Kiev 4am light leak

[Nikon Bob]

I have a Kiev 4am that has a light leak and would like an opinion on the cause. The photos show the leak and the almost blank one was from the last frame of the roll which I could not fully wind on so just decided to re wind at that point. I am thinking that the leak is from the top of the camera and coming from the front as it is white and does not show on the neg past the frame area. I am also thinking that the shutter may not be properly latching to cause this and it seems worse when shutter speeds were changed.

Bob

 

[Nikon Bob]

Daniel

When I said it was coming from the top of the camera I meant that it showed more heavily at the bottom of the frame in the photo. I have never had a white light leak just the usual one coming from the back and orange in colour. That is why I was thinking that the shutter was not latching properly when cocked and or changing shutter speeds. If you are saying that a white light leak can be caused by light leaking through the VF/RF assembly on top of the camera under the top plate then that would be easier to fix than monkeying around with the shutter. I will remove the top plate and check it out. Thanks for your response.

Bob

 

[Xmas]

Does the leak continue into the rebates (sprocket holes)?

Noel

 

[David Murphy]

My advice: Sell it for parts and get a used Contax body of any sort in working condition ($150 can get you one on eBay with some patience). You will never look back.

 

[Nikon Bob]

Noel

No the leak is only in the exposed/image part of the film.

Bob

 

[Nikon Bob]

My advice: Sell it for parts and get a used Contax body of any sort in working condition ($150 can get you one on eBay with some patience). You will never look back.

I am just patiently waiting for my Contax II to come back from Henry. I think I will still keep the Kievs that I have as a reminder that you don't have to spend $$$ to get good performance. BTW my other Kiev works very well and the kiev mount FSU glass that I have is satisfying to use also. For Kievs, all you have to do is accept that they are not a Contax or Leica and enjoy the images they can produce. It seems that you need patience with both Kievs and Contaxs all be it for different reasons.

Bob

 

[Xmas]

Noel

No the leak is only in the exposed/image part of the film.

Bob

That means it is almost certaintly through the gate. Since it does not show any sideways movement is is probably not happening during winding on, so you have a hole in the shutter or light is leaking via the black paper seal on top of the shutter crate, or similar.

Screw driver time I'm afraid.

Noel

 

[Nikon Bob]

Noel

So my first guess was half right. Yea, screwdriver time it is. Thanks.

Bob

 

[Xmas]

Try removing back and changing speeds and winding on, do the blinds unlatch?

Note an unlatch produces a traingle shaped leak which you dont seem to have.

Noel

 

[nikola]

Does it leak at some other time or just at 4 am?

 

[Nikon Bob]

Does it leak at some other time or just at 4 am?

Shooting at 4am just might solve the problem though.

Bob

 

[izziebears]

I had a similar light leak with my Kiev 4am but not on all pictures. Finally I figured out that some of the pictures were taken with the bottom leather cover on (no leak) and some without the cover (light leak). Upon closer examination of the camera, I found that one of the small rivots at the base of the camera had come out allowing light to leak in when the bottom cover wasn't being used. Was easy to fix by inserting a small threaded screw.

 

[Chris B]

Hello, this is my first post here, but I have been lurking for months...

I had a similar light leak problem with my Kiev 4am which would come and go, I finally narrowed it down to the flash synch....after I taped it up rather unceremoniously I have not had a problem with it since...just a thought.

 

[zorroflores]

Hi Chris,

What part of the flash sync you taped? front of the camera?

 

[Chris B]

Hi Zorro, yes I taped the front of the camera with a small piece of duct tape....not very attractive but the black electrical tape I first used wouldn't stay stuck in the summer heat.

 

[Spyderman]

Is the seal shown in the next picture 100% OK ?

 

[ruben]

My advice: Sell it for parts and get a used Contax body of any sort in working condition ($150 can get you one on eBay with some patience). You will never look back.

Actually fedka has one for sale, at that price, termed as "user". Since the outside is rather ugly, it keeps me thinking about throwing to the trash the front plate and put instead one of those exhuberantly beauty black plates with the Kiev logo, like in the old times, which Alex photo goods is selling quite cheap. Some home black painting for the top and lower castings and we may have a beautiful user.

The good think about it is that it is a prewar Contax, like the postwar Kievs. Keith convinced me that post war Contaxes don't feel good at his hand, and for this reason he uses his Kiev and sold his Contax IIa. Strange world.

According to the Contax conoussieurs I had the pleasure to talk with or read their comments, finding a really working Contax at the Bay isn't easier than finding a really working Kiev there. The only problem is that a really working Contax will not be priced at $150, nor a trashed Contax is available at that price.

Then, buying a really working Contax at their $400 ~ $500 involves the risk that when the camera arrives home, it doesn't really work, and overhaul is due, leaving you with a total of around $700 before shipments.

What the Contax do have in their favour is Henry Scherer. Once I contacted him for buying directly from him a working prewar model, by some $200, and I was happy to the sky.... until he informed me about his waiting list, of a year plus.

I think to remember that in his site, he says that not every Contax is possible to bring back alive. This being another argument for not risking lower priced Contaxes at the Bay, and buying from Fedka plus a black kiev front plate from Alex.

Personally I don't believe that any old camera, including Kievs and Contaxes, could be found at a really working condition, out of outstanding exceptions, and therefore overhaul is to be taken as part of the total price.

Now if you are ready to invest a total of around $600~800 without shipments and customs, plus waiting a year plus, you may have a Scherer overhauled Contax, bought anywhere. This will be an undeniable gem, worth of your sweat.

But if your budget is more stretched, you can also buy a "good" Kiev from the sixties ($50~70), and wihout thinking twice send it to Oleg (up to $70) and have a hell of a machine, with an extra surplus of $10 for a Rapidwinder softie. There is also a Brittish Contax/Kiev repairman out there, Steve Ash, I am curious about his Kiev overhaul, priced the same as he prices Contaxes.

Cheers,
Ruben