New M6 scratches film

[henkie]

Hi,

I have bought a new M6 and quickly exposed and developed a roll to check. Trouble
A line on the entire film of about 1,5/2mm thick. Same with undeveloped film run through the camera. Checked everything and with the naked
eye I could see nothing wrong. Then thorougly cleaned with isopropylalcohol.
Seemed to solved the problem, but after running a roll a few times through the camera,
I can see stuff appearing on the pressure plate, which I can clean off again. There must
be a problem with the pressure plate. What could it be ?

Thanks

[marknorton]

Is this a physical scratch on the film or in the exposed image? Horizontal or vertical?

[henkie]

It is a horizontal line on the back of the film, against the pressure plate. Emulsion side
is OK. Do not need to develop the film to see it. This is very frustrating, did not think this possible on a new Leica. Got very depressed... Mechanically the film is not touching anyting, so it must be the pressure plate.

[cocker]

I didn't know there were "new" M6's for sale - presumably old stock. I would take it back if its new and get the shop to sort it out.

[ho_co]

1) Are you using Kodak film?
2) Do you wind on fully to the end of the roll, trying to get as many images as possible from the roll?

In the past and perhaps today, some if not all Kodak films were attached to the rewind spool with an adhesive tape.

Winding to the end of the roll pulled the front lip of that tape through the cassette, sometimes depositing some adhesive on the felt light trap. As the film was rewound, it ran across the spots of adhesive and could be scratched along its entire length. Generally the problem wasn't noticeable except on close inspection. Could be on either side of film.

Of course, the scratch, if present, would be different on the next roll.

Doesn't sound like what you're experiencing, just a heads-up.


Is the scratch in the same position on all rolls, and does it get worse the more rolls you put through?

If you eliminated the problem once by cleaning the camera as you say, and now the problem is returning, I don't think it's likely that the camera is the cause. Probably something from outside the camera that is building up.

[kenneth]

Originally Posted by cocker

I didn't know there were "new" M6's for sale - presumably old stock. I would take it back if its new and get the shop to sort it out.

Absolutely agree 100%- it's the sellers problem and he needs to address it- must have had it in stock a long time. It would be really nice to get hold of a new M6- not that one of course

[DuquesneG]

There was a "scandal" some years ago involving M6s whose pressure plates scratched film. After the usual denial there was an issue, eventually Leica replaced the faulty pressure plates under Passport warranty. Evidently your M6 (discontinued in 1998) being "new" means nobody ever ran a roll of film through it (or if they did, they didn't see or care about the scratches or blamed it on the photolab). If I recall correctly, Don Goldberg could polish the pressure plate on out-of-warranty bodies, so you might give him a call and see how much it would run...then get the seller to refund you that much. If you want the camera that is. A Leica M that's at least 10 years old and has never been used might need a CLA.

[henkie]

Hi,

I phoned the shop and I'm bringing it back tomorrow, since I have got 1 year waranty
on it, I hope everything will work out for me for free and get finally a faultfree M6.

The serialnr is 2431904, so it is a 1998, perhaps from on from the "scandal" as mentioned above...

I'll keep you informed with the outcome of my nightmare.

[gravastar]

Originally Posted by DuquesneG

There was a "scandal" some years ago involving M6s whose pressure plates scratched film. After the usual denial there was an issue, eventually Leica replaced the faulty pressure plates under Passport warranty. Evidently your M6 (discontinued in 1998) being "new" means nobody ever ran a roll of film through it (or if they did, they didn't see or care about the scratches or blamed it on the photolab). If I recall correctly, Don Goldberg could polish the pressure plate on out-of-warranty bodies, so you might give him a call and see how much it would run...then get the seller to refund you that much. If you want the camera that is. A Leica M that's at least 10 years old and has never been used might need a CLA.

Unfortunately I had one of those before I sold it to part finance the M8. Problem is I can't remember how Leica fixed it since it was so long ago. I know it went back to them more than once. If I remember it used to be returned OK but after a few films had been through the scratches would appear again. They were always on the back of the film, never on the emulsion and were worst with the thicker color negative films. I suspect in the end Leica replaced the pressure plate.
Bob.