Please tell me if this is a light leak...

[akiralx]

...or something else (flare?) Shot with recently acquired 1960 SS M3 - which has rotating strap lugs.

Always in the same spot left of centre in an arc to the upper frame, in about 1/3 of shots taken over several days in varying light.

Last shot with the lenscap on (I think) which would suggest it is a leak, but it doesn't look like a streak which is what I thought it would resemble.

A fault with the film?

[earleygallery]

Hi,

Looks to me like it might be holes in the shutter curtains Check by removing the lens, baseplate and looking at the blinds from the back, with a bright light shining into the lens mount. Wind the shutter on to check both blinds.

Alternatively it might be a lead from the rangefinder or strap lug areas, but that would probably be more diffused that the spots you see on your photos.

Hopefully you can return the camera for repair or refund.

[tobey bilek]

Curtains on 50 year old cameras should be replaced. These are curtain holes and yes a form of light leak. The lugs need fixing to.

[jerryharwood]

This looks exactly like my M6 did after a trip to Spain; when I took the camera into Milton keynes, they said it was a holed shutter curtain. When I paid for the repair, that was what the invoice stated. very Expensive, but a complete cure.

[brianv]

Probably holes in the curtain. A number of factors contribute to this, including it being left in direct sun for too long.

Sometimes age just does it: My Leotax and Nicca curtains had to be replaced due to age.

But the curtains in my two M3's, M2, and several Barnack Leica's are original and in great shape. The material that Leica used really faired well over the decades.

[Shootist]

Strap lugs should not rotate. That needs to be fixed.

If you see these spots on the film in frames you left the lens cap then it is not holes in the shutter.
I suspect it is a light leak around the back door on the right hand side and exposing the film before it gets wound on the take up spool.
Good way to tell is to put some black tape over the right side of the door where it meets the camera body. Take a shot then let the film sit for a few second exposing the back to some bright light. Then advance the film and remove the tape and do the same thing (Or you could do this in reverse).