Help! weird light leak!

[Gradskater]

This picture was taken with a minolta x-370 (sorry its not a RF) that up until now has had zero light leaks. Half on the roll have the same leak, the others do not. Does this look like it was caused by the window on the back door? Or somewhere else? Has anyone had a similar light leak? Also, it seems odd that one picture has the leak, and the next one does not. The foam appears to be in good shape all around.

any thoughts? thanks for any help.

 

[FallisPhoto]

This picture was taken with a minolta x-370 (sorry its not a RF) that up until now has had zero light leaks. Half on the roll have the same leak, the others do not. Does this look like it was caused by the window on the back door? Or somewhere else? Has anyone had a similar light leak? Also, it seems odd that one picture has the leak, and the next one does not. The foam appears to be in good shape all around.

any thoughts? thanks for any help.

If you're talking about the red stripe across the cake, it looks more like some sort of odd lens flare to me. Possibly oil on the lens?

 

[Gradskater]

on the lens? well, I thought it was clean, but perhaps. the camera body doesn't have any foam in the channels (grooves) around camera back. Should it?

 

[wpb]

Looks to me like a cassette light leak. The right side of the leak looks like the felt on the cassette. Often caused by exposing the cassette to direct sunlight or by the film leader retriever before processing.

 

[payasam]

Strange that the leak -- if it is a leak -- is all behind the cake.

 

[wpb]

Not really that strange... those areas are already exposed and further exposure won't really effect those areas. The light leak most likely came after the roll was exposed in the camera.

 

[Gradskater]

thanks, yes, now I see the felt edge of the cassette in the orange streak. And it was a very bright and sunny day at the beach when the camera was loaded, that must be it.

 

[KenD]

Does the "leak" extend into the sprocket margin, or is it only within the frame? If it extends into the sprocket hole area, is it on the top, bottom, or both of the image?

KenD

 

[Gradskater]

I will have to double check when I get home, but I am pretty sure it does extend through the sprocket holes, top and bottom of the frame.

 

[charjohncarter]

I had too many light leaks in my life. I try to buy cameras that are not prone to them, but I have recently failed, again. One of my many LLs was caused by the film display window on the camera door. As it was a SLR and I had many lenses for it and none were obviously the pattern, I blue masking taped the door and the display window. I then wasted a two rolls in the sun and ripped off the some of the tape after a few exposures, believe it or not I kept notes. It took two rolls but the display window was the problem. But it could have been from some other area. By the way, It did look something like your leak.

 

[Gradskater]

I had too many light leaks in my life. I try to buy cameras that are not prone to them, but I have recently failed, again. One of my many LLs was caused by the film display window on the camera door. As it was a SLR and I had many lenses for it and none were obviously the pattern, I blue masking taped the door and the display window. I then wasted a two rolls in the sun and ripped off the some of the tape after a few exposures, believe it or not I kept notes. It took two rolls but the display window was the problem. But it could have been from some other area. By the way, It did look something like your leak.

Thanks, I have since covered that window up with a couple layers of gaffers tape. Ill give it a test run with some film sometime soon. Its so frustrating getting a shot ruined with a light leak. Its almost enough to make someone do something crazy like get a digital camera!

 

[charjohncarter]

Thanks, I have since covered that window up with a couple layers of gaffers tape. Ill give it a test run with some film sometime soon. Its so frustrating getting a shot ruined with a light leak. Its almost enough to make someone do something crazy like get a digital camera!

NO, DON'T DO THAT!

 

[FallisPhoto]

on the lens? well, I thought it was clean, but perhaps. the camera body doesn't have any foam in the channels (grooves) around camera back. Should it?

I am assuming that the orange and black background is something that was really there, in real life. If it wasn't, then you have a light leak. If it was, then it is lens flare.

 

[TMLee]

Does the "leak" extend into the sprocket margin, or is it only within the frame? If it extends into the sprocket hole area, is it on the top, bottom, or both of the image?

KenD

Dear kenD,
I have a similar problem recently.
In my case, the white band extends all the way into the sprocket area (both top AND bottom).
Also , one edge of the light leak is characteristically 'furry' as in the fur seals of the film cassette slot.
From reading the posts above, it seems most likely a film cassette light leak. Am I right ?

How does a light leak happen in a film cassette ?

I loaded at home (as opposed to outdoors) .

Or is it due to careless handling at the film processing shop ?

rgds

 

[KenD]

If the light leak does NOT extend into the sprocket margin it strongly suggests the leak is from the front of the camera - shutter, lens, etc. If the light leak does extend into the sprocket margin it suggests either a leak from the back part of the camera or light exposure during loading, unloading, or bulk loading. A fuzzy edge could be caused by the cassette felt, but there could be other culprits.

KenD

 

[TMLee]

Tks KenD for yr reply. Will continue to monitor other rolls.

 

[Ducky]

I don't know about the light leaks, I want to know about the cake. It looks like a bra.

 

[chippy]

I am assuming that the orange and black background is something that was really there, in real life. If it wasn't, then you have a light leak. If it was, then it is lens flare.

definately lip fog from the film leader area Charles. its harder to pick up on the more exposed area of the cake but you can just make out the orange strip all the way across the frame, more so under the cake (interesting cake! wonder if it comes in bikini style as well -yellow poka dots 😛 ) . Lip fog from the cassette shows up as this, it can also be white, yellow or orange (opposite to whats on the neg). light fog from a leak within the camera will also show up as white, yellow or orange.

I have had many years ago (when i was a kid) a few films turn out with a purple cast over the whole print, from a plastic kodak that got bent and warped sitting under the windsheild of the car. but i think that was probably either caused from the heat to the film or was adjusted by the lab to counter the yellow/orange cast it would have caused other wise.

TMLee, if you are using reloadable cassettes you need to check them occassionaly--but you not eh! there new.

so other than that take care in strong light and try and pack them in light tight packaging after removing from camera. It could be the lab causing it but i wouldnt not expect that, it would have to be a leak in their darkroom/or changing bag on the machine. or when loading the film to begin with which is unlikely. unless maybe some dodgy cheap film maker uses poor felt sealing materials.

sometimes a simular look to lip fog can occure with a poor sealing camera back or leak through a door catch ect.

 

[TMLee]

TMLee, if you are using reloadable cassettes you need to check them occassionaly--but you not eh! there new.

so other than that take care in strong light and try and pack them in light tight packaging after removing from camera. It could be the lab causing it but i wouldnt not expect that, it would have to be a leak in their darkroom/or changing bag on the machine. or when loading the film to begin with which is unlikely. unless maybe some dodgy cheap film maker uses poor felt sealing materials.

sometimes a simular look to lip fog can occure with a poor sealing camera back or leak through a door catch ect.

Nope , I didn't use reloadable cassettes.
I have a hunch its the lab.
The entire roll of negs was badly processed. I am quite disappointed. My regular store. One scratch line right along th emiddle of th eneg for at least half a roll. And lots of strange faint marks on numerous frames.
I doubt its the body at fault.
Look slike I have to shoot a lot more and try out.

 

[ZeissFan]

You said the camera doesn't appear to have any foam in the channels?

I would inspect the camera again. Check the body near the hinge to see if there is any foam or even felt there.

Also, check the mirror box to see if there is a foam cushion.

If there isn't any foam, that would be unusual.

Although I would tend to agree with the others that it's caused by the film cassette and not the back. Or possibly the lab, which you suspect.