Help! Uneven exposure on M3 photos

[andrekeli]

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Hi,

 

I have just acquired an M3 which looked ok from the outside and tested mechanically. I went ahead to test a few rolls just to be sure on the whole mechanical condition once more. The first 3 rolls ( Fuji Superia, Kodak ColorPlus, and Tmax400) came out ok (I even used the noctilux f0.95 to try it on). I have just finished my 4th test roll using Tri-X 400 and 50lux asph. However, on this particular 4th roll something weird came up which I could not explain. I had a lab develop and scan it. It was not clear what solution they used to do so.

 

In this 4th roll, the first 2 frames came out OK (which was shot on a different scene). However, on the next few frames (frame #3 to #17), I noticed this uneven exposure (see pics below) where the left side was considerably darker than the right. I remembered there was no uneven lighting on the scene. However, this "uneven-ness" kind of slowly disappeared towards the end of the frame (it was still somewhat visible on frame #29, but by frame #35 it's gone, or is it?).

 

Has anybody seen this phenomenon before? What causes this: the camera, the developing or the scanner? I did check the negatives, this uneven exposure does show up. So scanner is probably an unlikely culprit.

 

I do keep my M3 in a drybox. Could the dryness in the drybox have caused it?

 

Do I have to send the M3 for CLA? How much does it cost? Will this cure the problem? Tomorrow I will be testing some Ilford XP2 to see if the problem still persists. I will post the results tomorrow.

 

Any input or sharing would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much in advance for your time and attention.

 

Andrew

 

*********

Frame #2 was shot in a night in a room. The remaining frames were shot on the same date, same location and same time. I was just rushing to finish the roll to see the final images.

 

Frame #2: OK (slow speed)

[ATTACH]270529[/ATTACH]

 

Frame #3: uneven begins (I think it is 1/1000s) - Shot from inside my car

[ATTACH]270531[/ATTACH]

 

Frame #4: (I think it is 1/1000s) - Shot from inside my car

[ATTACH]270530[/ATTACH]

 

Frame #29 (I think it is 1/1000s) - Shot outside on the street

[ATTACH]270532[/ATTACH]

 

Frame #35 (I think it is 1/1000s) - Shot outside on the street

[ATTACH]270533[/ATTACH]

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[andybarton]

It's probably a lazy shutter. A $250 CLA will sort it out.

 

It doesn't have to be by Solms. Check out the specialist list in the Customer sub-forum.

[andrekeli]

It's probably a lazy shutter. A $250 CLA will sort it out.

 

It doesn't have to be by Solms. Check out the specialist list in the Customer sub-forum.

 

Thank you, Andy. I just had a 2-month sensor replacement with Solms. I don't hope to repeat the same waiting game.

 

Will check the specialist list.

 

Thank you,

Andrew

[erl]

One of my M6's has just developed a similar problem. Come Monday it goes straight to service. Andy is right. It is a shutter curtain problem. Not terribly expensive to fix. The rest of your camera will be checked over as well.

[gyoung]

Might be 'sticky' shutter curtains. Mine had this problem when the camera got old, the curtains got sticky and stuck to the rollers, thus slowing the shutter down. In my case the effect was uniform, new curtains solved the problem, shouldn't be too expensive, unless you send it to Leica Best try an independant for an older camera. Malcolm Taylor has my recomendation in the UK

 

Gerry