Learner Posted March 19, 2008 Share #1 Posted March 19, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello: A few weeks ago I bought a used M7. The seller inserted a roll of film and this developed nicely... no problem. I, then, put in a roll. Just got the pictures back only to find that although some were very nice, most were spoiled by what looks like a series of lights (bulbs) on the top of the picture. The unwanted lighting effect gets worse as the film advances, with the final few in blackness. Could this be the result of incorrectly inserted film, or is somehting more serious (expensive) at play? Any thoughts? Thanks, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 19, 2008 Posted March 19, 2008 Hi Learner, Take a look here Light leakage ? (M7). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Learner Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share #2 Posted March 19, 2008 Note to self: Could it be that, even though the lockscrew was turned and its flap recessed, the bottom plate was not FULLY secure? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted March 19, 2008 Share #3 Posted March 19, 2008 Note to self: Could it be that, even though the lockscrew was turned and its flap recessed, the bottom plate was not FULLY secure? Hey John, I recommend you take a more studied approach in ascertaining the root cause of the issue. As a first step, insert a fresh roll of film and make sure the bottom plate is properly secured. Expose the roll and let us know the result. Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted March 20, 2008 Share #4 Posted March 20, 2008 Only if it came away in your hand. If the plate is on it is on. Can you post an image? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wizard Posted March 20, 2008 Share #5 Posted March 20, 2008 It is possible to lock the bottom plate onto the cameara body without fully closing the rear pivotable cover. You should have noticed that though, as the back cover would then eventually swing open again during use (if you do not use an everready case that is. In an everready case you may not notice that the rear cover was in fact not correctly closed). Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 20, 2008 Share #6 Posted March 20, 2008 Please post an image of one or several frames. Could be any number of causes, but typically light leaks are from a perforated shutter (but the M7 has a metal shutter doesn't it?), from around the 'back door' or sometimes light leaking in via the rangefinder. On the other hand it could be a fault with the film and or processing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjr Posted March 20, 2008 Share #7 Posted March 20, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) The shutter is cloth. This sounds like user error. The base plate can be put on incorrectly and stay on and this ,in all,probability is what happen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted March 20, 2008 Share #8 Posted March 20, 2008 The base plate can be put on incorrectly and stay on .. . How? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learner Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share #9 Posted March 21, 2008 TThis is the first time I've uploaded a file... Fingers crossed! 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! 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/48342-light-leakage-m7/?do=findComment&comment=516178'>More sharing options...
bill Posted March 21, 2008 Share #10 Posted March 21, 2008 They're sprocket holes, I think. I suspect you didn't load the film correctly in the first place. It didn't run true from canister to take up spool. It looks like you didn't push it up far enough to catch on the sprockets. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learner Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share #11 Posted March 21, 2008 Bill, You're a gent. That makes sense. What a relief. Thanks, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted March 21, 2008 Share #12 Posted March 21, 2008 Cripes how did you do that? I can understand them being sprocket holes but how come the sprocket lets in the light if the film isnt properly engaged? I dont have am M7. Does improperly loaded film break a seal or hold something open? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted March 21, 2008 Share #13 Posted March 21, 2008 Hi, I think this looks more like an error during the processing than in the camera. Assuming that the base plate was fixed on correctly, if the film wasn't engaging with the sprockets it wouldn't leave these areas of over exposure (the whole area of the film can be exposed). I would try another film, just any C41, and take it to a 1hr lab for processing (not the same lab!). Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted March 21, 2008 Share #14 Posted March 21, 2008 Hi, I think this looks more like an error during the processing than in the camera. Assuming that the base plate was fixed on correctly, if the film wasn't engaging with the sprockets it wouldn't leave these areas of over exposure (the whole area of the film can be exposed). I would try another film, just any C41, and take it to a 1hr lab for processing (not the same lab!). Good luck. James makes an excellent point, and in my defence it was past my bedtime . If the film didn't run through the processing machine straight, you could get white sprocket holes. Get yourself a 24-exposure film and blast it through. Snap the cat, if necessary, then take it to a different lab. Regards. Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincoln_m Posted March 22, 2008 Share #15 Posted March 22, 2008 John, I have seen this once when I made a mistake and I got exactly the same type of image. Once I accidentally took the bottom plate off BEFORE I had rewound the film. The process should be that you try and wind on the film for the next shot as you are at about No. 38 and find you have reached the end. You then flick the little R lever on the front and rewind the film completely until you hear it release itself internally and wind back into the cassette. (If you wish to leave the leader out you have just enough time to stop rewinding as you feel the leader leaves the wind on sprocket.) Then when you are confident that the film is safe back in the cassette you can open the bottom plate and the film drops out. So if you accidentally open the bottom plate before rewinding , or mid film, the light leaking into the wound film only gets in at the sprocket and a quick closing of the bottom plate may have saved most of the film. The worse effected images would be the last few 30 onwards and some of the early ones. As Leicas are mainly all manual you may have forgotten that there is not a motor rewind if you have been used to that in the past? I made the mistake after several years of using Leicas M's and was annoyed with myself for the simple error but put it down to not rewinding the film as soon as I had finished the roll but waited until I was sat at a cafe. Did you accidentally open the bottom or as others have suggested misalign the bottom plate? The images seem to be infocus so I doubt the film was misaligned with the windon sprockets. You would probably get a film jam if you had. I also agree with others who suggest running through another film to quickly check your load , shoot, unload technique, and show us your cat, garden, local park etc Best of luck. I'm sure next time will be OK. The other more common rooky mistake I made was to not switch off the camera and leave it in a bag/case that depressed the shutter a little, only to find that I had no battery life on the second day of my new Leica. Now I have about 4 spare batteries waiting to be used. My MP does not seem to use much battery although I am getting the battery symbol pop-up in cold weather after not using the camera for weeks (yes it does happen even with Leica fans when there is nothing new to take.) Regards, Lincoln Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learner Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share #16 Posted March 22, 2008 Gentlemen one and all, Many thanks for your comments. I am midway thru another roll and should know the results by this coming Wednesday . No, last time I didn't take bottom plate off until I go the slack feel at the conclusion of rewind. Once agin, many thnaks, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learner Posted March 23, 2008 Author Share #17 Posted March 23, 2008 Could this be relevant? When reading Erwin Puts' comments on the M7 ... http://www.imx.nl/photo/leica/cameratest_m7.html ... I noticed this comment: "To ensure that no unwanted light reaches the film, the shutter needs to be cocked immediately after the shutter-release." As I recall, I did not cock the shutter after taking a picture, and only did so on restart, let's say, after a couple of days. BTW, do you agree that it's a good habit to get into, i.e., cocking immediately after taking a shot. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
underground Posted March 23, 2008 Share #18 Posted March 23, 2008 as you turn the base plate on to the body,and force it when it is not set correctly it can bend and still stay in place. not likely but can cause a posable leak. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lincoln_m Posted March 23, 2008 Share #19 Posted March 23, 2008 John, That quote from Erwin's M7 review is reffering to the Hexar RF G2 camera and not the M7. The M7 has the same rubberised cloth shutter as the MP, M6, M4, M2, M3, IIIG etc and you have never needed to cock the shutter to keep out the light. The most likely result of keeping the shutter cocked is that you will either take a shot of the inside of your bag or the battery will go flat if you leave the shutter acidentally depressed so the light meter is on continually. With the M7 you have a power switch so draining the battery is less likely but photos of lens caps and bags are likely if the shutter is always cocked when not in use. We look forward to Wednesdays results. Regards, Lincoln Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learner Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share #20 Posted March 29, 2008 Alleliua... Just got the pix back... No replication of the light entry problem. I've got a sneaking suspicion that I did a better job of loading this film than the first roll. Thank you all for your input. I'm sure I'll be back with olther questions. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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