danrubin
Newbie
Hi all!
So, my favourite 67 camera has always exhibited a frustrating light leak since I've had it (happens on both my 67 and my 670, which initially made me think it was me, though that's since been ruled out by the tests below) — not on every frame, varies in intensity, and no discernible pattern (e.g. never on the same frames per-roll). The only consistent thing is that it's always the same spot on the frame.
I don't get leaks on any other MF cameras, so I'm 99.9% certain it's not me loading or unloading (have loaded/unloaded in a darkroom and changing bag, which hasn't stopped the leaks), have tested both cameras in a completely dark room with a full roll each, shining a bright torch at every possible orifice, and had Aperture in London replace light seals and check the bellows an additional time.
I don't shoot with a hood, so there the potential of stray light somehow bouncing around at a very specific angle through the lens, but the leak is always in the same place on the negative, and has perfectly straight edges.
Aperture can't figure out what's wrong, and a few folks I know who also own Makinas have never seen this sort of leak before. I find it really odd that it's essentially the same leak on both models, seeing as I purchased them from different people and they're years apart (hence initially believing it was me, but I've only ever had a leak on one camera before — my Hasselblad 500C/M — and it was a faulty seal on the back, so I'm pretty confident in my abilities to load/unload film at this point
Some rolls don't have any leaks, some have 1 or 2, others have 4 or 5. As you can see from the attached photos, the leaks appear even in shots without direct light anywhere near the camera or subject matter…
Any thoughts would be most appreciated — I use the cameras on client work, and have spent quite a few hours retouching leaks out of some otherwise fantastic frames over the last few years… :bang:
So, my favourite 67 camera has always exhibited a frustrating light leak since I've had it (happens on both my 67 and my 670, which initially made me think it was me, though that's since been ruled out by the tests below) — not on every frame, varies in intensity, and no discernible pattern (e.g. never on the same frames per-roll). The only consistent thing is that it's always the same spot on the frame.
I don't get leaks on any other MF cameras, so I'm 99.9% certain it's not me loading or unloading (have loaded/unloaded in a darkroom and changing bag, which hasn't stopped the leaks), have tested both cameras in a completely dark room with a full roll each, shining a bright torch at every possible orifice, and had Aperture in London replace light seals and check the bellows an additional time.
I don't shoot with a hood, so there the potential of stray light somehow bouncing around at a very specific angle through the lens, but the leak is always in the same place on the negative, and has perfectly straight edges.
Aperture can't figure out what's wrong, and a few folks I know who also own Makinas have never seen this sort of leak before. I find it really odd that it's essentially the same leak on both models, seeing as I purchased them from different people and they're years apart (hence initially believing it was me, but I've only ever had a leak on one camera before — my Hasselblad 500C/M — and it was a faulty seal on the back, so I'm pretty confident in my abilities to load/unload film at this point
Some rolls don't have any leaks, some have 1 or 2, others have 4 or 5. As you can see from the attached photos, the leaks appear even in shots without direct light anywhere near the camera or subject matter…
Any thoughts would be most appreciated — I use the cameras on client work, and have spent quite a few hours retouching leaks out of some otherwise fantastic frames over the last few years… :bang:
Attachments
Jake Mongey
Well-known
Could it be the bellows? They could both happen to have a pinhole in them which reaches the film
danrubin
Newbie
Checked the bellows with a torch, both with the camera open and with a roll of film (and Aperture checked them, too). All light-tight on both cameras
taomei
Established
Given how sharp that edge of the light leak is, I'm thinking it's something closer to the film door itself, which would seem really difficult to diagnose. Maybe you'd have to go the Holga route and gaffe-tape the edges of the film door and see if that consistently stops the issue. Really unfortunate... especially now that Plaubel GmBH isn't repairing them any longer.
