M5 light leak. Fix?

[Huss]

Huss.....did Gus turn out to be wrong?

For my light leak, yes. if you have a light leak that appears as in Pieter's image iin post #2 of this thread, Gus' information does not apply.
Zacks know how to fix it using Leica's technical note. Leica knew about this!!

 

[hap]

Thanks for responding Huss. I have to do some additional testing as it has been awhile since I used the camera to any great extent. However, it is does have a problem, best to deal with it now...as opposed to later. I am accruing the information and contacts able to address it when/if necessary.

 

[Huss]

Thanks for responding Huss. I have to do some additional testing as it has been awhile since I used the camera to any great extent. However, it is does have a problem, best to deal with it now...as opposed to later. I am accruing the information and contacts able to address it when/if necessary.

DAG doesn't work on M5s anymore. Just doesn't want to deal with them I guess. When Sherry worked on mine the RF condensor went missing so I got back a camera with severe RF flare. DAG corrected that...
Zacks is stellar.

 

[hap]

Hi Huss
the notion that DAG will not have anything to do with M5 turns out to be potentially ambiguous. It's probably "true", but I've seen posts stating that if send one or call him about it, he will go ahead. Whether he would consider it as a priority given all his other preferred work is somewhat doubtful. I'll probably start with Zacks. Not dissing DAG. Nice guy.

Yes, Leica know about this long ago and even sometimes affects the SL2, which I have, although apparently less common. It doesn't sound like a difficult repair for a Leica experienced tech if follow the technical notice. thanks a lot.

 

[lvorbeck]

Hello everyone. Guess I'm a little late on the thread but was hoping someone could help me out. I've just noticed this same leak on a few shots of the last roll I shot. I kept staring at that technical note for quite some time and I just can't figure it out! Apparently, some felt (or even gaffer tape) would do the trick, but I wasn't able to figure out where the tape should go. I genuinely tried to understand the "sketch" but really couldn't.

Was someone around here successful on the task? A photo of the job or a better explanation would be great. This issue is really annoying me so any is welcome. Thanks!

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hello everyone. Guess I'm a little late on the thread but was hoping someone could help me out. I've just noticed this same leak on a few shots of the last roll I shot. I kept staring at that technical note for quite some time and I just can't figure it out! Apparently, some felt (or even gaffer tape) would do the trick, but I wasn't able to figure out where the tape should go. I genuinely tried to understand the "sketch" but really couldn't.

Was someone around here successful on the task? A photo of the job or a better explanation would be great. This issue is really annoying me so any is welcome. Thanks!

Would you please post some examples for us to see?

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[lvorbeck]

Would you please post some examples for us to see?

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

I don't have any of my examples here as of now, so I'm uploading one I found on the web (mine looks the exact same). I'm also attaching the "technical note" that I'm trying to decipher! Thx.

 

[Huss]

Hello everyone. Guess I'm a little late on the thread but was hoping someone could help me out. I've just noticed this same leak on a few shots of the last roll I shot. I kept staring at that technical note for quite some time and I just can't figure it out! Apparently, some felt (or even gaffer tape) would do the trick, but I wasn't able to figure out where the tape should go. I genuinely tried to understand the "sketch" but really couldn't.

Was someone around here successful on the task? A photo of the job or a better explanation would be great. This issue is really annoying me so any is welcome. Thanks!

Write to Zachs Camera repair and ask him. He fixed mine using that technical note. Explain you are in Portugal so cannot afford to send your camera to him etc

 

[Pieter12]

Write to Zachs Camera repair and ask him. He fixed mine using that technical note. Explain you are in Portugal so cannot afford to send your camera to him etc

There must be someone closer to you in continental Europe who can do the repair with the technical note. Maybe even Leica?

 

[lvorbeck]

Write to Zachs Camera repair and ask him. He fixed mine using that technical note. Explain you are in Portugal so cannot afford to send your camera to him etc

I actually already did that and he said that he have seen similar instructions but doesn't think that these will completely solve the issue and that his method involves disassemble. I could try answering back and asking if he could nonetheless explain the note to me though... Leitz wrote the note and emphasized that the method would solve the issue, so I'll keep digging into if since it looks cheap, reliable and I could probably do it at home! Thanks

 

[lvorbeck]

There must be someone closer to you in continental Europe who can do the repair with the technical note. Maybe even Leica?

I guess Leica could do it, but the note was clear about the possibility of doing it at home, looks like a simple issue in the end... Note sure about the sketch still though, it doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe a fellow user with a little more knowledge could shed some light on it

 

[Sirius Glass]

By the way

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[Pieter12]

I guess Leica could do it, but the note was clear about the possibility of doing it at home, looks like a simple issue in the end... Note sure about the sketch still though, it doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe a fellow user with a little more knowledge could shed some light on it

The key there is the sketch doesn't make much sense to you. The fact that you assume something like gaffer's tape could work shows you might not know what really could be necessary--the elasticity of felt might be imperative. Maybe a technician or someone very familiar with the M5 could do it a home. I would recommend reaching out to a professional.

