Leica M3 - Hair on edge of scans

[Big Jim]

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I‘m hoping someone can offer some advice.

I just got the first 5 films developed taken with my newly purchased (used) Leica M3. As the attached picture shows many of the photos (not all) have a hair like mark on the edge. 

I used two different lenses and the mark is similar on films taken by both. I’ve used both these lenses on my M2 and there were no such marks.

I presumed the marks came from scanning so I asked the lab and they assured me the marks are on the negatives. 

This then must mean it’s linked to the camera but I can’t think where a hair might be lodged that remains even when the lens is swapped. I’ve blown air into the chamber and inspected the lenses and see nothing. 

The only thing I haven’t done yet is to check the back, shutter curtain etc. as I currently have a film loaded. Should I do so ? Does anyone have any tips where such a hair might be lodged ? Or what is might be causing these marks ? 

This taken with a Canon 50mm

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Edited September 28, 2024 by Big Jim
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[Big Jim]

This taken with a Leica 50mm lens

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Edited September 28, 2024 by Big Jim
Edit

[earleygallery]

Can you see the hairs on the negative? I don’t mean an actual hair! 
 

If the marks aren’t on the negative then it is the scanner. If it’s on the negs then it is hair stuck to the film gate or more likely some stray threads on the shutter curtains which you will need to trim off very carefully.

[spydrxx]

I wouldn't take the word of the processor...I'd inspect the negatives myself!

[Big Jim]

16 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

Can you see the hairs on the negative? I don’t mean an actual hair! 
 

If the marks aren’t on the negative then it is the scanner. If it’s on the negs then it is hair stuck to the film gate or more likely some stray threads on the shutter curtains which you will need to trim off very carefully.

Thanks. The lab confirmed the marks are visible on the negative. I want to check myself as it sure looks like a hair to me and as you see in the photos it is slightly different in both.
I also submitted several films from my daughters cameras with this batch and presume the lab developed them all around the same time. Their scans don’t show similar problems. 
 

Ok so I think I’ll risk rewinding my current film to check the gate and shutter curtain threads. 

Edited September 28, 2024 by Big Jim
Efit

[TomB_tx]

To be that sharp the "hair" would be very close to the film, in the shutter gate. Lock the shutter open in "B" and examine the lower and left edges of the gate.

[hansvons]

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The hair is black. Thus, it's in the camera. Maybe the lab before development. If it was the scan, it wouid be white. The position is a classic. I've seen it many times in movie cameras (then jumping around when the film rolls). It’s an annoyance and tackled by the camera assistant performing a “gate check”. I also saw one once on images I had shot with my M6 and checked the gate, but it was clean and never popped up again. 

Edited September 29, 2024 by hansvons

[jerzy]

position and orientation of hairs is erratic. Open backdoor, set shutter on B on keep open. Inspect the edges of frame, hairs shall be visible. Light shield (visible in front when you remove the lens) has 2 velvet stripes on backside, sometimes they detorate and are lossing some hairs and they can move, stick, etc. But you shall be able to see them, concentrate on places marked with orange arrows.

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Edited September 29, 2024 by jerzy

[Big Jim]

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. I unloaded the film today and inspected the back, the gate etc. I can’t say I saw anything obvious that I could be sure was the cause. I mean this must be tiny right ? Anyway I did blow out this area removing what might have been some tiny stray hairs. 
Film has been reloaded. I’ll post again once the film is finished, developed and scanned. 

[FrozenInTime]

@Big Jim,

I recently had a similar issue: the hair I found did indeed turn out to be really tiny, a lot smaller than a human hair. It was more like a fine strand of wool.

I need a loupe and a bright light to see it. Found on the film side of the gate. The hair appeared in the same place on 8 rolls 😞

Shown here with a bit of the film rebate un-cropped :

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[Greenhilltony]

I have experienced this earlier and figured it out by myself. It’s just the analog version of “sensor dirt”, come to think of it. It might be invisible when you were shooting at large aperture, too! The gate check is the solution. I’ll do it occasionally when I have an air blower and film not loaded.

[AZD]

I had this happen with a Nikkormat a few years ago. Must’ve introduced the object during reloading because the rolls before and after were fine. I suspect it was a very thin synthetic filament from my bag or clothing. Annoying, but the only time it has ever happened in many hundreds of rolls.