Gray Pad in Leica (M6) Mount?

Hi,

 

Probably a stupid question; sorry for that. I have a black mark on the otherwise gray pad on the bottom of the M6 mount (not the off white dot on the shutter curtain). What is this pad actually for and how would I remove the black smear?

 

Thanks!

Kris

Show a picture of what you're describing.

You can see it in a picture like this one[1]. I mean the dark round dot/pad at the bottom on the inside of the mount. Sorry if this is clear to anybody else, but I am not sure what it does.

 

[1] https://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M6/M6-cutaway/M6-cutaway1992.jpg

You're talking about a cover inside the film chamber that hides a screw. That cover should be mat black, not grey. Since it's inside the film chamber anything but mat black has the potential to reflect light onto the film plane when the shutter opens for an exposure.

Oh, very interesting! Thanks Bill. It is actually gray on my Leica with a black smear on it and if I check sources such as eBay many of them are gray as well. This is what had me concerned as I never noticed the back smear on it before.

Kris, you are right. It is more gray than black, but the smear you are talking about probably shouldn't be there.

Oh, very interesting! Thanks Bill. It is actually gray on my Leica with a black smear on it and if I check sources such as eBay many of them are gray as well. This is what had me concerned as I never noticed the back smear on it before.

Someone probably took a sharpie to it. Regardless, I'd leave it alone.