Any Ideas What the Problem Is w/ This Camera?

[Steve M.]

I recently bought a Fed 2 and most of the shots came out fine, but a few didn't. They look like these. The camera was in a half case, but it could have been light leaks I suppose. The sun was behind me at times, but one series was when I was in a darkened area shooting out. Does this look like light leaks or shutter issues?

At first I thought it might have been flare, but the last 2 were taken w/ the sun behind me, and the first was taken when I was standing in a darkened area.

 

[sevo]

Positively light leaks. Shutter capping or drag creates horizontal or vertical banding, but not fogged areas limited in both dimensions.

Sevo

 

[Steve M.]

That's what I figured Sevo. I thought of pin holes in the shutter too, but then the shots I took in bright sun should have looked like and these, and they didn't.

 

[bmattock]

Were the ones that came out like this directly after a lens change?

 

[colyn]

A common problem with Russian cameras in need of service or a poorly done overhaul is light leaking through where the curtains cap.

Remove the lens and in a dark room such as the bathroom shine a flashlight through the front with the shutter partly cocked with the curtain edges half way across the focal plane and look at the leading edge. If you see light coming through that is the problem..

 

[Olsen]

It could be something simpler: The start of the film roll has got light on it. Flare like this was typical when i shot fast B/W film with my Hasselblad 500C/M. It was close to impossible to change film roll without having some light on the first frames. You cure this by changing film in total darkness.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I'm reminded of something a wiseass mechanic once said to me when he examined my pickup and I asked him what the problem was.

"Well, first of all, it's a Ford."

😉

 

[KenD]

Welcome to the world of FSU's. You have light leaks.

 

[Steve M.]

Oh, you mean like "first of all, it's a Fed"! True, true. But still.... Ford has won Daytona, Indy, Le Mans, and has the best record in history for powering Formula One winners. Can't think of many thing the Feds have won though. Best crappy Russian camera perhaps.

It looks like it was the light leak. I pulled at the bottom of the camera and it separated about 1/8" when I tugged it down on one side. Fortunately I have a small Fed graveyard where I exhumed another Fed 2 (bad shutter) and took the back from it and put it on the Fed du jour. Nice, tight fit. Hopefully all will be well. I went out and shot a roll shooting into the sun, sideways to it, and w/ it behind me, so tomorrow will tell when I develop it.

Thanks for all the help everyone! I am still going to try that light check you suggested Colyn, and yes bmattock, I think once the problem did come up after a lens change. I assume you mean that light may have gotten past the curtains, and I'll make sure that when I do change lenses I'm in a dark place.