Iskra light leaks or poor film handling?

[minoltist7]

I developed my first bw 120 film from Iskra.
Film has sort of regular vertical stripes, on the left side of almost each frame.
What it can be - light leak in folder, or in rear cover, or during the film handling/developing ?
Interesting that stripes are regular in shape, and located exactly in the same place of each frame, and it goes through "perforation" area too

 

[wpb]

I went through this just a few weeks ago. After almost endless searching the light leak was in the camera body itself. If you look closely in the two chambers that hold the spools of film you will see there is a place where two pieces of the body come together. On the take-up side of the camera apply a small amount of pressure to the metal with the horizontal lines in it used to put pressure on the film. It will either come into contact or come to rest very close to the seam. It appears that the seam was to be made light tight by the front leatherette covering, but over time it starts to peel back and then allows light to sneak in. To confirm shine a flashlight (torch) from the film chamber side and look for the slightest glow (you must do this in almost complete darkness as the leak is very small) from the area of the black seam between the leatherette and the fold down bed for the lens assembly. To cure this problem I used a small pieces of black felt glued over the seams inside the film chamber. So far it works perfectly. Good luck.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I will look for this on my iskra as well. That leak is a pain.

 

[minoltist7]

It seems a light leak not in the bellows, but near the takeup spool chamber.
It happens not everytime, but in certain light conditions.
Here what I found in russian RFF forum:
picture of film: exactly like mine is (vertical line ):
http://rangefinder.ru/glr/uploads/2077/iskra-blik.jpg
and here is a place inside the chamber where the light come through:
http://rangefinder.ru/glr/uploads/2077/Iskra_2_s.jpg

 

[cjm]

I have what appears to be the same light leak (sporadic vertical strips on the left side that occur in different lighting situations). I just can't find the location of the leak, even using a flashlight in a dark room. The possible light leak location pointed out seems logical considering the shape of the light leak and the shape of the vertical seems outlined in red in the photo.

wpb - are you able to post of picture of where you glued the black felt?

 

[NickTrop]

Wow! I had the exact same problem. Camera worked fine the first few rolls, then the vertical stripe started to appear several frames per roll. Drove me nuts. I went crazy trying to fix it. I put light seals around the edge of the door, tighened the screw that holds the door catch, black electrical tape here and there. I knew it wasn't bellows.

What I thought fixed it, was I jammed a piece of cardboard from a match book cover between the little lever at the bottom left rear of the camera that pulls out to release the door for loading film. Since I did that, I've had no problem with the vertical line. But this isn't the take-up spool side. Weird. I've shot 4 or 5 rolls now without that $^#^@%(#@ vertical stripe light leak.

I will, however, check out what wpd described. Maybe I just got lucky? Or it went away on its own for a time? I thought this was happening on the "film spool" side (not take-up side).

Thanks!

 

[NickTrop]

Actually, wpd, if you look at the picture on the link minoltist7 (cjm - the picture is on the second link of what wpd is referencing) it's not on the take-up spool side. It's the left side (facing the rear of the camera, like you're shooting). You can tell this because you can see the viewfinder (on the left facing rear of the camera).

You might want to "try" jamming a little cardboard from a matchbook cover between the door release and the camera body. I also put electrical tape around the seams of that vertical "protrusion" on the (rear-facing, left/front-faceing right) side of the camera, including the top. I don't know what did it, but the light leak is gone now. Perhaps Oleg would be gracious enough to offer some insights. My thought was that light was somehow creeping in where the door latch is. Whatever it way, it went away.

 

[NickTrop]

The two light leaks appear to be different. Minoltist7's seems to be on the right side of the frame. Mine was exactly like cjm's on the left side of the frame. May be two different types of leaks.

 

[minoltist7]

It can be either on the left or right side, or both.
For sure, I'd cover the seams with some black tape in both places
it also can be done from outside (marked with red):
http://rangefinder.ru/glr/uploads/2077/Iskra_1_s.jpg

 

[P C Headland]

Ha!

I have had the exact same leaks, faint, but just visible from time to time. It does not occur on all films, and on those it does happen on, it is only on one or two frames. It is only ever on the left hand side of my frames.

I too have checked everywhere, and will check this out.

My own thoughts, after much experimentation, was that it could be light coming through the RF window and reflecting between the camera's top plate and light trap on the camera body. Light can certainly make its way through, and I guessed that it was then reflecting of something else causing the bands.

Must go do some testing!

