Leica M-A light leaks

[Huss]

But anyway; That makes me wonder why you had the courage to buy such new camera without a copy of the original receipt? A camera less than two years old without a copy of the original receipt would have raised a warning flag or two in my head.

I bought my M-A the same way. No receipt, did not care, and it's been great.
Same for my Fuji Xpro3 (pardon to introduce a non film camera), M7 (last production run so super high serial #) etc.

How would the original receipt have helped? If you're not the original purchaser and it is out of warranty? Plus the mfg knows where the camera originated from via its serial #.

 

[ericdan]

does this. issue happen with long exposures only?
if so see this thread:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/dark-spots-on-all-bulb-shutter-exposures-m2.188242/

it's a typical Leica rangefinder problem. the rangefinder window leaks during long exposures. need to tape it up for long exp.

 

[ediz7531]

does this. issue happen with long exposures only?
if so see this thread:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/dark-spots-on-all-bulb-shutter-exposures-m2.188242/

it's a typical Leica rangefinder problem. the rangefinder window leaks during long exposures. need to tape it up for long exp.

I’ve never done long exposures on this camera. These were all handheld speeds.

 

[Huss]

does this. issue happen with long exposures only?
if so see this thread:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/dark-spots-on-all-bulb-shutter-exposures-m2.188242/

it's a typical Leica rangefinder problem. the rangefinder window leaks during long exposures. need to tape it up for long exp.

Or get it fixed.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Or get it fixed.

The most obvious way to proceed unless one likes to collect shelf queens.

 

[ericdan]

If these occur handheld you need to get the rangefinder window looked at. If only during long exposures then there isn’t a way to fix it. Same as SLRs leak during long exposure

 

[ediz7531]

The camera is now on its way to me. In response to my inquiry as to what caused the light leak, customer service simply said that they replaced the back, shutter curtain, and top cover seals. I know about the first two but am unfamiliar with the last. Where do these go specifically?

 

[kivis]

No problem with my M-A on my end.

 

[Huss]

The camera is now on its way to me. In response to my inquiry as to what caused the light leak, customer service simply said that they replaced the back, shutter curtain, and top cover seals. I know about the first two but am unfamiliar with the last. Where do these go specifically?

They seal off the rf windows.

 

[ediz7531]

They seal off the rf windows.

Thanks Huss.
Frustratingly the light leak is still there even after the seals were all replaced. I see 3 frames in the roll with that very same leak pattern as before.

I suppose it has to go back to New Jersey.

 

[Huss]

Thanks Huss.
Frustratingly the light leak is still there even after the seals were all replaced. I see 3 frames in the roll with that very same leak pattern as before.

I suppose it has to go back to New Jersey.

Zachs Camera Repair - a site sponsor - is familiar with fixing this. He fixed my M5 that had a similar leak. You may want to drop him a line.

 

[Saganich]

Is the light leak the same on all images?

It might not show anything in these two positions.
If it's half wound, metal edges of both shutter curtains will be in the middle of the frame. Very often when shutter curtain fails, failure is located next to the crimped metal edge.

On the other hand, if it was a hole in the shutter, I would expect more effect across the frame. It would be either well defined if very small or travelling smear if it travelled the whole way.

Yea, pinholes in the curtains look like a smear from the hole position to the edge of the frame.

 

[rknewcomb]

"Leica NJ is repairing it under warranty,"
By working on this camera it would seem that Leica NJ has accepted responsibility for putting it back in good working order. They will eventually get it right or perhaps give you a new camera.
Anyway, its on them now.
My $.02 worth.
Robert

 

[ediz7531]

"Leica NJ is repairing it under warranty,"
By working on this camera it would seem that Leica NJ has accepted responsibility for putting it back in good working order. They will eventually get it right or perhaps give you a new camera.
Anyway, its on them now.
My $.02 worth.
Robert

I’m leaning towards sending it back to Leica indeed.

Funnily, I made a mistake in this last roll. In one of the frames I forgot to take the lens cap off. This turned out to be one of the 3 frames that shows a leak. So this should make it very clear, if it wasn’t already, to the technician where it’s coming from.

Pic of negative attached.

 

[ediz7531]

Just thought I'd follow up to document the resolution in case someone encounters a similar leak on their M-A.
Leica NJ does appear to have fixed it in the end. This time they replaced the following:

1st shutter curtain

Shutter curtain, 2nd

Sealing strip

Sealing

Light stop B, top

To me, it looks like a let's-throw-everything-at-the-problem approach to solving the issue (e.g. I don't think replacing the curtains was needed (?)), but if it's solved I'm content

 

[cayenne]

Interesting.
I bought a M-A about maybe a year ago and I've yet to run a roll of film through it.

I might should do that quick and make sure all is well.....although I guess it is a bit late to try to return it if something is amis......oh well.

C

 

[Huss]

Interesting.
I bought a M-A about maybe a year ago and I've yet to run a roll of film through it.

Does not compute.

 

[madNbad]

Does not compute.

That's because if you bought a new M-A a year ago, it would be in for it's five thousand roll tune up by now.

 

[GregY]

Does not compute.

 

[ediz7531]

Interesting.
I bought a M-A about maybe a year ago and I've yet to run a roll of film through it.

I might should do that quick and make sure all is well.....although I guess it is a bit late to try to return it if something is amis......oh well.

C

Like Huss, I’m puzzled by this How did this come to pass? Too many cameras?

 

[Huss]

I mean, any camera I buy - whether it's a $10 NOS Barbie 110 in sealed case w matching camera for your doll (I'm serious I bought this), or a $5000 Rolleiflex - the first thing I do when it shows up is put a roll of film through it to test it.
Because I want to make sure it works correctly when I actually use it. Or (not that I would do this but I'm not judging..) to make sure it is ok before I put it in the glass case to gaze at.

 

[brbo]

So, where do you think all your NOS cameras come from?

From people who regularly test them?

 

[Huss]

So, where do you think all your NOS cameras come from?

From people who regularly test them?

No, because they are NOS they are old stock, never sold. Which makes them, by definition, NOS.

If they were regularly tested, they would not be NOS. Not sure where the confusion is?

 

[brbo]

Not sure where the confusion is?

Confusion probably comes from the fact that I see many NOS ads that are definitely not placed by retailers that just stumbled on a large pile of 30-year-old stock of cameras. My bad.

 

[Huss]

Confusion probably comes from the fact that I see many NOS ads that are definitely not placed by retailers that just stumbled on a large pile of 30-year-old stock of cameras. My bad.

I’ve seen a lot of NOS sales from police auctions where individual retailers by a stash of sealed in their boxes cameras. Most recently with the Ricoh R10 and you can find those sellers on ebay.
I was interested until I read the post from one honest seller who checked them over and detailed their faults. Pretty much what happens to any R10 - failed LCDs etc.
The other sellers just said NOS never opened/used, no returns…