Annoying Light Leak in Holga 120N

[logan2z]

I'm not a big fan of light leaks in Holga photographs and tape up all of the known leak locations on my Holga 120N before shooting a roll of film. But there's one leak that has proven elusive and, unfortunately, it tends to show up right in the middle of the frame. Not on every shot, just the otherwise good ones I recently added some gaffers tape over a couple of holes I discovered inside the camera but that didn't help.

Here's a photo that shows an example of the leak, just below the lower roof of the barn:

It doesn't look horrible in this shot, but looks worse when the area in the background is darker.

Has anyone else seen a similar leak with their cameras? If so, did you manage to resolve it?

I wonder if this is actually lens flare rather than a light leak.

 

[loccdor]

Does any of it extend outside the frame lines?

 

[logan2z]

Does any of it extend outside the frame lines?

I don't believe I've seen it extend outside the frame lines. So perhaps it's lens flare rather than a light leak.

Here's a more egregious example:

FWIW, it always seems to be in nearly the same spot in the frame.

 

[loccdor]

I've been troubleshooting a difficult leak on a different camera. I don't think a lens flare would look like that.

But here's my idea: from using the Russian lens Volna-3, the stop down lever of that lens can let stray rays inside when the lens is focused close. Sometimes the areas around the lens aren't properly sealed and it lets stray light in through the sides. Could this be possible with the Holga? Maybe you can try some tape around the lens itself and its connection to the camera.

 

[David Lingham]

Possibly the red window. Martin Henson has a video on YouTube specifically about light proofing a Holga.

 

[logan2z]

Possibly the red window. Martin Henson has a video on YouTube specifically about light proofing a Holga.

Thanks, I watched the video. I've done many of the fixes he mentioned, but there's a couple I'm going to try - like painting the inside of the frame mask - with flat black paint. Can't hurt!

 

[logan2z]

Maybe you can try some tape around the lens itself and its connection to the camera.

I'm going to try that, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Arthurwg]

Did you tape over the cold shoe on top? I had leaks there.

 

[logan2z]

Did you tape over the cold shoe on top? I had leaks there.

I haven't taped that up yet. I checked it out with a flashlight and didn't see a leak in that area, but I'll give it a shot anyway.