callmedave Posted December 15, 2017 Share #1 Posted December 15, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, After saving for a long time I was able to do two things I’ve always wanted: Travel to Japan and buy a Leica M6!! I bought the M6 from a reputable dealer in Tokyo I was told it has just had a CLA. Long story short when I got home the 5 rolls of porta I took had a strange light leak. Not every frame and it moves slightly. It happens mostly mid roll say shots 15-30. I contacted the dealer and they paid to ship it back to Japan. They said they could not find the light leak but replaced all the light seals anyways. They tested it with film and could not duplicate it... I received the camera back and ran a roll though and still have this damn light leak. On thing I can think of is when I sent it to Japan I did not include the strap.... Thanks for reading and any help is appreciated. I’ve been searching for days and have found some info but the threads are old, pictures are no longer uploaded and original posters are not responding. Sorry for the small photos, it’s the only size I could attach. If it helps I can post more/bigger ones from another site. 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! Quote 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/279865-leica-m6-strange-light-leak-please-help-me-try-to-locate-it/?do=findComment&comment=3418038'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 15, 2017 Posted December 15, 2017 Hi callmedave, Take a look here Leica M6 strange light leak, please help me try to locate it.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jankap Posted December 15, 2017 Share #2 Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) Did you try different lenses? Did you send the camera with or without lens to Japan? Try the following please. Open the filter door, open the shutter ("B") and shine with strong light on the lens mount. With your standard lens mounted. Jan Edited December 15, 2017 by jankap Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentShutter Posted December 15, 2017 Share #3 Posted December 15, 2017 For me it seems to be some lightleak at the backdoorseals. Easy to proof this just cover it with some black tape and try another film again...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jankap Posted December 15, 2017 Share #4 Posted December 15, 2017 Did you try different lenses? Did you send the camera with or without lens to Japan? Try the following please. Open the filter door, open the shutter ("B") and shine with strong light on the lens mount. With your standard lens mounted. Jan Automatic replacements. Not filter door, but film door or backdoor. Jan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilentShutter Posted December 15, 2017 Share #5 Posted December 15, 2017 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmedave Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted December 15, 2017 It happens with both lens I have. It also it doesn’t matter if I change the lens or leave it on the whole roll. I sent it back without the lens. Like I said it happens with my 50 cron or 35 Voigtlander. I have a roll of B&W loaded and I’m half way through so I’ll tape the back door. Also it does have the plastic pads above the lugs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmedave Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted December 15, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) It’s an early Leitz M6 serial 171xxx if that helps any. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted December 15, 2017 Share #8 Posted December 15, 2017 My prior M2 had a similar intermittent issue. Similar artifact, a little different than yours, but always the same place. Gerry Smith (Kindermann, Toronto) found a leak around the rewind release knob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted December 15, 2017 Share #9 Posted December 15, 2017 (edited) The color indicates light is striking the front of the film, not through the back, so the back door is unlikely. The film winds on the take-up spool emulsion out, so a leak in the take-up chamber is likely - possibly the rewind lever as Michael suggested, as I've heard of that a few times. You might try putting black tape over the take-up lever area and see if that helps. Edited December 15, 2017 by TomB_tx Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmedave Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted December 15, 2017 That sounds like a possibility. I’m not sure why but it doesn’t happen at the beginning of the roll. It starts more towards the end of the roll. I was looking at the two rolls of film they tested in Japan but they were only 24 exposure rolls so that’s probably why it never showed up. Thanks for help, I’m totally at a loss. Having a problem like this sucks for my first Leica experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted December 15, 2017 Share #11 Posted December 15, 2017 I’m not sure why but it doesn’t happen at the beginning of the roll. It starts more towards the end of the roll. Likely this doesn't mean anything. Many more things are random than we like to admit, and if there is an explanation it is likely something that is very far from obvious. The tape over various bits makes a sensible test. Test one variable at a time, and eliminate things one by one. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmedave Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share #12 Posted December 15, 2017 True. You guys are taking about the rewind knob on the front of the camera? I think I’ll tape that up first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted December 15, 2017 Share #13 Posted December 15, 2017 True. You guys are taking about the rewind knob on the front of the camera? I think I’ll tape that up first. Yes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2wk Posted December 15, 2017 Share #14 Posted December 15, 2017 Good luck. And don't worry to much about it. Its a beautiful older machine and it just needs a bit of maintenance. Plastic and rubber seals deteriorate over time. Once it's fixed you will be good for hundred if not thousands of rolls. I know this has nothing to do with your current problem; but one thing you may want to consider down the road is the MP viewfinder upgrade. I did mine years ago and it was the best decision I made besides buying the camera. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted December 17, 2017 Share #15 Posted December 17, 2017 (edited) True. You guys are taking about the rewind knob on the front of the camera? I think I’ll tape that up first. Yep - I had the same thing with an M4-2. The little "-> R" lever/switch on the front wasn't seating tightly against the front of the camera, and so light leaked around it though the hole for the shaft. I figured it out by determining which pictures had the mark - they were those where I had taken that picture, advanced the film, and then not taken a picture for a while (1+ hours). The leaking light shown down through the camera like light from a cathedral clerestory window.... https://i.pinimg.com/236x/23/57/44/23574410388ebc3c723671eeb02eb9ce--sun-rays.jpg .....and between the shutter box and the film take-up spool, just where the "last exposed" frame sits until the next film advance. Confirmed by pointing the front of the camera at a bright light, opening the rear door, and peering thought - Hah! a little speck of light from the upper front of the camera casing! In my case, I unscrewed the retaining screw and took off the L-shaped rewind switch, and handed it to the maintenance guy at the hospital where I was working. He ground 1 mm off the back of the "L" - the shaft that goes in through the hole. Replaced, the lever then pressed up tight against the camera body, sealing the shaft hole to light. End of problem. @ Michael Hiles - did your M2 have a self-timer? Edited December 17, 2017 by adan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmedave Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted December 18, 2017 (edited) Thanks for everyone’s help. Specially Adams advice I was able to find it. Unfortunately I don’t think I can fix it. Looking at the pictures it seems when the camera was pointed towards a light source it flared! It flares on the film side. You can only see it when the shutter is up. Anyways with a powerful flash light pointed in the left rangefinder window you can see the light leak. I was able to get some pics of it. Now....not sure what’s next. 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! Edited December 18, 2017 by callmedave Quote 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/279865-leica-m6-strange-light-leak-please-help-me-try-to-locate-it/?do=findComment&comment=3420229'>More sharing options...
SilentShutter Posted December 18, 2017 Share #17 Posted December 18, 2017 Service will fix it in some minutes and you are good for the next 30 years - problem solved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hiles Posted December 18, 2017 Share #18 Posted December 18, 2017 @ Michael Hiles - did your M2 have a self-timer? Yes it did. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
callmedave Posted December 18, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted December 18, 2017 I’m not sure if the interworkings but I wonder if it would be safe to push some foam into that area.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted December 18, 2017 Share #20 Posted December 18, 2017 If you want to be charged extra for digging this foam out of film avance gears, go ahead. Sorry to hear what you were getting skunked by "reputable" dealer. What a clueless scumbags... Just send it for real and known service or ask you money back from "reputable" dealer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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