New M6 TROUBLE ?!

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Henk

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Hi,

Some less exciting news about my new M6. I ran a roll through it and developed. There is a line all over the film of about 1.5-2mm thickness. Not really a scratch, but clearly visible. To make sure I ran another roll through it
first inspecting it, then throught the camera. Not developed and the same
line was visisble on te undeveloped film. Clearly happens in the camera.

Is this something which can happen on a new Leica M, which goes away after some rolls, or am I already in serious trouble ??

Put a neg in the enlarger, but had no time to develop a print yet. Saw no damage on the baseboard though.

Lord have mercy....
Henk
 
Henk, if you get the line on a piece of unexposed and undeveloped film, it is obviously a mechanical problem. Check your film-pressure plate for stuff stuck on it and also look at the inside of the take-up spool "cavity" of the camera and see if something is touching the film. Cab you identify if the scratch is on the back of the film (against the pressure plate) or on the emulsion side (against the filmgate) - check the filmgate opening too and look if there is something stuck on the vertical part of the film-gate cut out.
 
scratch

scratch

The scratch is on the back against the pressure plate. I myself can see
nothing wrong, but I'm no expert.
 
pressure plate ?

pressure plate ?

Put another roll in it. Advanced some film, opened camera. Line is visible
already at the shutter. Advanced some more film, with back open. No more line. So I think it must be the pressure plate, but I can see nothing on it ????

What can this be ?
 
Take it back to the store, if that's possible for you. Bring with the offending negatives too.

Now, if you bought the camera online... contact the seller.

Do you have scans of the problem? Is it 1.5mm thick on the negative itself? In the middle, top or bottom?
 
I had a similar problem with my Bessa L caused by a small bump in the take-up compartment. Although this clearly scratched the film it was impossible to detect by eye only. Finally I detected it by using a q-tip. A few strands of cotton got caught on the bump and I was able to file it down. You could try something similar.

/Ola
 
I see you're online and just posted about the problem...

Evidently, the pressure plate.

Frankly, Henk, if you cannot take it to the store, take it to a technician.

Glad you're observant enough to notice these things on time! 🙂 Good luck!
 
Henk, I'd just take this straight back to the dealer and get them to refund your cash or give you a replacement camera (if they have one) - to my mind you'd be insane to start trying to fix the problem yourself if there is a problem with the pressure plate or the wining mechanism that is marking your film . If they sold it to you as a new camera, which is what I understand from the other thread, I'm assuming you have the same sort of rights as you would here in the UK to have it replaced/refunded if it's not "fit for purpose".

Good luck!
 
Hi,

I cleaned inside carefully and thourougly with isopropyl alcohol. This solved it.
For now I guess, because if I run a film through it several times I can begin to
see a line on he pressure plate coming up if I look carefully. But the film stays ok for now. I can then clean off the line on the pressure plate. So this is stuff coming from somewhere and it must be from the film.

What could be wrong with the pressureplate on a not used Leica ?
The pressureplate has a surface filled with curves. Is this the way it should be on an M6 ? Can not post photo because I have no digital equipment.

Thanks !
 
Henk said:
Hi,

I cleaned inside carefully and thourougly with isopropyl alcohol. This solved it.
For now I guess, because if I run a film through it several times I can begin to
see a line on he pressure plate coming up if I look carefully. But the film stays ok for now. I can then clean off the line on the pressure plate. So this is stuff coming from somewhere and it must be from the film.

What could be wrong with the pressureplate on a not used Leica ?
The pressureplate has a surface filled with curves. Is this the way it should be on an M6 ? Can not post photo because I have no digital equipment.

Thanks !
Click to expand...

this could very well be glue from the film cassette oozing out from under the felt as you advance. I had an entire batch of film that this happened to.

of course this is purely speculation, I have no evidence for claiming this is what is happening with your equipment since i can't see it.
To be honest, I'd take it back and have the shops repair guy take a gander at it real quick.
 
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Since the camera is under full warranty(prior thread) you should send it to Leica for a full cla. Not only do you want the problem solved, but have leica do a full cla on the camera, since the shutter speeds might be off due to being NOS for a decade or more. If you try a DIY repair you might void the warranty. Why fool around. Send it to Leica, a freebie cla. When I bought a new M6 in 1990, I sent the camera in for a full cla right before the end of the warranty. Got a complete cla at no cost. AND the camera came back working better than new.
 
Henk said:
What could be wrong with the pressure plate on a not used Leica ?
Click to expand...

Based on the information I received from the dealer in reply to your prior post, I'm not convinced that you received a factory new body. In fact, it's extremely rare to find any factory new M6 bodies anymore. The fact that your dealer told me they have only one in their store, but many "like new" used bodies, tends to supports this.

Did you get a full Passport warranty from Leica, or something else?
 
Hi,

I was told it was new, it surely looked new and unused and untouched. There was even the folie still on the baseplate. Of course I know that M6's are out of production for a while, but I figured it must have been NOS.

When I told full waranty in my previous post, I ment the full waranty given on all new products in Holland, namely 1 (one) year. It is not a full passport waranty.
But still I have the one year waranty. I phoned them today and I will bring it back to the shop tomorrow.

I got nearly sick and depressed from this Leica failure, because I had sold my M4-P to fund this one, and because the rest of this M6 works really beautiful.

But I'll guess it will work out for me, but I'll have to live with the fact of not having a Leica around for some weeks...

I will keep you informed
 
Brrr, the fact that on some repaired M6's the problem was not solved scares me.

I will have to sweat it out.
 
Call Leica Holland and give them the camera´s SN, to find out if it´s a grey market body😡. Return the camera or send it to Leica for a CLA - explain the problem in writing😉.



Henk said:
Brrr, the fact that on some repaired M6's the problem was not solved scares me.

I will have to sweat it out.
Click to expand...
 
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