Huss
Veteran
I got my test roll back from my brand new Zenit 12SD.
Exposures great, film spacing great, lens is sweet.
But.. there is a light leak. Same spot on every frame - top right corner.
This seems to match up with the placement of the camera strap lug, which goes all the way through. Pics attached.
So how do I fix this in a 'professional' looking manner? I really like the camera.
Thanks.
Exposures great, film spacing great, lens is sweet.
But.. there is a light leak. Same spot on every frame - top right corner.
This seems to match up with the placement of the camera strap lug, which goes all the way through. Pics attached.
So how do I fix this in a 'professional' looking manner? I really like the camera.
Thanks.
johnf04
Well-known
A spot of matt black paint, on the inside end of the lug. Remember, though, that the negative image is reversed, and that light leak would be at the bottom of the camera, on the left.
Huss
Veteran
I was thinking about that, but the camera was in a half case (the bottom half of the Zenit case), so I don't see how light could have got passed that.
johnf04
Well-known
Have you got a pinhole in the one of the shutter curtains?
farlymac
PF McFarland
Remember that the image is inverted on the film, so your leak is actually at the lower left corner of the film frame, and from the looks of it, is a shutter hole as previously suggested. Either some fabric paint, or LET (Liquid Electric Tape) will solve that, but check it first in a darkened room with a flashlight shining from the other side to make sure that is the issue (both curtains).
A leak from a strap lug would be more diffuse, and widespread, with the spot traveling across the frame image-to-image as the film builds up on the take-up spool, thus causing the end of the frame to change as the diameter gets larger.
PF
A leak from a strap lug would be more diffuse, and widespread, with the spot traveling across the frame image-to-image as the film builds up on the take-up spool, thus causing the end of the frame to change as the diameter gets larger.
PF
Huss
Veteran
Yeah, I think that John and farlymac have the right idea, as it is in the same place on every frame. Even though the shutter curtains look brand new (because in essence they are), I think there must be a micro hole somewhere. In the lower left corner.
I am having difficulty checking it because it is an SLR with the mirror in the way (with no mirror lock up like fancier cameras). If it was an RF it wouldn't be an issue. Would it harm anything if I just painted that area on both curtains as suggested?
I am having difficulty checking it because it is an SLR with the mirror in the way (with no mirror lock up like fancier cameras). If it was an RF it wouldn't be an issue. Would it harm anything if I just painted that area on both curtains as suggested?
johnf04
Well-known
Lift the mirror with a finger.
farlymac
PF McFarland
If sealing the curtains, make sure to leave them alone for a minimum of 24 hours. Do not trip the shutter letting the freshly sealed curtain roll up, or you could have a bigger problem than you started with. This means you will need two days for the sealing.
Just as a thought, this being an SLR with a quick return mirror, it's kind of hard to understand how it would develop such a shutter leak, unless it is from general deterioration, and then it has to be big enough to affect the film before the mirror slaps down. Which, in that case, you'd expect to see a streak across the frame. It's pretty common on rangefinders with cloth curtains, but kind of rare for this to happen on an SLR. If the curtains are deteriorated, then it might be time to replace them.
PF
Just as a thought, this being an SLR with a quick return mirror, it's kind of hard to understand how it would develop such a shutter leak, unless it is from general deterioration, and then it has to be big enough to affect the film before the mirror slaps down. Which, in that case, you'd expect to see a streak across the frame. It's pretty common on rangefinders with cloth curtains, but kind of rare for this to happen on an SLR. If the curtains are deteriorated, then it might be time to replace them.
PF
johnf04
Well-known
If the newer model Zenits are anything like a Zenit E, they have a 5mm gap between the mirror, and the plate covering the mirror lift mechanism. The shutter curtain can be seen through the gap.
farlymac
PF McFarland
That would do it.
PF
PF
Huss
Veteran
Zenit 12SD mirror box. Bigger mirror than the E, but still a big gap:
First curtain:
Second curtain:
First curtain:
Second curtain:
R
rick oleson
Guest
The curtains look good from that side.
A problem with a leak like this is that, since the film moves from one end to the other, it's hard to tell where that piece of film was located when it got flashed. What you need to do to be certain is to load a fresh roll of film and wind it up a few frames in the dark, leaving the shutter cocked. Then take the camera outdoors and give it a lot of exposure to the sun from all angles, without taking any pictures with it. Finally, take ONE clear, properly exposed image, and DO NOT COCK THE SHUTTER afterwards.
Now return to the darkroom, rewind the film and develop it. This film strip, placed in the camera so that the exposed negative is upside down in the film gate, will show you exactly where the leak is located relative to the camera body. Now you will know whether it's from a strap lug, or the sprocket shaft, or whatever, and you can go after the cause with confidence.
Also: If you do have a pinhole in a curtain (these usually appear as cracks on the rubber side of the curtain), you can find it easily in the darkroom: remove the lens, open the back with the shutter released, stick the front of a strobe into the lens mount and fire the test button while looking at the curtain from behind. Wind the shutter and repeat for the other curtain. You generally can't find these with a flashlight, but a strobe will show them up.
A problem with a leak like this is that, since the film moves from one end to the other, it's hard to tell where that piece of film was located when it got flashed. What you need to do to be certain is to load a fresh roll of film and wind it up a few frames in the dark, leaving the shutter cocked. Then take the camera outdoors and give it a lot of exposure to the sun from all angles, without taking any pictures with it. Finally, take ONE clear, properly exposed image, and DO NOT COCK THE SHUTTER afterwards.
Now return to the darkroom, rewind the film and develop it. This film strip, placed in the camera so that the exposed negative is upside down in the film gate, will show you exactly where the leak is located relative to the camera body. Now you will know whether it's from a strap lug, or the sprocket shaft, or whatever, and you can go after the cause with confidence.
Also: If you do have a pinhole in a curtain (these usually appear as cracks on the rubber side of the curtain), you can find it easily in the darkroom: remove the lens, open the back with the shutter released, stick the front of a strobe into the lens mount and fire the test button while looking at the curtain from behind. Wind the shutter and repeat for the other curtain. You generally can't find these with a flashlight, but a strobe will show them up.