Subiluru Posted June 27, 2023 Share #1 Posted June 27, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all. I am making a kind request to identify the location of a leak from my leica m6. Photos taken on negative. I have noticed a pattern: the leak is only on frame after which I have a pause and do not take a picture for a few minutes. When I take a picture immediately, the previous picture has no leakage. The leaks are more or less in similar places but not ideally in the same place. At first I thought the lack of a protector for the belt on the left side( the one from the viewfinder) was the reason but I taped it with black tape and did another two rolls. Unfortunately there is still a problem. The camera is from 1986 and in very good condition visually. I would be grateful for any advice. I am mainly interested in whether the repair is easy and possible. The seller will send the camera for service but I want to know how complicated the repair can be and whether the problem will recur in the future. 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/378869-leica-m6-light-leak-white-blue-at-the-bottom-of-the-photos/?do=findComment&comment=4802751'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 27, 2023 Posted June 27, 2023 Hi Subiluru, Take a look here Leica m6 light leak - white blue at the bottom of the photos. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
a.noctilux Posted June 27, 2023 Share #2 Posted June 27, 2023 Not easy to point out where the leak comes from. First thing is with a cable release, set to B lock to B , door open or removed, then in dark room shine a lamp around the empty M6, with luck you may see where to investigate. If it's not from the door itself or light seal between the body/door/baseplate. Have fun figuring it out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie Posted June 27, 2023 Share #3 Posted June 27, 2023 If the leak is pretty well always in the same place I wonder if there is a small hole in one of the shutter curtains? You could check by looking from the back of the camera with the rear door open and no lens fitted. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlesch Posted June 27, 2023 Share #4 Posted June 27, 2023 The story of how the leak occurs is suggestive of a baffle light leak, especially when looking at your scans. If you leave your lens wide open after shooting for a while in sunlight, the leaks are more likely to show up. Some people suggest a lens cap or stop down in between shots. A simple replacement of the baffle will fix the problem and DAG can do this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 27, 2023 Share #5 Posted June 27, 2023 I agree with Susie - the shape of the spot and it being brightest towards the center of the frame suggests a shutter curtain defect. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT73 Posted June 27, 2023 Share #6 Posted June 27, 2023 I had a similar issue on an M2 and there was a hole in one of the shutter curtains. Remove the lens and bottom plate and while holding the rear door open, hold the camera up in front of a light source and look for a hole. Do that once with the shutter cocked, then release the shutter and check the second curtain. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subiluru Posted June 28, 2023 Author Share #7 Posted June 28, 2023 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Addition. I have shined a strong torch in various ways on the shutter curtain. This is definitely not this type of problem. I am also almost sure that my lens has never been left open more than f5.6. Another fact - the leak doesn't appear on exposed frame if I take a series of shot hence- not a shutter curtain hole. P.S I don't know who DAG is but I am in EU. Edited June 28, 2023 by Subiluru Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted June 28, 2023 Share #8 Posted June 28, 2023 (edited) 9 hours ago, Subiluru said: the leak doesn't appear on exposed frame if I take a series of shot hence- not a shutter curtain hole. I'm not sure you can conclude that. A series of shots taken quickly will be unaffected by a very tiny hole. That the leak is 'blue' rather than 'red' suggests that the leak is in front of the film and that would be consistent with light coming in through the shutter. Edited June 28, 2023 by wattsy 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subiluru Posted June 29, 2023 Author Share #9 Posted June 29, 2023 18 hours ago, wattsy said: I'm not sure you can conclude that. A series of shots taken quickly will be unaffected by a very tiny hole. That the leak is 'blue' rather than 'red' suggests that the leak is in front of the film and that would be consistent with light coming in through the shutter. I have lit a powerful torch in the dark and no light is visible, both before and after pressing the release button. regards Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 30, 2023 Share #10 Posted June 30, 2023 On 6/28/2023 at 9:14 AM, wattsy said: I'm not sure you can conclude that. A series of shots taken quickly will be unaffected by a very tiny hole. That the leak is 'blue' rather than 'red' suggests that the leak is in front of the film and that would be consistent with light coming in through the shutter. However, remember that the film reverse-curls around the takeup spool so the emulsion side is out, so a leak near the top right side of the camera could look like this. Suspect areas could be the strap lug or the protective plastic strap bumper on the M6. I’ve heard of light leaks in both places. It still seems so localized and consistent location like a curtain problem, but if that is ruled out… 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BradS Posted July 12, 2023 Share #11 Posted July 12, 2023 Can you please add photos of the affected negatives? Just hold or tape or whatever a fewof the affected negatives to a light source and take a digital photo of them. Sometimes it helps diagnosis to see if the light leak(s) extend into the rebate of the negative. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subiluru Posted July 12, 2023 Author Share #12 Posted July 12, 2023 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/378869-leica-m6-light-leak-white-blue-at-the-bottom-of-the-photos/?do=findComment&comment=4812920'>More sharing options...
Subiluru Posted July 12, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted July 12, 2023 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/378869-leica-m6-light-leak-white-blue-at-the-bottom-of-the-photos/?do=findComment&comment=4812921'>More sharing options...
Huss Posted July 12, 2023 Share #14 Posted July 12, 2023 That looks like a hole in a shutter curtain. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSG123 Posted July 12, 2023 Share #15 Posted July 12, 2023 1 hour ago, Huss said: That looks like a hole in a shutter curtain. I think you nailed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mujk Posted August 18, 2023 Share #16 Posted August 18, 2023 I agree that a small hole in the shutter curtain is the most likely cause, but you should be able to detect it by using a powerful torch or bright daylight as you apparently already did. But it may take some time and you may need to view from different angles. I had a similar problem with my then new M6TTL, but nearer to the film edge and only under certain lighting conditions. After searching for a long time I eventually found the source, using a body cap and both closed and open shutter (B). It turned out to be light coming in through the small rangefinder window somehow finding it's way to the film through the upper part of the shutter assembly. Leica fixed it by adding a baffle somewhere. So in this case it was not a hole in the shutter curtain itself. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subiluru Posted August 18, 2023 Author Share #17 Posted August 18, 2023 unfortunately we will not know the further story as I returned the camera to the seller and bought a perfect condition leica mp 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted August 18, 2023 Share #18 Posted August 18, 2023 12 hours ago, Subiluru said: unfortunately we will not know the further story as I returned the camera to the seller and bought a perfect condition leica mp Don't blame you. If we knew that was an option pretty sure everyone would have said return it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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