Leica IIIc light leak

[mh2000]

I just got a roll of film back shot in my relatively new IIIc. a couple frames have a faint vertical band that looks like a light leak. it goes beyond the sprocket holes. is there anything to check for in these cameras? I can't rule out that Walgreens messed up the film, but since the soft band shows up in the same location on 3 frames it seems to be in my camera.

ideas?

thanks!

 

[payasam]

Don't see how it can be the processing. Post a photo, please. I had leak trouble with a IIIc some years ago, so perhaps can help.

 

[BillBingham2]

Post some examples.

You'd be shocked at how the highly trained folks at Walgreens can mess up a roll. Have tried the store by me four times in two years. Each time something is messed up and they blame it on me. Funny how the team at Costco can get it done right first time every time. Same camera......

B2 (;->

 

[Ronald M]

Go into a nearly dark room and shine a keychain light around the outside of the camera that has the bottom removed. Strap lug points, slow speed dial, top are obvios incursion ponts.

With film in the camera, expose a frame to first curtain, then second curtain to a different frame. Have lens off. This is a good test for shutter curtain holes.

A sample would really help.

 

[BillBingham2]

I can't imagine bringing my film to either. Do you because there is no film lab where you live?

Nope, cost and time. Money goes to put food on table, keeping roof over head. I can drop film off while shopping for food and get the results (souped and scanned) back as I leave. Costco does enough volume so they keep chemicals fresh and so it works, for me. When I was a DINK (Double Income No Kids) years back I sent stuff to Kodak or local pro labs. But that was back in the days of Slide Projectors....Kodachrome 200 Pro....

B2 (;->

 

[mh2000]

I can post a photo when I get time to do a full film scan to show the edge, but it's just a faint soft band going all the way across the film through the sprocket holes so it isn't the shutter (right?). Because of the bottom loading design I wouldn't expect light leaks from the back... and never saw them on any other roll from the camera. I did change lenses on this roll.

RE Walgreens, I've had hundreds of rolls processed at this store without any issue other than minor dust and scratches which digital ICE fixes no problem. the main reason I use walgreens (other than price) is that it is right on the way to work so there is zero inconvenience... drop it off on the way, pick it up on the way home... review and scan the ones I want to make fine enlargements from... perfect.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Nope, cost and time. Money goes to put food on table, keeping roof over head. I can drop film off while shopping for food and get the results (souped and scanned) back as I leave. Costco does enough volume so they keep chemicals fresh and so it works, for me. When I was a DINK (Double Income No Kids) years back I sent stuff to Kodak or local pro labs. But that was back in the days of Slide Projectors....Kodachrome 200 Pro....

B2 (;->

I'll second Costco for film processing - granted, it's not like a custom lab, but I can get a 12 exp. roll of film done for under $3.00 in one hour. I use them when I'm testing new cameras, and when I don't feel like spending $ 16-$18 at my pro lab and waiting two days. One thing - I don't bring XP2 to Costco, as my prints become a nice brown colour.

On the light leak question, I have the same issue with one of mine - it's like a horizontal light leak that starts in one corner, and it's about 2" long by about 1/8" wide. Doesn't happen with every frame, just a few times on a 36 exp. roll. Might be a leak at the base plate?

 

[BillBingham2]

Load a roll of film and wind three or four shots through in the dark (ok, lens cap on, f22, 1/1000 of a second) and then take the camera out side and have it sit on the table next to you in bright sun light for about 15 minutes. Take another four shots the same way but out side. Take the lens cap off, f2.0 and 1/15 of a second and shoot another four. Rewind the film and take it in for processing and see what's up with light leaks then.

I remember setting up my dark room as a kid. I sat there for two hours till I started to see where dark was leaking out. I doubt the flash light thing works for other than BIG leaks.

B2 (;->

 

[payasam]

Dark leaking out, B2? That's a new one, and a neat one.

 

[ZorkiKat]

The common source for light leaks in IIIc and IIIf (without selftimer) is the part of the outer shell right under the slowspeed dial. Quite close to the lens mount. There is a strip of black plush felt placed there. When this felt strip wears out or is removed and never replaced (as what happens during repairs), some leakage is bound to happen.

My stepper IIIc once had a mysterious leak whose source couldn't be immediately located. The aforementioned black plush strip had been replaced. Turned out that the part below the rewind knob lost some sort of flocking which let the light in through what had become unsealed seams in the metal cover.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I think I have the same problem with my IIIc, it showed simular light leaks at the lower right of the negatives. It wasn't in all of the pictures though

 

[Luddite Frank]

I've experienced the occasional vertical stripe of fog on a frame here and there... I think it was related to changing lenses w/o taking care to turn away from the strong sun.

Luddite Frank

( Leica III, 1934 )