Brand new MP/M-A/M6 film scratches [Merged]

[Warton]

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On 7/31/2023 at 9:17 AM, darlesch said:

Just an update to my post after my plate switch that I did myself.

I shot a roll with the defective plate on for the first 5 or 6 shots. I rewound the film, took out the canister, put new plate in, put the existing roll back in, advanced to frame 7, and finished the roll.

Looking at the fully dried developed negatives, it's shocking how scratched up the first 6 frames are compared to the rest of the roll: spotless.

Just incredible. 

Once again, you couldn't tell the difference by the naked eye test looking at the two plates. They both looked polished, even with feeling with my finger. 

Do M-A and MP share same plate? if so, I am considering to order a pressure plate as well even though I haven't discovered the scratch yet, just a precaution and preventative measure.

[Huss]

1 hour ago, Warton said:

Do M-A and MP share same plate? if so, I am considering to order a pressure plate as well even though I haven't discovered the scratch yet, just a precaution and preventative measure.

Check your camera first.  Super easy to do.  Because what if the spare pressure plate you order is a scratcher?

[Warton]

18 minutes ago, Huss said:

Check your camera first.  Super easy to do.  Because what if the spare pressure plate you order is a scratcher?

I have run through 2 rolls in the M-A, and developed them myself. No sign of scratch at least to my layman's eyes.

I just like to have something backup saving for rainy days, in case something super weird happening like falling blood rains and blue-moon event,  I can be prepared.

[Huss]

9 minutes ago, Warton said:

I have run through 2 rolls in the M-A, and developed them myself. No sign of scratch at least to my layman's eyes.

I just like to have something backup saving for rainy days, in case something super weird happening like falling blood rains and blue-moon event,  I can be prepared.

Dood, if it isn't scratching you are golden.  It's not going to suddenly start scratching!  My M3 has been good for 70 years now...  My M-A and MP - no issues.

And, I'm not kidding, you could be buying a spare that DOES scratch!  Up to you.

[Warton]

6 minutes ago, Huss said:

Dood, if it isn't scratching you are golden.  It's not going to suddenly start scratching!  My M3 has been good for 70 years now...  My M-A and MP - no issues.

And, I'm not kidding, you could be buying a spare that DOES scratch!  Up to you.

70 years...? really I didn't know you are that "young"

[FrozenInTime]

3 hours ago, Huss said:

Dood, if it isn't scratching you are golden.  It's not going to suddenly start scratching!  My M3 has been good for 70 years now...  My M-A and MP - no issues.

And, I'm not kidding, you could be buying a spare that DOES scratch!  Up to you.

Yet, Leica messed with a time proven design and 'improved' it :

At some point after the classic M6, they changed the machined plate to, what may be a pressed part, that includes four drilled out holes that allows screwdriver access to visible but recessed screws ( are these scratching if for example the head is damaged or the wrong length of screw used ? )

I also have seen images of a further variation with, rather than a smooth plate, a plate with a fine grid of dimples evenly spread across plate - does anyone have this ?

[Huss]

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4 hours ago, Warton said:

70 years...? really I didn't know you are that "young"

The result of clean living.  And only coming out on moonless nights.

[madNbad]

52 minutes ago, Huss said:

The result of clean living.  And only coming out on moonless nights.

My birthday is close to when the M3 reached the market. I should be more careful of sitting in the moonlight, even more so when it’s a “Super Moon”🌙

[Huss]

(It's my M3 that is 70, not me.  I am a forever youthful 35.  Year after year).

 

[Vlad Soare]

16 hours ago, Warton said:

Do M-A and MP share same plate? if so, I am considering to order a pressure plate as well even though I haven't discovered the scratch yet, just a precaution and preventative measure.

If it isn't scratching your films now, then you're fine. It won't start scratching out of the blue. This is a manufacturing issue, not something that develops over time.

[Topsy]

11 hours ago, FrozenInTime said:

Yet, Leica messed with a time proven design and 'improved' it :

At some point after the classic M6, they changed the machined plate to, what may be a pressed part, that includes four drilled out holes that allows screwdriver access to visible but recessed screws ( are these scratching if for example the head is damaged or the wrong length of screw used ? )

I also have seen images of a further variation with, rather than a smooth plate, a plate with a fine grid of dimples evenly spread across plate - does anyone have this ?

I have 3 film Ms, My 1962 M2 and 1981M4-P have the older smooth plate, my 2003 MP has a dimpled plate with 4 screws. None of them scratch film BTW.

[Surge]

It’s unfortunate that this has happened; but the fix is known and not difficult to do.

Edited August 2, 2023 by Surge

[hdmesa]

16 hours ago, FrozenInTime said:

Yet, Leica messed with a time proven design and 'improved' it :

At some point after the classic M6, they changed the machined plate to, what may be a pressed part, that includes four drilled out holes that allows screwdriver access to visible but recessed screws ( are these scratching if for example the head is damaged or the wrong length of screw used ? )

I also have seen images of a further variation with, rather than a smooth plate, a plate with a fine grid of dimples evenly spread across plate - does anyone have this ?

The screws aren't the problem, at least not directly. The scratches are in places where the screws are not, plus I think the screws are positioned outside the image area of the film.

[Esleepy]

My MP (Jan 2023) is a scratcher 😪. I used to scan with an Epson V600 and never really noticed until I started scanning with a Super Coolscan 5000 a month ago. I ran 3 rolls through the MP and 2 roll through my M6 last night and could clearly see the difference. I bought my MP off Craigslist in basically brand new condition with original box and everything so I don't know if Leica would even help me in getting it repaired, sigh. 

[Huss]

1 hour ago, Esleepy said:

My MP (Jan 2023) is a scratcher 😪. I used to scan with an Epson V600 and never really noticed until I started scanning with a Super Coolscan 5000 a month ago. I ran 3 rolls through the MP and 2 roll through my M6 last night and could clearly see the difference. I bought my MP off Craigslist in basically brand new condition with original box and everything so I don't know if Leica would even help me in getting it repaired, sigh. 

2023 should still be under warranty.

[Esleepy]

38 minutes ago, Huss said:

2023 should still be under warranty.

I called Leica LA and they said it's definitely still under warranty but because I can't provide proof of purchase they may or may not charge me for the fix. I contacted the seller and was able to get the invoice thankfully. I'm going to take it tomorrow with the test rolls and see how it goes. 

[David Voss]

On 7/29/2023 at 7:45 AM, shirubadanieru said:

Can anyone confirm the 2023 more recent batches (Apr〜Jul) have fixed this issue? Or is it still persisting on all M6 remake batches?

Recently acquired an M6 reissue. Manufacture date 2 June 2023.  Ran four rolls of old film through it - no scratches.

 

- David

[69xchange]

Well, my Feb 2023 M-A is a scratcher...

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[Huss]

That sucks.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[LocalHero1953]

6 hours ago, 69xchange said:

Well, my Feb 2023 M-A is a scratcher...

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Well that's one hell of a messy film - looks like more than just scratches: speckles, a lot of scratches, other (drying?) marks. Is this the first film you've run through it? As its colour, I assume it was lab processed - you might run a sacrificial new film through it without processing to eliminate lab problems.