Help Me Solve A Problem--IIIc w/Pics

[wjlapier]

Yesterday I went out for a drive and brought the IIIc and Nikkor 5cm f/2. In some of the pics there is an area of over exposure, but in some of the pics it isn't there. The camera was CLA'd before I bought it. Any suggestions as to what this could be? Used VCII, sunny 16 confirmed, Kodak BW400CN, 1/500th shutter, f/16 aperture.

[direwolf101]

I don't have an answer to your problem, but funny enough my Leica II is experiencing the same issue, so I'm interested in what this could be too!

[Fabrice2]

Maybe some piece of film inside the curtains mecanism,or a light leak.

[john neal]

I would second what Fabrice suggested. I have a II body that used to do this - it was a leak caused by a retro-fitted flash socket on the front plate.

If this is exactly in the same place on every frame, I would suspect a light leak, if it varies it is more likely something in the shutter path or gearing that is slowing down the 2nd curtain. Were all the screws replaced when it was CLAd?

[dcsang]

I concur - light leak - it happened to an Olympus XA I owned.

Dave

[furcafe]

Ditto. I had a very similar-appearing problem w/a light leak on a Reid III (which has built-in flash sockets). The problem didn't appear when the camera was in a 1/2-case. Since I would never use flash w/a "Barnack" body, I just had DAG stick a couple black plastic plugs in the sockets.

I would second what Fabrice suggested. I have a II body that used to do this - it was a leak caused by a retro-fitted flash socket on the front plate.

If this is exactly in the same place on every frame, I would suspect a light leak, if it varies it is more likely something in the shutter path or gearing that is slowing down the 2nd curtain. Were all the screws replaced when it was CLAd?

[wjlapier]

Well, as you can see in the third shot it doesn't show up. In fact, the second roll of film I put through it had one occurance of this. This roll, the third, there was about 50% occurance. BTW, I have the IIIc in a Zhou half case.

[sanmich]

I would try to see if the curtains are light tight. Only problem is that it means you need to dismantle the body of the camera. Not a big deal though on a IIIc, just a few screws to deal with...
OTOH, you could experiment. Just open the camera to light when shutter is cocked, then trip the shutter with the lens closed. On another piece of film, do the same with the shutter uncocked, and see if you get clear difference between the two cases.
Good luck

[Solinar]

Can a white business card in the film slot and look at the shutter through the lens mount to check the curtains instead of removing the lower shell?

[mabelsound]

I bet it's some form of shutter curtain lag. I had a Canon P that did that, and it was cured by a CLA...in fact, I'd just gotten it BACK from a CLA, and returned it, and they found that a part--curtain brake spring?, does that make sense?--was miscalibrated.

This would explain why the third shot doesn't show the problem--you turned the camera 90 degrees, and gravity assisted the curtain.

[KoNickon]

I think it's a shutter curtain lag issue also. You didn't mention it, but if there's no indication of fogging on the film outside the exposed frame, then in all likelihood a light leak is not the problem.

[wjlapier]

I think it's a shutter curtain lag issue also. You didn't mention it, but if there's no indication of fogging on the film outside the exposed frame, then in all likelihood a light leak is not the problem.

Looking at a strip of negatives the pics with the over exposed part extends outside of the frame of the picture into the sprocket areas above and below, if you see what I'm trying to say.

If you look at the second pic in my "Some Shots From The Hip" thread you'll see the same sort of thing--basically in the same location.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63823

Thanx this far. If this is a CLA issue, whom should I contact?

[furcafe]

Turning the camera could also mitigate a light leak depending on where the leak was located, which I still think is the problem given the light spilling out into the sprocket holes.

As far as CLAs, it's my understanding that the "Barnacks" are pretty easy to work on, so you don't have to go to DAG, who's probably very backed up on work right now. I've read recommendations for Youxin Ye, Essex Camera, & Radu Lesaru. I've had a good personal experience w/Radu.


