Diagnosing "banding" effect on negative (M6 TTL)

[Joey Pasco]

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Hey all,

 

First post, but I really could use some help diagnosing this issue. Thanks in advance!

 

First, a little background.

 

Last April (2012) I bought an M6 TTL and 50mm Summicron-M from KEH. A couple of the shots on my first roll had a strange banding effect, as you can see below:

 

 

The negative looks like this:

 

 

As you can see, the effect goes slightly outside the frame, but stops cleanly (that is, it does not fade gradually or taper off).

 

Assuming it to be a light leak issue with the body, I exchanged the camera for another, which had an entirely separate light leak issue, and then another, which had a dead LED bulb in the meter (yes, it's possible that I'm cursed). Finally, the fourth M6 TTL body I received from KEH seemed to be free of defects.

 

However, last week I discovered this anomaly had reappeared on one of my shots (please excuse the fact that I took this screenshot before flipping the image horizontally):

 

 

And the negative:

 

 

As you can see, it appears to be the EXACT same effect, including the way it extends slightly outside the frame and then stops cleanly. It even appears to be in the exact same location on the film plane.

 

This is a completely different camera body. The only common denominator is the 50mm Summicron-M.

 

Is it possible this effect is being somehow caused by the lens?

 

I thought it might be a shutter speed issue (both of those shots are probably 1/30 or 1/60), but I'm just baffled at this point. The chances seem really slim that I'd get two camera bodies that have the exact same issue.

 

The other factor of note is that this effect has only shown up once since getting this fourth M6 body in late July (at least that I've noticed). I'm in the process of burning some film in an attempt to repeat the effect.

 

Any information / opinions would be very helpful. The search for a working Leica drove me crazy all last summer, and I thought I'd moved past it. This has been so frustrating and disheartening, and not what I'd expected from Leica (or KEH for that matter).

 

Thank you!

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[madNbad]

Was all of the film from the same lot? Was it processed at the same place? I'm wondering if it's the processing or if the film was binding in the cartridge. I'm wondering if you have my old TTL from KEH. (Any zinc acne?) Try a couple of new rolls of film and take it different places to be processed and see if the problem continues. Good luck,

[250swb]

It is a shutter problem, not the film, not the lens, the camera needs a service.

 

It will most likely to be sticking at one speed, but that often means the other shutter speeds can be off despite not sticking. A lot of film cameras are stored for an extended period without use before the owner decides to sell it, so it could well be gummy grease causing the shutter to stick open. Equally a lot of retailers rely on the warranty they give to sort problems out. Rather than service every camera before they sell it they wait for a problem to be reported and then say 'bring it in and we will have it serviced'. This is frustrating for the customer, especially if the camera is on the verge of failure and problems that were brewing come to the surface just after the warranty has expired.

 

Steve

Edited May 4, 2013 by 250swb

[Joey Pasco]

Was all of the film from the same lot?

 

No; the first film is BW400CN, the second is Tri-X.

 

Was it processed at the same place?

 

No, the first film was processed at a local lab; the second was self-processed at home.

 

I'm wondering if it's the processing or if the film was binding in the cartridge. I'm wondering if you have my old TTL from KEH. (Any zinc acne?)

 

Nope

 

It is a shutter problem, not the film, not the lens, the camera needs a service.

 

Just a typical CLA, in your opinion?

[madNbad]

Couldn't hurt. A shutter adjustment and a good lube should put it right. While you're at it consider the MP finder upgrade to reduce the problem with finder flare. I thought it may have been a film issue since you experienced the same problem with different bodies. Good luck with number four.

[Michael Hiles]

To very good approximation, film is never the problem. Look to the shutter. Clean, lubricate and adjust to original specs.