Light leak issue, or not? Leica M6

[pumrel]

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I got recently these images from my lab that are from two rolls of Portra 400 and on some there is a light artifact that is harshest on two images and then subtle on some, thought most images are flawless.

I was first afraid that it might be a light leak. It is a Leica M6, cla'd four years ago and always used only with one lens, Summarit 35. But I have some bw films from a trip some months before and there are no flaws. I only tried looking with flashlight through the curtain and from the front on the back the camera when in bulb and in complete dark and didn't see any leak. But it might also be a dumb try for a test.

What is it? I am planning to do a test role. Any ideas how to test? I was thinking about firing flash into the lens a few times, the different lighting scenarios, underexposing to see the light leak more clearly.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SD6PiuFiNjbXgJSr6

[spydrxx]

To me it looks like a light leak in the upper left hand corner. I'd try a sacrificial roll covering the body with overlapping black masking tape stirps which I'd peel off one by one for each exposure starting sequentially at one end of the camera  completely to the other end, keeping track of which tape slice matched each exposure. Others may have some other suggestions. Good luck in tracking it down.

[pumrel]

Hmmm. Upper left? I thought the image on the frame is reversed and flipped? So not upper right?

Another thing is that the artifact only is on frames not around sprockets which leads me to that it probably does not come from the back?

[jakontil]

yeah i think upper right, and leaks probably during advancing and releasing the shutter

[pumrel]

So I tried taking some B&W testing shot, shooting flash around the camera either advanced or not, and then taking show with lens cap and I see no leaks around. Could it still be explained by a processing error? Note that I did actually airblowed the inside of the camera before the tests.

[darlesch]

My vote goes to a baffle light leak. Quite common and DAG can fix this.

[Stuart Richardson]

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Not sure about the leak, but I think it is possible that it is from processing...not super likely, but possible. I have to ask, however, were some of these taken near Cader Idris? It looks just like it...I referenced a painting of it by Richard Wilson in my MFA, and it looks very similar. Anyway, best of luck finding the cause!

 

[pumrel]

5 hours ago, darlesch said:

My vote goes to a baffle light leak. Quite common and DAG can fix this.

Excuse my ignorance but what is a baffle and what means DAG?

[pumrel]

5 hours ago, Stuart Richardson said:

Not sure about the leak, but I think it is possible that it is from processing...not super likely, but possible. I have to ask, however, were some of these taken near Cader Idris? It looks just like it...I referenced a painting of it by Richard Wilson in my MFA, and it looks very similar. Anyway, best of luck finding the cause!

 

It certainly were. The pictures are from a recent hike over there. Amazing place. Well spotted. 

[ciro]

it should be velvet gaskets placed between the curtain and the machine body.

There are two seals along the curtain rails.

In your case it should be an infiltration of the one above.

Let me know if you solve it and how, it seems my m6 has a similar problem

[pumrel]

I will certainly let you know. I am now shooting two films in a sunny Portugal so hopefully I will either reproduce it or prove it was nothing. I looked into the camera ans couldn't discern Anny apparent fault of the baffles or stuck debris. But it might not be obvious to me.