robertwright Posted November 11, 2007 Share #1 Posted November 11, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would like some advice, I have a M6 (c1984) which has exhibited this problem intermittently since I have had it, basically the left side of the frame is darker than the right side of the frame, and there is also this dark stain at the top left of the frame-it doesn't come in every picture, altho the left side vignetting does come in every picture. I believe this is a shutter fault, somehow the curtain slit is narrowing as it travels giving the left side of the frame (right side of the camera) less exposure. or on of the curtains is either arriving too soon or getting out of the way late. I did send it in to Sherry Krauter once to attend to this but we were rushed and she was unable to determine the cause. Have any of you seen this before? The stain is another issue, because it is darker it cannot be from a light leak in the back plate, and I have checked the gate numerous times and never seen anything in there. It is definitely not a processing mark, this has happened across numerous rolls processed differently. I have attached examples. they do show the left side darkening, altho I understand the skies do exhibit this to a degree anyway, I have seen it on flatter examples also. The stain is the same stain in the same place every time. Since I have an M8 this body sits unused mostly now, and I would like to sell it and get perhaps an M7, the thought of not having a film body feels wrong-however, I am not comfortable selling a body that I know to have a fault-so-has anyone had a shutter replaced in an M6-what is the cost? Considering I am likely to get near 1000$usd for this body, is it worth spending 350$ to replace a shutter? befuddled in brooklyn:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 11, 2007 Posted November 11, 2007 Hi robertwright, Take a look here M6 shutter fault-advice needed. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
robertwright Posted November 11, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted November 11, 2007 Here is a colour example of the stain. Sherry did manage to fix the frame darkening issue, this was shot immediately after it was in to her, however, as time has gone by, it has returned. this was shot in 2004 after adjustment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubenkok Posted November 11, 2007 Share #3 Posted November 11, 2007 Robert, There has been an discussion on Photo.net Leica and Rangefinders Forum: M6 TTL shutter's problem - photo.net 'maybe the camera needs a good CLA' and more shutter problems on Leica and Rangefinders Forum: M6 shutter problems? Look at these photos - photo.net and on Leica FAQ - How robust is the M's shutter? I hope this is some help Ruben Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted November 11, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted November 11, 2007 Thanks for those links, sounds like an adjustment will fix the dark left hand edge. The shadow/stain is another matter...I have no idea what maybe causing it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted November 11, 2007 Share #5 Posted November 11, 2007 Wow hang on. Who says it is a shutter problem? My MP returned to Australian sevice agent for a vertical up across the negative frame. My initial guess was shutter problems. However the tech explained it to be a light seal somewhere, that light entering probably the rangefinder patch bounced round till it found the gap, and, that it was an uncommon problem but experienced with some M6. If you understand the internal construction of the camera, you can back trace from the burn on the film, past a seal, up to whichever place the light enters. Seals and CLA should fix it for you. My MP got the dx reader strip set in black wax, as the gap running behind it was the likely spot light got in to the film chamber. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted November 11, 2007 Share #6 Posted November 11, 2007 PS...given the bagging some of the US service agents are getting, probably worth mentioning that if you do decide to send the camera in, tag it, put a cover letter describing the conditions under which you get the problems, and send a few full frame examples. I wouldnt mind betting some people chat to the girl on the desk for an hour or make a phone call to discuss their problems send the camera in and expect everyone from the cleaner to the manager to remember them and make the connection. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted November 12, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) thanks for the reply: would a light leak not cause a light band not a dark band? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted November 12, 2007 Share #8 Posted November 12, 2007 Good point 99. Mine were white outs, dark on neg. Links above arent the answer either, one would be vertical, the other is flash related. So that leaves you something dragging across the plane? But the line fades out, so there is something slant directional or exposure related to changing shutter speed? Its in bottom right as you look at the back of the camera? Film strip is inverted, all gets a bit spooky. My dark and light lines here...were. Both verticals, fading top to bottom in pic, or bottom to top in camera back. Have heaps but only one scanned on hand at the moment. .....[ATTACH]61206[/ATTACH] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted November 12, 2007 so what caused the dark vertical line? I can't imagine any issue causing a dark line, bright lines, yes, dark no. I doesn't make sense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted November 12, 2007 Share #10 Posted November 12, 2007 Dark vertical I figure underexposure which was my innitial sticking shutter explanation covers all sins, which obviously it didnt. Translating to yours maybe a thread following the first shutter at teh beginning? More evident at higher shutter speads the thread is over the film for a longer proportion of the total exposure. Longer shutter speads a thread or hair would begin to be written out by the longer exposure. Your dark line seems more prominant in the less exposed area, and you said after CLA the problem was negated, or dissappeared. If something is flecking out rolling out from the curtain edge when you wind on, then flicking back as teh shutter moves back across maybe? Or something like. Im still not entirely convinced. Guess my second answer, tag the camera include the pics etc is the only constructive:o. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share #11 Posted November 12, 2007 Dark vertical I figure underexposure which was my innitial sticking shutter explanation covers all sins, which obviously it didnt. Translating to yours maybe a thread following the first shutter at teh beginning? More evident at higher shutter speads the thread is over the film for a longer proportion of the total exposure. Longer shutter speads a thread or hair would begin to be written out by the longer exposure. Your dark line seems more prominant in the less exposed area, and you said after CLA the problem was negated, or dissappeared. If something is flecking out rolling out from the curtain edge when you wind on, then flicking back as teh shutter moves back across maybe? Or something like. Im still not entirely convinced. Guess my second answer, tag the camera include the pics etc is the only constructive:o. as you can see it gets "speculative" quickly, which is why I asked the second question, how much to replace the shutter entirely-this on a camera I intend to sell. When they only go for 1000-1400, the cost of a cle makes it difficult. perhaps the dark line is a shadow, and in reality the entire frame is receiving a fog exposure, and the dark line is simply an area being shaded. I am not sure anyone can really answer this question, unless they have had the same exact problem with is why I put it to the mass knowledge of the group. You could look for days to try to figure this out, meanwhile, the camera is a brick. One thing I do notice, if you look at the part of the shutter that sits in the bottom and top rails so to speak, I think it is a light-stop, a seal, mine are very crinkle-y and it is possible light is reflecting off these crinkles during exposures. Again, it speaks to a shutter replacement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBA Posted November 12, 2007 Share #12 Posted November 12, 2007 Your last speculation sounds most plausible, or perhaps there's a little booger of something stuck to one edge of the shutter curtain. Either that or your camera is haunted. Use it as a door stop or a book end, since you're going to get a new M7 anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertwright Posted November 12, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted November 12, 2007 Your last speculation sounds most plausible, or perhaps there's a little booger of something stuck to one edge of the shutter curtain. Either that or your camera is haunted. Use it as a door stop or a book end, since you're going to get a new M7 anyway. can't see any boogers on bulb, so I don't think it is that. anyone have a real figure on the cost of a replacement shutter for a M6? Doing the math, if I can only get about 1200 for a clean copy on ebay, I subtract the cost of the shutter and net out maybe 800 after all is said? the other way to see it is adorama will give me 50% of their used price on trade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted November 12, 2007 Share #14 Posted November 12, 2007 Person doing the repair? I think Bill Hollanger got an MP shutter solms replaced after some kids fingers. Try pm? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.