Kiev 4am light leaks

[JWalker]

I'm having major light leak with my 4am. Coming from the top of the camera somewhere. I am aware that images on film are upside down. Also, on almost every frame, there is a small leak by a register hole on the opposite side! Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[tunalegs]

Post an example photo. I'll dig out my 4am and take a look. Without seeing a photo though, I'll guess the string light seal may be missing or displaced from its channel.

 

[JWalker]

4am light leak

4am light leak

Post an example photo. I'll dig out my 4am and take a look. Without seeing a photo though, I'll guess the string light seal may be missing or displaced from its channel.

Yes, after a closer look, the body has dried up crap in the groove. Used to be be a seal, but shot. I have replaced my seal on my Rollie 3.5f with black yarn, and seems to work fine now. What is a good material to fit the Kiev body? Thanks, I am new to this Kiev stuff. Never thought to look.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Black yarn it is.

 

[summar]

I had the same trouble with a Kiev 4. I've read light leaks described as a "special feature" of the Kiev RF cameras.

 

[wolves3012]

Thanks, I am new to this Kiev stuff. Never thought to look.

If you are new to Kievs, I recommend a visit to the Kiev survival site. Tons of useful information, including a page on solving light leaks:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/

 

[Philip Whiteman]

I have an 82 4M and a 78 4, both of which suffer light leaks. Depspite me stripping it down and applying the fixes suggested on the Kiev Survivors website, the 4M stubbornly continues to fog the bottom left of each image (light leaking from the top right of the frame, looking at the back of the camera) and suffer overlapping frames when the advance mechanism somehow slips.

I am not sure about the much smoother 4, but have given up on these late and not terribly well made Kievs in favour of a 1953 2 that a) worked perfectly straight out the box and b) is 95% as well made as the pair of 1930s Contax IIs that also work perfectly and show not the faintest sign of any light leaks or film advance problem.

Lots of people have said on these forums that the 1940s, 50s and 60s Kievs are better made and my own experience tends to confirm this. However, that's not to say that a good camera tech, rather than a DIY merchant like myself, wouldn't be able to fix your 4AM!