Hello everybody,

I have two fairly new M6 TTL's, one .85 and one .72. On the .72 the white circle on the shutter (which is for the lightmeter) has a somewhat reddish color, whereas on the .85 it looks purely white.

When I was changing lens a few days ago on the .72 with the shutter released I noticed a few tiny irregularities in the shutter curtain, almost like scratches in the fabric with little pieces of white colour in it. Should I return the body to Leica?

Regards, Ferdinand

-- Ferdinand Glockner (glockner_software@t-online.de), August 12, 2001

Answers

As to the color of the metering spot; do the camera meters agree when set to the same ISO and aimed at the same subject area? I would be a little concerned that the red hue might alter the spectral sensistivity of the meter. Thus subjects containing red might register as brighter than ones of a complementary or near- complementary color, like blue-green or something close to it. So a comparison of the two cameras with the same lens would be one way to answer this.

As to the apparent defects in the fabric, I have not noticed this in any of my Leicas, and would be a little concerned there, too. If your M6 is still under warranty, I think I would send it for a checkup.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), August 12, 2001.

I'd be concerned about a reddish color on the dot and the scratches. I have seen a light whitish powder on the curtains before, but never scratches. My concern with the "reddish" dot would be that perhaps it means the curtain got slightly burned by being pointed at the sun for too long, and hence the entire curtain has sustained damage or dried out. This might also explain the scratches, which could actually be cracks.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), August 12, 2001.

The "white spot" is never exactly white, it's always kind of a mottled appearance, as if it needed a second coat! But that's normal and the meter is calibrated to it. However, what you describe on your 0.72 I have never seen on any M shutter before, and I would be inclined to send it in under warranty.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), August 12, 2001.