Weird light leaks / flare

jseffel · Sep 7, 2022

I shot a roll and 6 out of 36 images had these strange light leaks / flares - other images with faster and slower shutter speeds looked find. The lens seems clean, I've had the camera over a light table to see if there might be a hole in the shutter (Leica M2) but I did not see anything. Has anyone seen this before?

xkaes · Sep 7, 2022

Since the "stuff" appears the same in two very different scenes, it's not something in the scene -- like reflections.

If it is the lens, it should show up in all of the images.

I'm not familiar with the shutter on the M2. If it is a horizontal cloth shutter, it has TWO flaps, and the problem could be in either of them (opening or closing).

If you can't visually see any problem in the shutter, I'd run a test roll against a grey card or mid-tone wall -- with the camera on a tripod. Use the same lens, and take exposures at each shutter speed and see if it only shows up at certain speeds.

snusmumriken · Sep 7, 2022

jseffel said:
I shot a roll and 6 out of 36 images had these strange light leaks / flares - other images with faster and slower shutter speeds looked find. The lens seems clean, I've had the camera over a light table to see if there might be a hole in the shutter (Leica M2) but I did not see anything. Has anyone seen this before?

Did you examine the shutter both before and after winding on?

henryvk · Sep 7, 2022

It looks like pinholes.

As xkaes indicated: did you check the shutter curtains both with the shutter cocked and uncocked?

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Alan9940 · Sep 7, 2022

I, too, suspect the shutter. In addition to all the good suggestions above, I'd try the light table thing, again, and fire the shutter several times to see if anything changes between firings. Could be the shutter is messing up intermittently. Make sure all light around the camera is covered to ensure you're seeing only light coming through the shutter. And I'd recommend doing this in a very dark room.

jseffel · Sep 7, 2022

It was the shutter. I noticed it when I sat in a pitch black closet. The holes are tiiiiiny.

Thanks!

snusmumriken · Sep 7, 2022

Sympathies. I hope the repair cost isn't too painful.

cramej · Sep 7, 2022

Black fabric paint will take care of this until you decide to have the curtains replaced. Use sparingly, follow the instructions, check with a bright light as you work.

ic-racer · Sep 7, 2022

I’ll put a vote on shutter curtain.
I started a thread on shutter curtain speed testing and timing in anticipation of doing curtain replacement, but as of yet, have not replaced any.

Huss · Sep 7, 2022

Upside is this was very easy to diagnose, and the repair can be easy. Either 'paint' over the pinholes with carbon black paint:

or get the shutter curtains replaced. I've used the paint on a Zenit and it worked great. Thing is, your M2 is obviously old, and so it may need new curtains anyway. yyecamera.com charges $185 to replace them.

Weird light leaks / flare

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