Shot 7 rolls w. hole in MP shutter @$#

[icebear]

Hi folks,
@#$!!!:bang:, today I got pictures shot last weekend back from my store and realized that after one, all remaing shots have a bright spot in the lower left corner. - black spot on the nagtive and yes- holding the opened MP w/o lens aginst the light - there is a tiny freakin' hole in the shutter curtain :bang:.
Most frustrating of all : I shot 7 rolls at yesterday's Halloween Parade in New York City. I will see on Friday if they still are usable at least when cropped.😡
I shot in NYC on the weekend. The particular shot when the burn must have happened was against direct sun on 5th Ave facing downtown. I was holding the camera composing and waiting for some traffic to move and obviously that was the time...
I always thought like ... how stupid can you be to leave your camera somewhere facing direct sunlight but that it happens within a few seconds, good grieve !
I remember that I've read something about patching/repairing it somehow. I also tried to search the forum but I didn't find anything about the repair. I might give it a try myself first instead of rightaway giving it for a shutter repair to Leica. Any advice ?
BIG FRUST....

 

[jlw]

Infuriating, I'm sure!

I remember reading about various DIY repairs, but I'm not sure you'd want to do them on an MP, and don't know how well they'd work if the hole is 'way over in the corner.

Isn't the Passport warranty supposed to cover this sort of thing?

 

[icebear]

Nope, no warranty for me, I bought it used already w/o any passport. It worked absolutely fine for three years and eventhough I don't know the fineprint, I guess some stupid accident like this would not be covered anyway. Looks like "normal" wear...

 

[SolaresLarrave]

That hurt to read! 🙁

The passport warranty should cover these mishaps. Fortunately, if it weren't covered, from what I've read it's not a terribly expensive (in Leica terms) repair because the curtains run for around $100.

 

[Stu W]

I would try to patch the curtain. It's just rubberized cloth. Try a little dot of that black liquid elecric tape, or rubber dip. I'm sure it'll be fine.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[SteveRD1]

Sorry to hear

Sorry to hear

I have always feared I would have this problem as I caught myself a couple of times with the lens up to the sun for a brief moment. Hopefully it will not be too much $$ to repair.

I just sent in my M7 for repair under warranty, and yes the passport warranty would cover a hole as well:

After you register your new equipment with Leica USA, you will be completely protected against defects in materials and workmanship. In addition, your new Leica USA equipment will also be protected against any incidental damage, including breakage, water damage or any accident. This plan does not cover fire and theft. This unique warranty protection is unparalleled in the photo industry

It says "any accident" so that is good to know.

Hope you get it fixed soon!

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

I would try to patch the curtain. It's just rubberized cloth. Try a little dot of that black liquid elecric tape, or rubber dip. I'm sure it'll be fine.

If it is under Passport warranty then send it back in.

If it is not, then what Stu said 🙂

sorry to hear about that, good luck

 

[aad]

Odd-I can't get a lens to make any appreciable heat on my skin when I try to test this theory out. If it were sun damage, shouldn't it be in the center?

Maybe it WOULD be warranteed.

 

[icebear]

It definately is a sunburn

It definately is a sunburn

Odd-I can't get a lens to make any appreciable heat on my skin when I try to test this theory out. If it were sun damage, shouldn't it be in the center?

Hi add,

it started in the middle of the film after the specific shots against direct sun, I mentioned. The rubberized back of the cloth shows a little mold droplet of the rubber. No doubt about heat influence. I also thought this would NEVER happen during use i.e. runing around street shooting - more a fairy tale kind of thing but this is what happended.🙁

 

[Nick R.]

I hope that was a cheap lens. The heat from direct sunlight passing through a lens can damage the optical cement used to assemble the elements.

Odd-I can't get a lens to make any appreciable heat on my skin when I try to test this theory out. If it were sun damage, shouldn't it be in the center?

Maybe it WOULD be warranteed.

 

[icebear]

2/35asph was the burner

2/35asph was the burner

Hi Nick,
it was my 2/35 asph, bought it used but cheap ? not really. I'll check it out but just by passing through how could the light potentially damage the lens itself? That would be the complete icing on the cake🙁. BTW I called Leica and they would need to take a look first if repair or replacement will be necessary. Timing: 3-4 weeks. I ordered liq. electrical tape and will give it a shot first, if it doesn't work I can give it to Leica afterwards.

 

[agfa100]

hole in shutter!!!!!!!

hole in shutter!!!!!!!

Just send it in and get if fixed properly, you will feel better after doing that, I had also the same problem with a car! I put a mirror in my back seat to take home from home depot and when I got home I had a burned hole in the headliner of the car. It does not take much to do this.....
wbill

 

[aad]

Hi Nick,
it was my 2/35 asph, bought it used but cheap ? not really. I'll check it out but just by passing through how could the light potentially damage the lens itself? That would be the complete icing on the cake🙁. BTW I called Leica and they would need to take a look first if repair or replacement will be necessary. Timing: 3-4 weeks. I ordered liq. electrical tape and will give it a shot first, if it doesn't work I can give it to Leica afterwards.

I think Nick is having you on.

Anyway, I've shot a lot into the sun, usually with a 50. I'm still not sure if the sun was the problem. Meaning I'm pretty much sure it's not.

 

[Nick R.]

Incidential sunlight going through a lens during normal shooting won't hurt it even if it is strong enough to burn a hole in the shutter, but holding a lens in the sun while you try and burn a hole in something will heat the lens cement. How long will it take to do damage? I don't know, but why risk it?

 

[ZeissFan]

Anyway, I've shot a lot into the sun, usually with a 50. I'm still not sure if the sun was the problem. Meaning I'm pretty much sure it's not.

This is something that has happened to a number of people through the years, beginning with the Leica thread-mount cameras and continuing through the M but also afflicting other rangefinders with cloth focal plane shutters. Never SLRs, however, for obvious reasons.

Do a Google search on "Leica burned shutter curtain" and you'll see plenty of stories. Too many to be something else.

 

[edodo]

when those sunrays do converge like using a loupe under the sun for exemple it give that laser sharp ray that can even start burning dry roots to make a fire. The hole is not in the middle because the camera wasn't held horizontally at lunch time on equatorial lattitude hehe

 

[aad]

Maybe my puny little Elmar is too small. I'll try a Nokton.

 

[wen]

I am so glad that I saw this...I have no idea facing the sunlight might damage or burn a hole. I did those sun glare shots on portriature a lot when I use Nikon or Xpan camera...I am so glad I know that now with Leica...

does this mean, I can't find the sunlight through the lens, or facing the light at all??? Sorry, fitst leica, still on my 1st couple roll of films now...total newbie here ;O

 

[icebear]

Hi wen,
it might have been really extreme lightning condition that day. It was bright blue sky with strong winds pushing clouds very fast, interchanging with full bright sun. I was framing the picture and obviously pointing towards the sun, trying to catch this amazing view. I must have been holding the camera still for 5-10 sec. waiting for some traffic to move. I have shot similar situations before and it never happened before. I would try it again but just being careful next time not to hold the camera with the lens facing the sun and waiting for something to move out of the frame.