Light leak diagnosis on 6x9 MF folder

Hello everyone,

I've been shooting my 6x9 folding camera and the latest roll produced two non-consecutive frames with light leaks. I already checked the bellows with a bright LED light, so I was 99% certain they can be ruled out but now I'm not sure anymore.

For the past couple of rolls I had the red window taped over but I left off the tape for this most recent one. Can anyone confirm whether the light leak pattern corresponds to unfortunate bounce through the window? It looks unlike any light leak I've ever had and I read that the red window usually produced fogging, whereas these are more like actual rays.

The other thing is that the film is a bit loose on the take-up spool and the spool sits ever so slightly crooked. Because of this the backing paper is a bit crumpled to one side when I unload the camera. I've been tempted to dismiss this as a cause for light entering the roll because there is so much backing paper at the end of the roll that I think it ought to protect the roll even if it's slightly crooked, but maybe I'm too optimistic? I already bent the springs on this camera but I'm willing to sacrifice an old expired roll of film to experiment with ways to tighten it further, for instance by putting foam pads on the springs.

One thing to do is put the film in the camera as if it was being exposed (upside down, etc.). Then see where the leak falls inside the camera. Also be sure to check the leak both before and after the leak is in the gate for exposure- very common for leaks to be in the takeup or feed chambers. So for example, your shot- the left side chamber, top?

What camera is it? I'm guessing, due to the sharp nature of the bottom edge of the light leak, that the light is coming in pretty close to your film. I had an issue with my Bessa I, where one of the rivets came loose, and with the bellows extended, light could shine directly into the film compartment and illuminate the spool-- but it had very sharp edges, which this reminds me of.

Is there any way light could be leaking around the film winding knob?

*dingdingding*

grat said:

What camera is it? I'm guessing, due to the sharp nature of the bottom edge of the light leak, that the light is coming in pretty close to your film. I had an issue with my Bessa I, where one of the rivets came loose, and with the bellows extended, light could shine directly into the film compartment and illuminate the spool-- but it had very sharp edges, which this reminds me of.

Is there any way light could be leaking around the film winding knob?

Click to expand...

Yes, there is indeed a way for light to leak around the winding knob, or near it anyway. Especially if a certain person forgets to put one of the screws back in by which the carrying handle is attached to the body... I discovered this before you replied but your hunch regarding the take-up side is nevertheless correct. I think the sharp edge may be the edge of the pop-out half-cylinder that holds the film.