Canon 7 light seals - they're only decoration

[retinax]

I could have sworn I opened a thread asking about this a while ago, but I can't find it. I had found inconclusive information on the necessity of light seals in the Canon 7. My own has decayed remains that look like a previous owner has already removed most, what's left is crumbling. I shot a cheap color test film a while ago with no light leaks. Then I took the risk of using it a bit. Today, I finally developed two 400 ISO films that were shot in very sunny weather - no light leaks. I tried to keep the camera in the shade as far as possible, but it certainly was exposed to the sun quite a bit. Apparently the labyrinth is good enough. The perfectionist side of me still wants to replace the seals :bang:.
Has anyone experienced light leaks with a 7? Does everyone's 7 have light seals in place?

 

[ForestCap]

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149704

Not a 7 but an L2 I have had occasional leaks.
I put some felt ripped off a film canister in the gap that was illuminated by the little LED in the picture shown in the above thread, rather than the one circled with red. And then the leak was gone. Of course i also think you need the the light seal along the hinge just to be safe.