An Unexpected Hole
After much deliberation between different models, I recently purchased a Leica M7. After a few weeks, I finally had a shoot lined up with Jess at a great location. We shot a handful of looks in this apartment with many rooms and great light. I sent the rolls off to be developed. When I got the images back I was in for a big surprise.
After much deliberation between different models, I recently purchased a Leica M7. Whilst the M6 is legendary I do like cameras with a built-in light meter, especially for and EDC camera. Once it arrived, I walked around my neighborhood and shot a couple of rolls. The character of the images made me eager to set up a photoshoot. After a few weeks, I finally had a shoot lined up with Jess at a great location. We shot a handful of looks in this apartment with many rooms and great light. I sent the rolls off to be developed.
I downloaded the scans and to my dismay, I saw a light leak on every image. I ran to grab my camera, opened it, cranked the shutter, and saw the culprit staring at me…a HOLE in the shutter curtain. It wasn’t there in the first two rolls I shot. During the time I shot my first two rolls and the photoshoot I had inadvertently had the lens in direct sunlight, which then burned a hole in the shutter curtain. Despite my initial sadness, the photos still turned out pretty great. The colors, sharpness, and character of the images have are fantastic.
I searched the internet and repairing the shutter curtain on a Leica M7 would cost around $400. I didn’t want to drop $400 so I hunted around for another solution and I found a great one on a camera forum: liquid electrical tape! Did you know that liquid electrical tape existed? Neither did I. I grabbed a can from the hardware store and used a toothpick to place a small amount in the hole. I let it dry for an hour and then used my phone flashlight to see if any light would come through. It was light tight and fairly cheap. Hopefully, none of you have to deal with a hole in your cloth shutter curtain but if you do, liquid electrical tape is the solution.
Film stocks: Kodak ProImage 100
Camera: Leica M7
