Yashica T4D strange light leak problem

[bluesun267]

I was hoping someone out there had some advice on a strange light leak I'm getting on my recently acquired Yashica T4D. It's a small square on the upper left corner of the image and appeared in about 8 shots out of a 36 exposure roll (most of them outdoors, though not all). The camera is otherwise working perfectly and I can't figure how this light is getting onto the film. Thanks, Tim

 

[Austintatious]

Perhaps some sort of reflection from the super scope ? I have never encountered this problem before on my T4's.

 

[bluesun267]

Thanks Austintatious,but this is the earlier version without the SuperScope. I'm guessing it is coming from somewhere around the lens. There are quite a few pieces of velvet-like baffle material in there, all look intact and undamaged though.

 

[BlackXList]

Its not the film window in the back door is it?

 

[kiss-o-matic]

I actually have this on my Yashica Slim-T (which does not have the super scope). It does have a window to show the film type though. I was thinking I got just a "bad one" but perhaps this is some defect w/ the series. That'd be bad since these are different, no? (Or maybe they are the same just rebranded? I lose track of which is which between Japan and the west).

The issues with mine seem to be intermittent. Just did a roll the other day w/ no problems. Other rolls... not so lucky, and not every shot on every roll.

 

[BlackXList]

Rear film windows are a potential issue on all cameras with one, there's foam around them, and it can perish.

It's not a problem to solve, a bit of electrical tape over the window and it's sorted

 

[bluesun267]

OK, so I think I figured out the light leak problem. There's appears to be a rubber gasket around the lens barrel which is slightly imperfect (perhaps these were never perfect, or perhaps the rubber has shrunk over the years). Behind the lens is a piece of black flocking material cut into a wedge shape. This material was just a little off center, coincidentally, allowing a tiny shaft of light to enter from around the edge of the lens barrel, matching perfectly the spot where this light leak appears on film (lower right when looking at the back of the lens).

I went into the darkroom with a high power flashlight and was just able to see the light coming through this spot. I haven't tried to see if I could disassemble the lens and replace the rubber o-ring, but I will attempt to replace the flocking material and see if that is enough. The amount of actual light is very, very small, and I believe it only occurs on film as a result of the affected frame being in place for extended time periods in bright, outdoor light.