M5 light leak. Fix?

[Huss]

Heavy sigh, my M5 has developed a light leak. Was fine last time I used it...
Doesn't appear on all images, about 50% of them. This scan is from the entire image to the film edge so you can see it does not go past the film edge, it is completely in the image area. Nothing on the perforations etc..

 

[Pieter12]

I have that same leak in my M5. I spoke to DAG about it, he had seen it before but wasn't sure what the fix is. I believe it is light coming through the little horizontal window on the top of the camera that illuminates the light meter in the viewfinder (#8 in the image). For me, it does not show up all the time. I have yet to try covering the window with gaffer tape to see if that helps, but then I would not be able to see the meter needle.

 

[Huss]

With the help of others I figured it out. It is coming through the small RF window. When I shine a flashlight there in a dark room, with shutter on B, and holding the film back open, I can see the pin prick of light on the top right corner corresponding to where it appears on the image.

Untitled by desmolicious, on Flickr

 

[guangong]

What would you suggest as an internal fix, as opposed to externally applying gaffer tape? I have never had this problem but would like to be prepared.

 

[NB23]

Unlikely it would have developed by itself all of a sudden...

Did it occur on all the exposures then on? Or only on the ones where the camera was exposed to direct, hard sunlight?

 

[Dali]

It is a known flaw of M5 cameras. Leitz issued a technical note about it to fix it.

 

[Pieter12]

It is a known flaw of M5 cameras. Leitz issued a technical note about it to fix it.

Is there anywhere I can get a hold of this technical note? Not many repairmen work on M5s any more, and as I said previously, DAG was unsure of where a similar leak was originating from on another customer's M5 and "I was able to improve it, however I don't think I was able to stop it from leaking occasionally..." If I had the note to send along, I would feel more confident about having him or another Leica technician making the proper repair.

 

[Huss]

Unlikely it would have developed by itself all of a sudden...

Did it occur on all the exposures then on? Or only on the ones where the camera was exposed to direct, hard sunlight?

It even shows in pics taken indoors. Camera never abused/dropped. No issues ever until this roll.

 

[Huss]

Is there anywhere I can get a hold of this technical note? Not many repairmen work on M5s any more, and as I said previously, DAG was unsure of where a similar leak was originating from on another customer's M5 and "I was able to improve it, however I don't think I was able to stop it from leaking occasionally..." If I had the note to send along, I would feel more confident about having him or another Leica technician making the proper repair.

I would like to see that technical note too!

 

[Huss]

This was from an old thread, written by Gus Lazzari (Leica tech):

On the metal baffle nearest the film gate, there are two glued in felt "light trap" bars. One upper & one lower.
(See picture below showing lower bar)
Confirm that these two are secure throughout their full length of contact with the baffle.
With the shutter locked on the bulb setting (using a locking cable release), run a toothpick along this felt to see if it's loose in any way. The glue with age can fail. Sometimes causing the felt bar to fully detach and run right into the shutter mechanism etc.; causing among other things, light leak and a fully jammed camera.
The backs always have some minor play in them. Too tight a tolerance and you wouldn't be able to close the baseplate easily in certain temperature extremes. The felt/foam is provided so the back has a snug feel & a shock absorber for someone letting go of the door. Besides, light can't bend around and bounce without a reflective surface present. (Black crackle finish isn't considered reflective)

 

[Huss]

I'm thinking it may be more likely to be this than what I surmised, as the light coming through that I found was very faint and would only have effect the moment the shutter was open while taking a pic. While the light leak as seen from my image is strong - and that was at 1/500 sec.

 

[Dali]

I would like to see that technical note too!

http://www.summilux.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=18605&p=1220001&hilit=fuite+M5#p1220001

 

[Pieter12]

Reading that thread, it does seem like the light is coming from the small rangefinder window, but the fix is replacing the felt in the film gate. The leak only becomes apparent when the light strikes the small window at a certain angle.

 

[Huss]

http://www.summilux.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=18605&p=1220001&hilit=fuite+M5#p1220001

That does not seem to be a technical note, but more hearsay. I'm not saying it is wrong, but it would be nice to see an actual technical note.