 

[wpb]

I had the leak on both sides, supply and take-up. The leak is almost impossible to detect, you really have to move the flashlight around and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the darkness. The outlined area on the above picture (of the supply side) is exactly where I put the felt. it goes underneath the long vertical spool tension spring, from the lens assembly side to where the spring is attached to the camera body. Both supply and take-up sides have the same seam; it is closest to the lens assembly on both sides. Just look on the front of the camera and see if you have any peeling, cracking or shrinkage of the leatherette... that is the real cause of the leak. My solution won't actually "fix" the real problem, as the proper solution would be to replace the covering so it stops the light from getting into the camera. My solution is cheap, easy and effective so it meets all my criteria. I will post a picture later today. I can almost guarantee you if you have a leak that looks like the contact sheet above this is the problem.

 

[NickTrop]

Just got home and applied black electrical tape to the outside, where the red lines are in the photo. God, it's hard to believe that's where the light is coming in from. However, the light leak was appearing on the "supply" side (left side of the print) and that's where the leatherette is a little separated. The other side (take up side) the leatherette is good, no light leak. I'm still going to keep a little cardboard jammed between the door release latch and the camera body. When I did that, the light leak went away and hasn't appeared for 4-5 rolls now. Thanks so much for you help! This thing was driving me crazy! Love my Iskra! (and God, RFF is such a great blog. Where else are you gonna get to the bottom of a common light leak in a 45 year old russian folder camera!)

 

[cjm]

(and God, RFF is such a great blog. Where else are you gonna get to the bottom of a common light leak in a 45 year old russian folder camera!)

My thoughts exactly. Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[wpb]

As promised.

Just a side note: I too had the leak only appear in certain frames and sometimes it only appeared on a frame or two on a whole roll. But after keeping mental notes about the position of the film in the camera and the light conditions the camera was in it became apparent that it took bright sunlight for the leak to show itself. If you examine the negatives you'll notice the sharp edge (the seam in the camera body) and the soft falling off of the leak- it is more like a soft glow of light sneaking inside the camera rather than a direct light strike. A direct light leak, more often than not, leaves a very strong yellow mark (on a color print).

 

[NickTrop]

wpd - thank you sooooooooo much for this! I have some felt and will do this ASAP. I already did the front side of the camera with two strips of electrical tape. In my case, I've been surprised to find traces of this leak with indoor shots with relatively low light too and more than once. Gotta tellya, though, outdoors, bright light, indoors, I've not seen hide nor hair of it since I jammed some thin cardboard between the door release latch and the camera body. Your solution makes more sense, however, and you saw the light seeping. I think maybe I just got lucky.

Thanks, again!

 

[wpb]

This was driving me crazy also... I had taken inside photos and had the leak and taken outside shots that were fine. My hypothesis was it was the light conditions the camera had been subjected to, not just the shooting circumstances. If I shot an outside picture then shot another one or two quickly there was a chance the camera didn't get just the right angle (to the sun) to make the leak. But even in the most dimly lit interiors if the camera had been out in the sun (even collapsed) I'd get the leak. I'm telling you it was quite a revelation to finally "see" the light so to speak while in the dark with the flashlight. I had searched the entire camera for leaks and had the entire back door sealed with tape at one point. I have never encountered such a leak in any camera- and I looked everywhere before I found this one.

P.S. It is worth all the trouble.

 

[P C Headland]

My thanks too.

I'd probably never have found this on my own !

 

[Joao]

Hello
I have read somewhere else that some abnormal light can come from inner reflections from metallic parts. A very simple experiment is covering the chrome-shining parts in the film chambers with black opaque paper. In some cases this is enough, and it is not difficult to try.
I regret having lost the link where this problem is debated with more detail...
Regards
Joao

 

[wpb]

The shiny metallic parts in the film chambers certainly don't help the situation but it is the seam that is the actual area of the leak. Covering the parts with black paper achieves the same result but can interfere with the purpose of the springs and may impede the "flow" of the film through the camera. Bottom line- seal the seam in the chamber or fix the leatherette on the front. I have left the camera in the window at work for 8 hours (in direct sunlight for at least 4 hours) and no more leaks. I may go in with some liquid electrical tape and seal the seams for good now that I have found the culprit.

 

[NickTrop]

Done. Inside "foamed" per posted pic. Outside electrical taped as instructed. Film loaded to test, light leak should be gone fu-ev-ah. Who needs that new stinkin' Fuji folder that's suppoze-ta be commin' out when I gots me a light-leak free, fully functional vintage 1961 Iskra foldah?!?!

Thanks again!