Please help me to understand this issue

[belfry]

I attach a photo of my negatives from my recently developed 35mm 400asa 24exp film. The correctly exposed prints are fine, but I wonder why others are blank?
Leica R4 50mm lens. Aperture priority setting.
I’m guessing it’s a camera issue but what might be the next steps?

[Neddy Sea Goon]

Sticky shutter curtain would be my guess

Operate it with the back open no film and see what happens

Good luck

[DavidY]

Assuming you saw image through the viewfinder then it could be any of the following:-

1) Camera Shutter Curtain not operating correctly
2) Mirror not moving every shot
3) Lens aperture is fully closed - don't know if R4 has aperture control of lens so this may not be relevant
4) Film winding on incorrectly, ie more film is being wound on than it should be - you should have noticed this from number of shots roll allowed

Edited by DavidY on Friday 29th April 08:05

[ian in lancs]

Blank/clear indicates the film wasn’t exposed to light. Causes simple as lens cap left on to the shutter curtain sticking.

[belfry]

Thanks everyone. I will try operating the camera while leaving the back open, so that I can observe the shutter operation.

I’m not sure that I could have left the lens cap on as I don’t have a lens cap!

The film exposure counter got to somewhere near 24 exposures so I think the film is winding on okay.

[craig1912]

ian in lancs said:

Blank/clear indicates the film wasn’t exposed to light. Causes simple as lens cap left on to the shutter curtain sticking.

If lens cap was left on he wouldn’t have been able to see what he was taking. Looks like shutter issue.

[DavidY]

BTW Real Camera Comapny in Manchester repair Leica R series