Possible light leak?

[James Brannan]

Recently I purchased a Kiev 4A. So far I must say I'm pretty happy with it. The shutter speeds (tested at just about every setting) seems very accurate. The lens is much sharper than I expected. The only problem I'm having is with what I think is a light leak. Here is a sample off of the last roll I ran thru the camera. These shots were taken one right after the other.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable with the Kiev will instantly know what this is. It does have me confused. If it were a curtain issue I would think I'd see it in every shot. As it is, I'm only seeing it in about 1/2 of my images. Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

 

[reagan]

I don't have a Kiev, so I've no personal experience there, but I've had a few light leaks. Maybe someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I've read [here] that an orange/red flare is light hitting the back of the film as opposed to white flare = light hitting the front. So possibly your leak here is coming from the camera back. The image is upside down in the camera (right?) so that would place your leak at the top of the back. Hope that helps. Cheers.

p.s. Maybe experiment by shooting a roll or partial with tape covering the edges of the back door.

 

[peterc]

I looks like a classic Kiev light leak. I could be from the top of the back (check the yak hair seal) or through the rangefinder (this involves removing the top and redoing the internal seals).

Peter

 

[James Brannan]

Thank you both for the advice! I think I will try taping it on the next roll. Hopefully it is somthing simple like the back. I really like this camera and want to eventually fix this one minor issue with it.

 

[comp_wiz101]

I had a leak like that in my Zorki 3, which has a removable back. I made a seal using yarn coated in a silicone rubber shoe repair cement.

 

[varjag]

Can be the back or the slit between main casting and shutter casting, not far from the the left (film cassette) fork.

 

[Xmas]

James

The worst problem is from one of two interior to top cap areas

one to left of 24x36 frame from view finder or gap between body chassi and shutter chassi

one to right of frame from gap between body chassi and shutter chassi

The light enters the viewfinder and rangefinder windows and leaks everywhere, thare is only a little bent spring steel trap and some black paper, the paper has a bad habit of falling off, with glue age, early cameras have black string as well, on inside of top plate.

You can distinguish which of the two you have, the 1st frame will have the leak if it is a right side leak.

You have to remove the top plate to fix either of these (about 15 little screws from memory), it requires Russ Pinch... site and dicipline. You should be able to fix a leak without removing the shutter chassi.

Good luck

Noel

 

[James Brannan]

Thanks again for the advice/ possible solutions. Hopefully I can get a day off this week to look into these and shoot some.

 

[colyn]

Recently I purchased a Kiev 4A. So far I must say I'm pretty happy with it. The shutter speeds (tested at just about every setting) seems very accurate. The lens is much sharper than I expected. The only problem I'm having is with what I think is a light leak.
I'm sure someone more knowledgeable with the Kiev will instantly know what this is. It does have me confused. If it were a curtain issue I would think I'd see it in every shot. As it is, I'm only seeing it in about 1/2 of my images. Thanks in advance for any advice on this.

Kievs used Yak hair to seal around the top channel where the back door makes contact. This is where the leak is coming from.
Some people use foam to reseal or you can use thin felt material with an adhesive back.