More Suspected Shutter Problems with M3

[StephenH]

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I've had several problems with my M3 including shutter bounce which have been mitigated but not eliminated  by a CLA.  All of them were manifested in VERTICAL defects visible on the negatives and so were consistent with an abnormality with the shutter opening as the vertical opening is moving across the frame.  This recent defect is HORIZONTAL and appears as an overexposed band on the top of the image (bottom of the negative) and the the bottom of the image, although only the defect at the top of the image is clearly visible here.  It occurred about three times on a 36 exposure roll and neighboring frames shot at the same speed did not have this defect.  It does not appear to be a light leak because the overexposure does not extend past the frame.  Any ideas??

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Edited August 24, 2021 by StephenH
clarity

[a.noctilux]

Hello Stephen,

I had this kind of weird top line (on digital though, never had that on film M).

A thread of discussion here, this one (link to..)

 

 

Adan probably does have some explanations in his post, just replace sensor with film ...

 

 

[TomB_tx]

There are seals or baffles at the bottom of the curtains that when aged can allow light to come up around the edge of the curtains. The fogging in that area happens with the shutter closed, and depends on time & brightness of light coming through the lens. Had this issue on my M6 some years ago. Leica had replacement seals of different material.

Sometimes light reflecting off lens or body surfaces during exposure can have a similar appearance, depending on the angle of light source.

[jerzy]

if the horizontal stripe would be at the bottom only than I would say that seal on backdoor is guilty. Bottom cover as source here is very unprobable, I fully agree with Tom - velvet seals at light baffle. This is how the baffle looks inside, shown is the curtain side. If both seals are used or even missing (they are glued and may fall off) you will observe similar effect. And depending of the light angle it will be on the top, sometimes at the bottom. It is a bit complicated to get to the baffle, you need to disassembly part of the camera including rangefinder. You may try to take off lens cap only for the photos, otherwise it shall stay on the lens.

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[nitroplait]

Making sure to change lenses in subdued light (under a coat or inside a bag etc) will also help do avoid it. On my M2 the issue was only visible in conjunction with the change of lenses.

[a.noctilux]

Having seen that the OP used negative and the darker top line the OP showed here (and he said so just to see in place of 'overexposure' as underexposure) can not be light leak.

same as my link post #2 (not as severe but there)

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the other link to adan's post ...my post #2 !

so adan's explanation may be the best bet

 

[Anthony Miller]

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On 9/5/2021 at 4:42 AM, nitroplait said:

Making sure to change lenses in subdued light (under a coat or inside a bag etc) will also help do avoid it. On my M2 the issue was only visible in conjunction with the change of lenses.

I have experienced this as well. Same marks on my negs and each coincided with a lens change in bright sunlight with me forgetting to shield the camera