Leica M2 Leak Or?

wjlapier · Sep 19, 2021

I purchased a M2 yesterday and the seller shared two photos with me he thinks shows a light leak or something. Several techs I won’t mention said it’s not light leaks but maybe something done during developing or they don’t know. Seller thinks it might be the back door on right side. Anyone care to comment on what they think might be the issue?

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John Koehrer · Sep 20, 2021

The light strike goes into the rebate so ti is a leak. doesn't help with precisely where though. I think the line is too
sharp to be processing.

250swb · Sep 21, 2021

Going all the way across the rebate and so precisely I think maybe a processing problem assuming it's a lab that did it in a machine. I don't buy the idea of the rear door on the right side simply because of the position, but also the M2 should only have a light seal across the top of the rear door where it hinges, so for there to be a leak the door must be seriously bent, unless of course somebody has added a seal (maybe thinking it's missing) and that's stopping the door shutting properly? Actually that could make sense, given the position of the rear door and where the film would be wound to. You could test it by laying a film strip back in the camera and see if the leak matches the edge of the door and being wound on one frame.

Huss · Sep 21, 2021

I would shoot a test roll and see. If it was developing that caused it, this would immediately confirm or deny it as it would have been developed by someone different.

If the marks are still there, then you know it is in camera, not from developing.

wjlapier · Sep 22, 2021

I was just curious if this was obvious to anyone. The plan is to test once I have it. I am thinking of sending it off for a black paint job and new leather.

Renato Tonelli · Sep 22, 2021

I am pretty sure it's not the developing. I had the exact same problem on five rolls (shot consecutively) with a Leica M6. It never happened again. No idea what caused it; perhaps it was the way I loaded? Temporary shutter issue?

Huss · Sep 22, 2021

Renato Tonelli said:
I am pretty sure it's not the developing. .

Only one way to find out with this particular camera. Always start with the cheapest/easiest option, then work up from there.

Huss · Sep 22, 2021

wjlapier said:
.. Several techs I won’t mention said it’s not light leaks but maybe something done during developing or they don’t know.

Zachs Camera Repair fixed the light leak on my M5. That other techs gave up on.
Just saying in case you send it out.

ic-racer · Sep 22, 2021

What does your film from the camera look like?

wjlapier · Sep 22, 2021

I just bought the camera. I won’t have it for over a week due to me traveling— I requested the seller hold it for me.

aoresteen · Oct 1, 2021

It'd a light leak. Send the image of the leak with the cameras to the repair person. I'd send it to DAG.

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 1, 2021

Definitely a leak, but it's so sharp, I don't think it's the door in the back. My suspicion is that its the shutter curtain not closing completely.

Huss · Oct 1, 2021

TheFlyingCamera said:
Definitely a leak, but it's so sharp, I don't think it's the door in the back. My suspicion is that its the shutter curtain not closing completely.

The leak goes across the entire film surface - including outside the image - so it is not from the shutter curtains.

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 1, 2021

Huss said:
The leak goes across the entire film surface - including outside the image - so it is not from the shutter curtains.

But it's much weaker in the rebates. Could be light piping from where the light is striking the image area.

At this point, all of this is speculation on our part - without handling the camera and running tests on it, all guesses are equally valid/invalid.

wjlapier · Oct 1, 2021

I’m back home and ran a quick roll through the camera. No leaks into the rebate or in the image for that matter. Full sunny day with the camera out and sun shining on the back. Nothing I can see in the ( drying ) negatives that looks like what the seller shared. It’s possible the leaks or what looks like leaks are from the developing process.

Huss · Oct 1, 2021

TheFlyingCamera said:
But it's much weaker in the rebates. Could be light piping from where the light is striking the image area.

At this point, all of this is speculation on our part - without handling the camera and running tests on it, all guesses are equally valid/invalid.

No. It's weaker in the rebates because the rebates are not exposed during the exposure.

Anyhow, there is nothing wrong with the camera as the OP has already shot a test roll.
The first thing I suggested!

George Collier · Oct 21, 2021

When it happens, how many frames have it of the roll? Is it a double stroke? I had a similar leak issue with an M2 (or an M3, did they make double stroke M2's?) in the 70's, I determined that it was during the moment between strokes, and only if the camera was pointed in the right direction.

wjlapier · Oct 21, 2021

I shot a roll, developed it myself, and didn’t see any light leaks like the previous owner saw.

rhondal mckinney · Jan 6, 2022

Just came across this thread. I am the seller of this camera. One thing I will add to the discussion: This leak never occurred
on consecutive frames. It never happened more than three times in a single 36 exp roll. One time I saw an image on rangefinder forum showing the exact same streak in the exact same position on the frame. The author of that message was looking for answers too. Would love to know if this ever gets definitively solved.

Nicholas Lindan · Jan 6, 2022

I'm with George Collier - It looks like the curtains are becoming uncapped on the wind stroke. I don't know about double-stroke M2's but a release of pressure on the wind stroke might cause this. A single stroke M can be double stroked - and without really realizing it - thus allowing one curtain to go backwards for a little bit.

It could also be a stutter in the closing curtain, but as it is a narrow band of 'leak' I rather doubt this.

Don_ih · Sep 24, 2023

I have exactly the same leak in exactly the same location on two frames from one roll of film. As in, it looks exactly like the samples above - and the camera is an M3. Has not happened on any other rolls - and I'm hoping it doesn't happen on any more. The only noteworthy thing was the leaks occurred on frames that were the first taken after a while of sitting.

Jonathan-sv · Sep 25, 2023

I never heard of a double-stroke M2.

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