Translated:

We can indeed consider this leakage problem as a design defect in the M5, especially since the shape of the leak is identical on several devices. Leitz at the time belatedly, 1975, found the solution by going so far as to propose specific fabric and glue for repair.
What should be noted is the consistency of this leak, always the same in the same place, on several devices but only appearing on certain shots. It all depends on the quality of the outside light, its intensity and its orientation towards the rangefinder window. For my part, I noted the appearance of this leakl in outside light at mid-sunny day. This means that the passage from the escape had to be tiny. The orientation of the camera at the time of the shooting can perhaps also explain this inconstancy. I happened to make an entire film with the appearance of the leak only on a few shots of the same scene, all the rest of the film being unscathed.

 

[Pieter12]

If you scroll up on the page, you will see what looks like an official note from Leitz Wetzlar outlining the problem and solution. It is in French, and not automatically translatable since it is an image. You have to either be able to read French or carefully transcribe the note and then use a translation utility.

 

[Dali]

That does not seem to be a technical note, but more hearsay. I'm not saying it is wrong, but it would be nice to see an actual technical note..

I told you that there is a note from Leitz. I even give you the link. Cannot do more... In fact, yes, I could do more and translate it but I won't.

 

[Huss]

I told you that there is a note from Leitz. I even give you the link. Cannot do more... In fact, yes, I could do more and translate it but I won't.

It's ok, Pieter already helped.

 

[Pieter12]

I took the liberty of translating the Leitz document (letter, actually) from French. My translation may not be the absolute best--there seems to something off described in the 4th paragraph, but I think the proper repair can be made in the hands of a qualified technician.

 

[Huss]

Thank you again Pieter for being so kind.

 

[Pieter12]

I'm doing this in my interest, too. I'm thinking of seeing if Steve's in Culver City will take on the repair. If you get yours fixed, I'd love to know where and about how much it cost.

 

[Huss]

I'm doing this in my interest, too. I'm thinking of seeing if Steve's in Culver City will take on the repair. If you get yours fixed, I'd love to know where and about how much it cost.

I've sent it to DAG, will let you know how it works out.

 

[Huss]

Update:

DAG could not fix it. I sent it to site sponsor Michael Zacks of Zacks Camera Repair. He fixed it! Superb work and highly recommended.

So - Leica peeps, Michael Zacks is a go to if you have light leaks or other issues with your kameras. Of course he works on other stuff too!

p.s. Pieter's translated technical note was key. Michael Zacks said it was instrumental to fixing the issue.

 

[Pieter12]

Update:

DAG could not fix it. I sent it to site sponsor Michael Zacks of Zacks Camera Repair. He fixed it! Superb work and highly recommended.

So - Leica peeps, Michael Zacks is a go to if you have light leaks or other issues with your kameras. Of course he works on other stuff too!

p.s. Pieter's translated technical note was key. Michael Zacks said it was instrumental to fixing the issue.

How long did it take to get the repair done by Zacks?

 

[Huss]

How long did it take to get the repair done by Zacks?

About 2 weeks after I provided your technical note.

 

[hap]

This was from an old thread, written by Gus Lazzari (Leica tech):

On the metal baffle nearest the film gate, there are two glued in felt "light trap" bars. One upper & one lower.
(See picture below showing lower bar)
Confirm that these two are secure throughout their full length of contact with the baffle.
With the shutter locked on the bulb setting (using a locking cable release), run a toothpick along this felt to see if it's loose in any way. The glue with age can fail. Sometimes causing the felt bar to fully detach and run right into the shutter mechanism etc.; causing among other things, light leak and a fully jammed camera.
The backs always have some minor play in them. Too tight a tolerance and you wouldn't be able to close the baseplate easily in certain temperature extremes. The felt/foam is provided so the back has a snug feel & a shock absorber for someone letting go of the door. Besides, light can't bend around and bounce without a reflective surface present. (Black crackle finish isn't considered reflective)

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