 

[lvorbeck]

The key there is the sketch doesn't make much sense to you. The fact that you assume something like gaffer's tape could work shows you might not know what really could be necessary--the elasticity of felt might be imperative. Maybe a technician or someone very familiar with the M5 could do it a home. I would recommend reaching out to a professional.

You're absolutely right, but it would be great to decipher the note because then, if I'm really unable to do it at home, maybe it could help the technician out...

 

[Pieter12]

You're absolutely right, but it would be great to decipher the note because then, if I'm really unable to do it at home, maybe it could help the technician out...

Because you do not quite grasp what is being shown in the sketch does not mean a technician wouldn't.

 

[lvorbeck]

Yeah! Thats why I posted it here, so that someone with some experience could give it a try! Who knows

Because you do not quite grasp what is being shown in the sketch does not mean a technician wouldn't.

 

[Huss]

I actually already did that and he said that he have seen similar instructions but doesn't think that these will completely solve the issue and that his method involves disassemble. I could try answering back and asking if he could nonetheless explain the note to me though... Leitz wrote the note and emphasized that the method would solve the issue, so I'll keep digging into if since it looks cheap, reliable and I could probably do it at home! Thanks

Yes he had to disassemble my camera - I saw it in pieces - but that is what was needed to fix it.

FYI I wrote to Leica and just got the typical and lame response 'we don't service because no parts'. Zach didn't have 'parts' either and fixed it.

 

[snusmumriken]

I have been reading this thread out of curiosity only, because I don't have an M5. However I noticed a possible translation issue that may be causing some confusion. I don't speak German either, but I do know that 'licht' means 'light'. So the element in the sketch ('Skizze') labelled 'Lichtleiste' couldn't translate literally as 'film guide'. Google says it translates literally as 'light strip' or 'light bar', suggesting that it is a strip of something or other intended to block light. As explained in the text, the sketch shows the small rangefinder window from the front of the camera, so the film would be >20mm away. I haven't been able to download the French version to compare.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[lvorbeck]

I have been reading this thread out of curiosity only, because I don't have an M5. However I noticed a possible translation issue that may be causing some confusion. I don't speak German either, but I do know that 'licht' means 'light'. So the element in the sketch ('Skizze') labelled 'Lichtleiste' couldn't translate literally as 'film guide'. Google says it translates literally as 'light strip' or 'light bar', suggesting that it is a strip of something or other intended to block light. As explained in the text, the sketch shows the small rangefinder window from the front of the camera, so the film would be >20mm away. I haven't been able to download the French version to compare.

I hope this is helpful.

Wow! This already explain some stuff. "Film guide" was really making me think a totally different thing. Thank you for taking the time to have a look at the note. I'm also attaching the original French version in case you're interested!

 

[snusmumriken]

That confirms my suspicions: 'le guide film de lumiere'must surely mean the film that guides light?

 

[Pieter12]

That confirms my suspicions: 'le guide film de lumiere'must surely mean the film that guides light?

I think it is written by a German who does not have complete command of French. A literal translation would be "light film guide.""Film that guides the light" seems like nonsense, and the initial translation does not seem very clear either. What could such a thing be?

 

[snusmumriken]

I think it is written by a German who does not have complete command of French. A literal translation would be "light film guide.""Film that guides the light" seems like nonsense, and the initial translation does not seem very clear either. What could such a thing be?

For sure. I can relate to their shortcoming (but I voted wholeheartedly for the UK to stay in the EU ). Like I said, I think it's a strip of something that blocks light and/or guides it into the right place. Anyone got a photo of the inner workings, or a cutaway model?

Maybe I'm wrong, though, because I notice that the repair is to be installed through the open shutter curtain.

 

[Pieter12]

For sure. I can relate to their shortcoming (but I voted wholeheartedly for the UK to stay in the EU ). Like I said, I think it's a strip of something that blocks light and/or guides it into the right place. Anyone got a photo of the inner workings, or a cutaway model?

The fact that the directions call for a strip of felt to be glued to this guide leads me to think it is a film guide. When looking at the sketch, I see a small felt strip attached to the top edge of the film guide (not the edge that actually touches the film) that extends 10mm past so it blocks the light coming from the small rangefinder window.

 

[Huss]

For sure. I can relate to their shortcoming (but I voted wholeheartedly for the UK to stay in the EU ). Like I said, I think it's a strip of something that blocks light and/or guides it into the right place. Anyone got a photo of the inner workings, or a cutaway model?

Maybe I'm wrong, though, because I notice that the repair is to be installed through the open shutter curtain.

No, its around the RF window. Which is why Zachs had to take the top of my camera off etc.

 

[reddesert]

I don't have a Leica M5, but from the letter and the sketch I think that the sketch is as seen from the front of the camera with the lens off. "du cote de l'objectif" is likely to mean "from the lens side" i.e. the front. In the sketch, "Bildfenster" should be the image window, the shutter opening. The "Lichtleiste" is probably some part of the assembly that is the bottom plate of the RF/top of the shutter area. If someone can take a picture of that area of an M5, from the front, lens off, it might become clearer.

Minor point: I also suspect that when they say you can see the leak by covering the small RF window "et mettre le appareil chargé dans une forte source de lumière," that "appareil chargé" means cocked camera, not loaded camera.