Mamiya 6 - is this a light leak??

[WilliamWest]

Hi,

First post here.

I recently bought a 2nd hand Mamiya 6.

I got several films developed and when checking the negs I found this light mark/leak as you can see in the picture below.

This light mark does not appear on every frame so I'm a bit confused on what it could be...

Developing problem, shutter failure or other camera failure....

Any help would be more than appreciated.
Thanks!!
William

 

[sevo]

Light leak - but it need not be in the camera. Darkrooms, dark bags and film tanks are leaking no less often, and even scanners do show flare phenomena of that shape and look (but they turn out as darker areas in the case of negative scanning).

See whether it is on more images, in roughly the same location - if so, the camera is the culprit. If not, you'll have to revise your entire picture taking and process chain.

Sevo

 

[WilliamWest]

Thanks Sevo.

The light patch is on several frames in the same place but not on all frames. In one case I have 2 images taken at teh same location and one is fine and the other one has the light patch. I used the same shutter speed and aperture. Strange....

It also appears on some of my color films (c41) so I'm afraid it must be the camera...

I will try to find a repair shop.

 

[xxloverxx]

Looks like a light leak, but not from the camera I don't think - there aren't any leaks on the edges.

Could be the shutter.

Are these leaks on the last frames or the first frames? Might be the way you take the spool out that's letting some light get to the very last frames that you shot, although that's probably not it.

 

[FrankHarries]

If the leak is on some colour film too which you didn't develop yourself, it should be a shutter problem. It might be, that one leaf of the shutterblades is a little sticky - taht would explain, why the light leak doesn#t show up in every negative. You should get a lubricating job on your lens.

 

[WilliamWest]

Thanks for all the tips.

Frank - the sticky shutter seem likely as I don't get this light patch on every frame but it has shown up on every film.

 

[degruyl]

Do you have two lenses?

That would explain why a shutter issue might not appear on each frame as well. Also, if you do have two lenses, take a roll with each. If one shows the issue and the other does not, you know which has the problem. I recommend taking a picture of a piece of paper with the lens name...

 

[Krzys]

Yes!

My mamiya 7II is leaking light from two cracks on the baseplate. It looks exactly like this. After some extensive tests and lots of gaffers tape I am confident that it is only the baseplate which is leaking. A new one from Mamiya Australia cost me $16. It should arrive tomorrow.

Here is what to do.

With film loaded...

-Take lenses out of the situation, put a lens cap on and tape around it so you are sure that the lens mount is sealed from light
-Advance a frame in darkness as a baseline control
-With the curtain in expose the camera all over to sunlight
-With the curtain drawn expose the camera all over to sunlight
-Tape up various sections that could possibly leak light and repeat the previous two steps

To advance the film without a lens just turn the camera off, press the shutter then turn it on. It should click and allow you to advance.

I found that light was leaking in only when the curtain was drawn, so the cavity behind the mount and infront of the curtain is prone to light leakage/reflections.

 

[Finder]

Thanks for all the tips.

Frank - the sticky shutter seem likely as I don't get this light patch on every frame but it has shown up on every film.

It cannot be the shutter. A sticky shutter would just give you overexposure, not patches of light. A light leak in the shutter, not likely with metal shutter blades, would fog the film and not make a patch of light.

Your camera may have a light leak as the poster above states.

 

[Steve M.]

I would guess it's a light leak. It looks like lens flare at first, but that shot isn't in bright sun, so I'd rule that out. The only consistent way I've been able to track down light leaks is by opening the camera and cramming my eye into the film chamber while holding the camera at bright noonday sun and turning it every which way to see if it shows up somewhere inside. You have to cup your hands around your face on the sides to make a good light seal.

 

[Krzys]

The only consistent way I've been able to track down light leaks is by opening the camera and cramming my eye into the film chamber while holding the camera at bright noonday sun and turning it every which way to see if it shows up somewhere inside. You have to cup your hands around your face on the sides to make a good light seal.

Did not work in my situation even though light leaks are clearly evident on film.

Everyone, this is a light leak. Mine look exactly the same in characteristics 🙂