Leica M6 light leaks?

[victornyman]

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So I bought my first Leica M6 0,72 TTL couple of weeks ago and was finally getting my roll developed at a Local lab here in Stockholm.

 

Getting back the rolls I saw leaks on the negatives and prints, going from the first few frames, then skip a few frames and come back at frame 10-12. After that nothing on the rest of the roll.

 

Some have leaks going across from perf to perf and on one or two frames it only occurs around the perfs but not affecting the image. And it's not on the same spot of the frame, it moves back and forth. I shoot a 400 Kentmere factory loaded.

 

The seller says that he never had problems with leaks of the camera, but is very helpful to help me get this sorted.

 

Anyone know what this can be?

 

I really hope it's the film, waiting to get back my second roll and hoping for the best...

 

 

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[pop]

This looks as if light was striking the film where it is loosely wound. Not only are there the stripes running over all of the film, but there are images of the perforation holes as well. 

 

This might take place in right hand side of the camera, where the film is kept after exposure. The lower edge of the film is a bit more affected than the upper one. This might indicate a light leak in the upper part of the camera body. 

 

Is the strap lug on the right hand side a bit loose?

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[victornyman]

This looks as if light was striking the film where it is loosely wound. Not only are there the stripes running over all of the film, but there are images of the perforation holes as well. 

 

This might take place in right hand side of the camera, where the film is kept after exposure. The lower edge of the film is a bit more affected than the upper one. This might indicate a light leak in the upper part of the camera body. 

 

Is the strap lug on the right hand side a bit loose?

 

Hi and thanks for your answer. No, it's rock solid on both sides, and the black covers above the strap lug are still there and rock solid to. What I think is weird is that it stops after frame 12, even tho the camera has been in bright light, was shooting the middle of the day with a few days interval on the last 20 frames but not a single leaks anywhere. I'm getting back the second roll in a few hours and really hoping it will turn out okay. 

 

I'll keep posting here if the trouble is still there.

[pop]

If the lips of the cartridge with the film were a bit loose and the cartridge was left in bright light (presumably exposed), I could imagine the film being exposed through the slit, but it's a bit iffy.

[jaapv]

If the lips of the cartridge with the film were a bit loose and the cartridge was left in bright light (presumably exposed), I could imagine the film being exposed through the slit, but it's a bit iffy.

This can happen if one pulls the film all the way into the cartridge and has full sunlight on the slit. It does not look like a camera problem.

[victornyman]

If the lips of the cartridge with the film were a bit loose and the cartridge was left in bright light (presumably exposed), I could imagine the film being exposed through the slit, but it's a bit iffy.

 

 

I got the roll of the buyer of the camera, but was in a box and then I loaded it. I'm just hoping it might been the lab, or if just something happend to roll some weird way hehe =)

[pop]

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I got the roll of the buyer of the camera, but was in a box and then I loaded it. I'm just hoping it might been the lab, or if just something happend to roll some weird way hehe =)

I presume you also unloaded it. Is it not possible that the cartridge was exposed to sunlight or to some other bright light source?

[earleygallery]

Looks like an issue during the processing stage to me. Make sure you get the 2nd film processed somewhere different. 

[adan]

Definitely has the hallmarks of light leaking through or around the film cassette "lips."

 

https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pM-_naCfZ6k/VeVo_zxr0BI/AAAAAAAAzlc/Z3GUgchwXAs/s1600/P1030268.jpg

 

If the fuzzy-felt light traps have been ruffled, or the thin sheet-metal backing bent at all, light can get in - very fast. Since the film itself is not totally opaque, and has the sprocket holes through it, a leak can affect several layers of film (nearest the outside of the roll - thus the "first" frames of the roll) before being attenuated.

 

And - the felt itself is not "perfectly" light-tight anyway - it is, after all, just black threads pressing on the film (or each other, when the leader is retracted). It will leak light eventually - Kentmere, Kodak, Ilford etc. count on the bare cassette being "out in the light" for a few minutes at most between unboxing and loading, and unloading and being put back in a protective wrapper/box - and all of that "in subdued light" (as the fine print on the box/instructions likely tells you) rather than raw direct sunlight. ESPECIALLY with ISO 400 film - but even with ISO 125 film:

 

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4049/4512421514_9fe7d48224_b.jpg

[250swb]

I agree with the idea it is a cassette or processing problem while the film is still tightly wound, and not camera related. Look how the leak is biased over the sprocket holes first one way, then centred, then biased the other way, typical of a cassette leak.

[jeff_m]

Another vote that it is the film cassette. Another tip is to shade your camera when loading and removing film, ie. your back to the sun and shade camera.

[Fraser]

Do you think that's maybe what is causing these as well? I've been trying to find out what's going on with my M4 the last couple weeks. Seems to happen randomly on different frames but always in the sample place of each frame and starts from the sprocket holes.

 

Any help appreciated.

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[earleygallery]

That would appear to be a light leak most probably from the rear flap, upper edge (remember the image is inverted).

[Fraser]

Thanks James, 

 

It's been the burden of my life the last week, I'll tape over the door today and go test a roll.