This would explain why the third shot doesn't show the problem--you turned the camera 90 degrees, and gravity assisted the curtain.

[colyn]

Your shutter curtains are not properly capping which allows light to leak between the edges. One thing that will cause this is the metal lathe on one of the curtain edges is bent..

[LeicaTom]

Looks like shutter lag/not capping, my one IIIC K was doing that, it`s CLA time, contact Youxin Ye

Tom

PS: Looks like the lens is working well for you, great little lens, now to get that shutter problem fixed

[Keith]

I had a similar problem with a IIIc and it was a light leak. It also only appeared on intermittent frames. In a sucession of photos it was barely noticable but if the camera was left for a while between shots it was very noticable. It turned out to be a missing screw in the front of the camera ... the one below and to the left of the lens looking from the front. The way the camera was angled to the light was instrumental in the amount the frame was affected and it did extend out past the sprocket holes to the edge of the film.

A simple thing but such a small screw when missing only leaves a very small hole in the black vulcanite area and I hadn't noticed it ... I'd just bought the camera from eBay of course, described as recently CLA'd and working perfectly! :p

[wjlapier]

I was CLA'd by Essex 6-23-08--for the seller I bought it from. Should I call them, or as Tom say'd contact Youxin Ye.

Tom, The lens is working fine. Wide open--it's hit or miss--mostly miss :mad:

Stopped down it's great!

[mabelsound]

Huh, maybe it is a light leak then, if the exposed area extends past the frame. And you could be covering the leak with your hand when you turn the camera. Without the benefit of seeing the sprocket holes, though, it does look just like shutter lag would!

Anyway good luck. I've nearly pulled the trigger on a iiic or iiif about half a dozen times....someday I probably will...

[John Shriver]

Just to ask the obvious -- you aren't leaving your finger anywhere near the spinning shutter speed dial while taking pictures, are you?

[LeicaTom]

......or is the rewind lever loose at all?

I had that happen with another one too and didn`t notice the lever disengaging, it ruined a whole roll of film like that with big light leaks running down the middle of each photo

Tom

[boxerjim]

light leak, since the shutter travels vertically, there has to be some source of light fogging the negative

[John Shriver]

Of Leica rangfinder cameras, only the CL, CLE, and M8 have vertically traveling shutters.

If the fog is in the film margin as well, it's a light leak. If it's not, it's the shutter.

[Laforet]

Hi used to have a Zorki 6 that had an extreme form of lag: the second curtain wont move out at 1/30s, unless the camera is turned 90 degrees to allow gravity do its work...

[wjlapier]

Went out yesterday and shot a roll of Tura 400 ( a C41 film ), and got all images back with no streak of over exposure in them. The roll is only 12 exposures if that might mean anything. What I was surprised about was the color cast of the film. I use a Coolscan V to scan and set it to Neg mono, with ICE only. Check the color--would this be consistant with old film not stored properly? I only paid $1 per roll and bought 19 of them. In CS2 I can get the purple tint out, but I hoping to do little to no post when shooting with film. Second shot has slight level adjustment.

Bill

[spyder2000]

I think it's a light leak and coming through the rangefinder window closest to the shutter release. That leak accesses the film only when the shutter is open but it comes from above, and is thus able to flow outside of the frame. The cause is likely a missing seal in the top of the camera.

Look at the lighting in the pictures that show this defect and imagine how that light falls on the front of the camera during exposure. It's the light that strikes the camera front from above the horizon and it's being reflected down into the body to the lens side of the shutter.

I bet if you focus, place your finger over that rangefinder window, and then release the shutter you won't see this leak on your film.

Then again, I could be wrong.

[colyn]

I think it's a light leak and coming through the rangefinder window closest to the shutter release..

Not possible..

The window you refer to is the vertical alignment window and there is no access to the film chamber through it..

This camera does not have seals either..

The only way for light to enter the chamber through the top is for a defect or missing piece of the crate or shell which is very unlikely since he does not have the problem on every frame..