I wish to thank again the RFF guys that gave me advice on the counter, I succeeded in fixing it. I think I overrated the problem. Actually it seems to me the bottom sensing lever had just a minimal sticking problem. Now it resets even from, say, number 2.
So I come to the strange light leak, and I wonder if it is a defect at all.
It happened when I made a whole roll of photos of the same landscape, incorporating the sun, with the Zeiss 35 at about 15,30 pm in spring in Italy (I say this because it was a strong sun not a sunset). In a couple cases, but not in the others, the halo of the sun extends through frame separation into the next frame. The sun was at the top of the frame (in portrait) or right at the edge and a slight halo is visible at the bottom of the next one. The camera was on a monopod and I did not care to recap while cocking the shutter.
What do you think? Did I push things to the limit or is it a defect?
Looking at the shutter front and back, also while cocking and firing the shutter, it seems like new. Actually the camera was part of a dealer collection, used to adorn the store. He barely tested it and after I bought it from him, the camera has seen very few rolls passing. I am a hobbyst with very little spare time and many cameras that I rotate.
BTW I noted that behind the hinged door there is only one seal on the right vertical groove. It is the original seal, but it is not foam.
Where can I find this sort of material? Should I insulate all the other grooves?
Thank you in advance
Cheers
Paul

 

[sepiareverb]

I've found that I get larger negatives with wider lenses, and suspect that the halo bleeding over into the frame spacing is just from the strong lightsource being right at the edge of the frame. You might try shining a flashlight into the open lens, then capping the lens and firing off the frame. I'd try it several times. Then later in the roll try shining the light around on the back door to see if it has any leaks.

 

[czamagni]

In italian sunny stronglight you *have* to cap the lens!
It's note necessary occurred when cocking: as there is no mirror in front of the cloths, a strong light actually *can* pass them...
Your back door is standard, and should be lightproof (other M don't have any seal in the back door).
Regards

 

[jan normandale]

putting some of the photos you are discussing into this thread would make this discussion easier to analyze.. just a thought

 

[PaulDalex]

Thank you all very much indeed.
It is a great pleasure to be in touch with such competent people.
All the advice and remarks you gave are highly appreciated. I think I pushed it to the limit placing the strong sun disk to the edge. But At the same time I should have capped while cocking and I should do the tests suggested by Sepiaverb. The fact that the back is standard is reassuring.
The positive notes are that although I use a BW skylight no negative was burned and the halo is beautiful. An outstanding lens!
As to posting the photo (well I will have to scan the space inbetween two frames) I will try, but now it is hectic teaching time for me. So be patient.
Cheers
Paul