This problem only ever seems to happen with my M2, none of the film shot with my other cameras exhibits this
Maybe Leitz overlooked something when working on your camera.
Yes, I agree on that. My first thought was that it might be related to failure of the felt light trap on the 35mm cassette used, but I see that it's factory-spooled HP5+ and that's very unlikely to suffer from such a defect. Unless of course there's something about the camera that forces the cassette open while it's still exposed to light. I'm not familiar with the M2 so I don't know if that's even physically possible.
Is it possible that this 'exposure' early in the roll is caused by stress on the film as it's being pulled free of the takeup spool during rewind?
Is it possible that this 'exposure' early in the roll is caused by stress on the film as it's being pulled free of the takeup spool during rewind?
Do you advance 3 frames after loading before shooting?
Have you tried putting on a lens cap or blocking the lens when advancing those 3 frames?
Somewhere in the deepest darkest crevices of my memory, I remember reading a post (probably here) about a Leica camera that someone had repaired that somehow leaked light in through the rangefinder area.
Maybe try opening the back, leaving the shutter closed, and shine a bright mini-maglite around the rangefinder and top cover area from the front.
If any light shows up in the film area, that would indicate where the problem is.
Hope this helps.
That makes sense to me. Looking at the shot of the negative, the dark blob extends outside the frame lines both horizontally and vertically, so it can't be coming through the gate from the shutter side. And it is darkest on the bottom edge (really the top in the camera since the image is inverted). Those things say to me that it is most likely coming at the film from behind and high up in the camera. The vertical streaks indicate a leak that is in the shape of a vertical line but gets blurred laterally when the film moves.Thanks, I'll give that a try. I've got a fresh roll of film loaded in the camera now but I haven't shot any frames with it so I can rewind it/remove it.
Thanks, I'll give that a try. I've got a fresh roll of film loaded in the camera now but I haven't shot any frames with it so I can rewind it/remove it.
Here’s a couple of tips for loading the M2/3. When you insert the leader onto the spool, place the end of the leader against the spool then slide it under the tab. It’s much easier than trying to push it under from the end. When the leader is in place you should see the wind direction arrow. The freshly loaded film will show all the dots.
Holding the cassette in one hand and the spool in the other, slide it into place and make sure the cassette is seated. Replace the baseplate and enjoy.
Your images look like the film is bunching up when loading the take up spool causing stress marks. Try the method I described and see if that helps. It is a bit different than the rapid load system but many that used the M2 for journalism would often carry an extra spool with the leader attached for a fast film change.
So it's logically related to this particular camera. Maybe Leitz overlooked something when working on your camera.
A fault on a M2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I'm understanding your tips, I think I'm doing it exactly as you describe. I don't believe the film is bunching up when I'm loading the takeup spool. If it is bunching up at all, I think it would only be at the very end of the leader and not so far along as to effect the portion of the film that is getting fogged.
After loading the camera, where are you pointing the lens for the two advancing exposures?
Do you take up the slack in the cassette before advancing the first frames or after?
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