Brenton C Posted August 30, 2013 Share #1 Posted August 30, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) First roll through my M3 (with Summicron 50/2), and the first film I've taken in, ohhhh, 18 years I'm sure. Some troubles here, and I'd value your input. The film is Portra 160. The first pic, a casual snap over a pint. It's grainy, but worse, it looks like the shutter got in the way of the exposure. From studying my notes, this happened on every picture taken at 1/1000. This was taken at F2, with skylight filter, using incident (Hah, Freudian typo, I typed "indicent") metering. Second pic, I didn't get down what the exposure was. The picture looks dark (under exposed?) and grainy. It was a sunny day, with sun obscured by some clouds, but I was careful to take the meter reading (ambient / incidental, not reflected) just before the shot. F stop might have been F2. I was a little F2 happy with this roll, experimenting a lot with Bokeh. I read that maybe F4 would have been sharper. Third, again the shutter problem (I think) at 1/1000. You can see the black curtain at the top. F2, no filter, metering again with the incidental method -- this was almost a nice picture! So, any suggestions, diagnoses, advices would be very welcome on several points: 1) I figure I have a broken camera, at least at 1/1000. 2) I'm surprised it's so grainy. 3) Also, are the colours a little under saturated? 4) Could I have damaged the film by carrying the camera in the car constantly, all the while I was taking this roll? 5) Any other points of note? Thank you in advance. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/211723-my-first-leica-film/?do=findComment&comment=2408706'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 30, 2013 Posted August 30, 2013 Hi Brenton C, Take a look here My first Leica film. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Brenton C Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted August 30, 2013 Sorry, I'm out of order. The "first" picture appears last. The dark and grainy one I refer to is mountain shot. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted August 30, 2013 Share #3 Posted August 30, 2013 Hi, firstly your shutter is faulty and needs repair. All speeds are probably out, which will explain the exposure problems. There's a list of Leica repairers on the forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted August 30, 2013 Share #4 Posted August 30, 2013 The shutter is "capping" - meaning the trailing curtain is moving faster than the leading curtain and catching up at 1/1000. It will also cause uneven exposure at other speeds, but slow speeds may give good results. It really needs cleaning, lubricating, adjusting (CLA) by a good Leica tech. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted August 30, 2013 James, Tom, Thanks for your input. Looks like I'll be sending it out for a tune up -- or back to Red Dot from where it came. Might be quicker to just send it to competent tech on this side of the pond. Is there a list on the site? I better have a look, but if there are recommendations, I'd welcome those. While I'm on the topic of having the camera adjusted, I found it very hard to focus, many times. It was very difficult to see the "patch" to bring it in to alignment. I wonder if the range finder might need a look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted August 30, 2013 Share #6 Posted August 30, 2013 RF cleaning and ajustments might improve the situation unless there is desilvering, in which case you're talking about an relatively expensive replacement (but well worth the cost). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted August 31, 2013 Share #7 Posted August 31, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) James, Tom, Thanks for your input. Looks like I'll be sending it out for a tune up -- or back to Red Dot from where it came. Might be quicker to just send it to competent tech on this side of the pond. Is there a list on the site? I better have a look, but if there are recommendations, I'd welcome those. While I'm on the topic of having the camera adjusted, I found it very hard to focus, many times. It was very difficult to see the "patch" to bring it in to alignment. I wonder if the range finder might need a look. I know it is a PITA but if Red Dot sold it with a warranty that's still in date I would let them sort it out and ask them not to send it back until it is. As for your focusing problems, well, it is tempting to find one fault and add another, but not seeing the patch is mostly due to having your finger over the illumination window. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted August 31, 2013 I had a very nice chat with Horst Wenzel last night. He's the Leica go to tech in Vancouver, and highly praised on the photo boards. He encouraged me to use the camera a bit more, but avoiding 1/1000th, and see how another roll or two turn out. I've still got half a roll of Ektar 100 in the camera-- i'll try and use that over the week end here. On the range finder, Horst said to focus the lens on infinite and check the patches line up. From another forum someone posted pix of the view finder view, and from those images and that discussion, it looks like my rf is ok... I take it that it's not always super easy to see it well. A high contrast between subject and backgroud does make it easy to see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted August 31, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted August 31, 2013 I'd like to add that I'm pleased the first roll wasn't a total disappointment. This picture turned out pretty nice, I thought. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/211723-my-first-leica-film/?do=findComment&comment=2410047'>More sharing options...
becker Posted September 1, 2013 Share #10 Posted September 1, 2013 Yes ist did, it sometimes helps to let each time work as often as You are able to... Mechanics dont like to stand still. KR Matt PS Once, the long times on my near to new M stopped working I tried this: Repeating one of the shorts again and again,suddenly it works well, now they do there Job, its not a bug its a Leica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 1, 2013 Share #11 Posted September 1, 2013 There's a small unexposed band on that image also. Finish the film you have & see how that looks, maybe exercise the shutter (no film in camera) and try another test roll, at all speeds. If the problem remains then contact Red Dot. AFAIK they give some months warranty on used gear so I'm sure they'll sort it out for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted September 1, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted September 1, 2013 Steve, you're right. I didnt see that, and that one was taken at 1/16 or 1/8 (pretty sure its the 1/8th one). Red dot does give 6 months. I'll try the advise to exercise the shutter. Thanks guys! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
becker Posted September 2, 2013 Share #13 Posted September 2, 2013 There's a small unexposed band on that image also. Where ? Can You please help me ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted September 2, 2013 Share #14 Posted September 2, 2013 I also don't see that unless James means the black part along the right-hand edge. I thought that is just a result of having scanned the unexposed film in between the frames but I may be wrong. Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brenton C Posted September 2, 2013 Author Share #15 Posted September 2, 2013 Im pretty sure he means that unexposed bar on the right. The film was professionally scanned when developed, so it wasnt my clumsiness, if that nelps. As soon as im home today i'll carefully look at the others. Im in revelstoke BC today ... I was hoping to get a nice picture or two. Beautiful town In The Rockies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 2, 2013 Share #16 Posted September 2, 2013 Yes, the black strip on the RH edge - I'm assuming it's not simply the strip between frames (given the obvious shutter problem it's fair to assume it's the same fault). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
becker Posted September 2, 2013 Share #17 Posted September 2, 2013 Thx, when I would give my Films to a prof. scannservice Id like to have the frame arround to be sure that nothing is cut off. Or is that paranoid I had to pimp my ls 40, that it does not do that. Luck with Your shutter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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