MikeL
Go Fish
Hi Dan, had the same problem on my 670. On mine, I had to replace the seals 2x before it cleared up. I think the light was creeping at the hinge side of the back. Once I adjusted the seals there it went away.
danrubin
Newbie
Amazing, thanks! You're the first person to have seen the same issue (glad it's not just me!). Will have Aperture look at the seals again on both bodies, and run a few more test rolls through…
danrubin
Newbie
Looks like your suggestion lines up nicely with MikeL's —*I'd not considered it as Aperture has always done an ace job of any seal replacements (Rollei, Leica, Hasselblad, among others), but it makes so much sense now that both of you have pointed it out as such. Will report back with (hopefully) success on both bodies…
taomei
Established
Argh, looks like mine is developing light leaks as well, noticed it on 2/10 frames in a recent roll on the top edge of the negative.
Waterfront Golden Hour by Letao Tao, on Flickr
@MikeL did you get the light seals re-done yourself, with Plaubel GmBH or someone else in North America / UK / Europe? Last time I contacted Plaubel about service a month ago they were stopping all repairs but still had parts leftover for other repair centers.
Waterfront Golden Hour by Letao Tao, on Flickr@MikeL did you get the light seals re-done yourself, with Plaubel GmBH or someone else in North America / UK / Europe? Last time I contacted Plaubel about service a month ago they were stopping all repairs but still had parts leftover for other repair centers.
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jawarden
Well-known
I had the same leak with my W67 and a trip to Plaubel for seals did the trick. Good luck! Keeping these cameras in top condition will be more of a challenge since Plaubel has dropped service.
As an aside, It would have been nice if Plaubel would have announced their termination of servicing these products a year before they did so, which would have allowed everyone interested an opportunity to have their gear serviced. I imagine a lot of us, myself included, would have jumped at the chance.
As an aside, It would have been nice if Plaubel would have announced their termination of servicing these products a year before they did so, which would have allowed everyone interested an opportunity to have their gear serviced. I imagine a lot of us, myself included, would have jumped at the chance.
vytasn
Established
Plaubel dropped service? I got a quote from Plaubel GmbH on April 24, 2017, 350 euros for a cla of a Plaubel Makina 67! When was this announced? Why did I get a quote?
mod2001
Old school modernist
They are still in business, at least for a full CLA, a friend of mine got his 670 back from service in March. Maybe they don't accept any longer smaller (cheaper) repairs because the administrative effort is to high in relation to the revenue.
Yogi
taomei
Established
I heard it in late April-May 2017 on Nico Llasera's photo news YouTube video and contacted Plaubel GmBH immediately. Their repair tech who knows how to do full overhauls is retiring or something; they were still working out details on supplying parts for 3rd party repairers. I'll try asking them again for an update
If it was just merely foam seals that's easily done DIY I'd hope, but opening up the RF for cleaning and alignment looks hard.
If it was just merely foam seals that's easily done DIY I'd hope, but opening up the RF for cleaning and alignment looks hard.
matpar
Member
Hi guys, a quick one which is partially related to this thread.
I am evaluating a Makina 67, and shot a B&W and color rolls just to test it out.
I am scanning the results, which indeed from a first check seems ok, except for the fact spacing between frames is not even.
In general the minimum space between is around 0.4cm, so it seems no risk of "kissing", but I do wonder if:
1) it is totally normal that film advance might be uneven in camera which can be considered OK
2) it is a sign of wear of components, thus a "ringing bell", knowing the common film movement issues this machine might have.
Please let me know about this from your experience, since this might be one of the motifs for NOT buying this magnificent camera in particular (for the rest foam seems ok, no light leaks, light meter ok, etc..).
Cheers!
I am evaluating a Makina 67, and shot a B&W and color rolls just to test it out.
I am scanning the results, which indeed from a first check seems ok, except for the fact spacing between frames is not even.
In general the minimum space between is around 0.4cm, so it seems no risk of "kissing", but I do wonder if:
1) it is totally normal that film advance might be uneven in camera which can be considered OK
2) it is a sign of wear of components, thus a "ringing bell", knowing the common film movement issues this machine might have.
Please let me know about this from your experience, since this might be one of the motifs for NOT buying this magnificent camera in particular (for the rest foam seems ok, no light leaks, light meter ok, etc..).
Cheers!