What causes this artefact

John Fontana · Jun 4, 2019

I have recently bought a Leica M3 with a 3 month warranty.
The first roll of film showed capping of exposure at a shutter speed of 1/1000 sec but this has been sorted by the retailer sending it away for a CLA.
This first roll of film also showed an artefact on 2 frames, none on a second roll, but it has re-appeared on a single frame on a third roll, as an irregular white shape on the left edge of the image..
I am puzzled as to what might be causing this and concerned that it might represent a significant problem with the camera. In that case I would return it for a refund but this would be a pity since the camera is in good condition with a wonderful Summicron 50 mm f2 lens.
I have attached a copy of the image.
I would be grateful for any opinions.

Soocom1 · Jun 4, 2019

Def. fogging.
Poss. a rip or tear int he curtain.

vintagesnaps · Jun 4, 2019

Yeah, I was thinking a little light leaky thing going on. I have an M3 double stroke, never had anything like this. Depends on how much you paid if it might be worth keeping for the lens.

Derrel · Jun 4, 2019

A small light leak.

IanG · Jun 5, 2019

If it's been for a CLA then anything like a light leak should have been spotted, also you'd expected far more frames to have the same issue.

I'd check the film gate carefully, maybe a hair or something is getting trapped between the edges of the two shutter curtains causing this leak. Whatever the cause it's happening most likely during winding on and cocking the shutter due to the linear nature of the leak.

The M3 and Summicron is a great combination, luckily you have a warranty so the dealer has to sort it out for you.

Ian

John Fontana · Jun 5, 2019

The retailer was disappointed and irritated that the CLA didn’t pick up the light leak. He has offered a full refund, a return of the M3 to the company who did the CLA, and an option to look at two other bodies he has recently acquired and which have been for CLA.
I am opting for the last and if I swap bodies, hopefully I can transfer the D/R Summicron to the new body.
I will keep you posted of the outcome, and thanks for the comments.

Derrel · Jun 5, 2019

IanG said:
If it's been for a CLA then anything like a light leak should have been spotted, also you'd expected far more frames to have the same issue.

I'd check the film gate carefully, maybe a hair or something is getting trapped between the edges of the two shutter curtains causing this leak. Whatever the cause it's happening most likely during winding on and cocking the shutter due to the linear nature of the leak.

The M3 and Summicron is a great combination, luckily you have a warranty so the dealer has to sort it out for you.

Ian

Film chip, maybe???

vintagesnaps · Jun 5, 2019

I like the option you chose to look at two other bodies... Let them figure out what's going on with this one! not your problem to fix, they 'own' the problem.

Hope a new 'old' one works great and you enjoy it,

John Fontana · Jun 8, 2019

To round off the story, I settled on an early 1955 dual stroke M3 body which was in good condition and had had a CLA. It has the older range of shutter speeds. Very smooth and I have put a roll of FP4 through, exposed at all shutter speed and aperture combinations. It has developed nicely with no defects.
I transferred the f2 Summicron D/R 50 mm lens, and it came with a working Leica MC light meter though I doubt I shall use this.
A happy ending.
Thanks for your interest.

Original katomi · Jun 8, 2019

Nice to hear a happy ending. Have fun

IanG · Jun 8, 2019

Good to hear there's still good honest retailers around and they've resolved the issue and you have a different body. Enjoy the camera I've had my M3 DS and Summicron just over 30 years such a pleasure to use, shame I rarely shoot 35mm these days

Ian

John Fontana · Jun 8, 2019

Have you moved to a larger format, Ian?

IanG · Jun 9, 2019

John Fontana said:
Have you moved to a larger format, Ian?

I've been shooting LF since around 1976/7 as I needed to usen5x4 for work and had a large, heavy, De Vere whole plate, half plate, 5x4 monorail camera. I began using 5x4 for my personal work in 1986 with a Wista 45DX, I also shoot 10x8 and more recently 7x5.

I stopped shooting 35mm for my project work because although I was shooting a lot of film with my M3 I was rarely using any of the images in my exhibition sets. Essentially this is because 35mm prints don't sit well alongside those from LF negatives.

While I's stopped using 35mm for my landscape work I was still using it when shooting live bands, eventually I had to switch to digital as the specialist push process E6 films disappeared and images were requires in digital formats anyway.

Around 2006 I bought a Yashicamatn124 which needed a shutter CLA, at the same time I had my Rolleiflex E2 which I'd been give a few years early, because it was faulty, serviced. The Rolleiflex is mint and had only had half a dozen films through, the lubrication had dried out through lack of use.

As soon as I began sing the TLRs, Yashicamat in Turkey, Rolleiflex in the UK, I realised I was happy using images from a TLR alongside my LF images. I shoot and print to format and like the square images.

Now if and when I shoot 35mm the whole project is shot with it, and I've embarked on a couple of projects.

Ian

John Fontana · Jun 9, 2019

Fascinating, Ian. I think we are following closely parallel photographic journeys.
I used to shoot 5x4 on an Ebony, medium format on a Mamiya 645, and a Rollei Tessar 3.5.
Ten or so years ago, I hit a very arid time photographically and gave the hobby up, selling all my gear bar the Rollei. I notice on digging it out today that it still has an half exposed roll of film in it!
A year ago, my son showed some interest and introducing him sparked off my interest once more. I bought a full frame mirrorless Sony but then became very attracted to street photography. I decided that it was time to treat myself for the very first time (I am 73 years old) to a Leica choosing, the Q-P. I have been delighted with it; absolutely apt for the street photography. Of course then I started reading up Leicas on the forums and felt I wanted to have another shot at film. Hence the M3, one of the earliest Leicas to stand beside my Q-P of 2018 vintage.
I have just been invited to prepare a talk for a gardening association in the village, themed around flowers and vegetables. This is totally out of my normal sphere but, like you, I love working in projects, and one should always have a challenge.
Maybe I will finish off that roll in the Rollei.....

IanG · Jun 9, 2019

It sounds like you bought your M3 from a Leica dealer in the UK

I bought my M3 body from Stephens Cameras in Manchester and the Summicron from Harrisons in Sheffield, the MC meter and case were from Campkins in London and Five Ways HiFi in Birmingham I can't remember which way around but I think I bought the meter in Birmingham, all were official Leitz dealers.

Stephens cameras wouldn't sell me a Selenium meter and this was in the late 1980's because he said they weren't reliable, mine was but isn't any longer. However I have a meter that is but case etc is damaged and missing bits I just need to swap the parts over.

Ian