Light leak issue on an Elan iie

Azriel · Jun 19, 2016

I am having a light leak issue with a Canon EOS elan iie.

This is the first roll I put through, so I guess anything is possible, but my current theory is that the motor drive advanced improperly, here's my evidence.

- This only occurred at the end of the roll, it was progressive, and I remember noticing the motor sounded "off" once.
- The leak is only on the bottom and it's worse AFTER the seal.
- it's somewhat consistent with "fat roll" issues
- the camera wasn't out in the sun more than 8 minutes for these train shots, yet earlier perfectly clear negatives were left to potential leaks for much longer.
- I was receiving an error on my display, a blinking battery. Elan iie's apparently have a battery sizing issue and sometimes need a little paper jammed in there to connect properly.

pdeeh · Jun 19, 2016

you might get more attention if you ask a mod to move this to the appropriate camera forum rather than film/paper etc

Kirks518 · Jun 19, 2016

Agree with pdeeh.

But, to me it looks like it might be the seal at the film door hinge. The superimposed sprockets is what makes me think that.

If it had anything to do with the motor advance, I would think more towards improper spacing or no advance. I think you drive is fine.

Azriel · Jun 19, 2016

Kirks518 said:
Agree with pdeeh.

But, to me it looks like it might be the seal at the film door hinge. The superimposed sprockets is what makes me think that.

If it had anything to do with the motor advance, I would think more towards improper spacing or no advance. I think you drive is fine.

I don't disagree but why just the end of the roll and exposed to the least amount of sunlight that day?

Kirks518 · Jun 19, 2016

Could be any number of reasons. Maybe the leak is only when the camera is at a certain angle, or a certain amount of light hits it. All sorts of weird things can be going on. Has this ever happened before on this camera? There is also an extremely slight possibility it was the roll when it was first loaded into the canister, more likely is this was a roll-your-own (bulk).

Azriel · Jun 19, 2016

Kirks518 said:
Could be any number of reasons. Maybe the leak is only when the camera is at a certain angle, or a certain amount of light hits it. All sorts of weird things can be going on. Has this ever happened before on this camera? There is also an extremely slight possibility it was the roll when it was first loaded into the canister, more likely is this was a roll-your-own (bulk).

That makes more sense, but if you look, it's progressive, happens faintly, then a little more, then it takes over. I put another roll in immediately after that day and took ten more light leak free frames. all of those images were taken within about five minutes and I am holding the camera, it's not at my side or around my neck, so my hand if pretty firmly over the side.

Kirks518 · Jun 19, 2016

Your hand on it would account for the lack of light leak if my first guess is correct. Open the camera, and check out the seal. Replace as necessary. For that seal you could even just stick some electrical tape on the outside and see if that takes care of it.

Azriel · Jun 19, 2016

What if when I took the last frame, the advance pulled the film just a little too hard before retracting, lifting it.

Azriel · Jun 19, 2016

Kirks518 said:
Your hand on it would account for the lack of light leak if my first guess is correct. Open the camera, and check out the seal. Replace as necessary. For that seal you could even just stick some electrical tape on the outside and see if that takes care of it.

I don't see any seals on this camera, it's a plastic model circa 1990's

MattKing · Jun 19, 2016

There are seals. Check around the film identification window in the back.

paul ron · Jun 20, 2016

turn the negs over? its the top of the camera door you need to inspect.

if its the end of the roll... those frames will not be at the door hinge since 35mm stays attatched to the canister n gets rewound. it would be in the film gate n on the pressure plate, not on the take up yet. could be the canister is lifting n putting stress on the door as you crank that last frame in position.

how many frames on a roll? try a shorter roll?

Kirks518 · Jun 20, 2016

paul, the only thing that wouldn't make sense is the ghosting of the sprocket holes if it isn't on the take up spool. So either the canister wasn't sealed well (but only affected the last few frames?), or the leak is near/at the take up. I can't think of any other time(s) you'd get the sprocket hole ghosting, can you? That's why I was figuring it's at the hinge.

Azriel · Jun 20, 2016

paul ron said:
turn the negs over? its the top of the camera door you need to inspect.

That would have to mean I took all my pictures holding the camera upside down.

Azriel · Jun 20, 2016

My theory is that the motor pulled the film too hard when it registered the last shot, pulling the roll up a bit, exposing some light from the back as it rewound. It explains why it's bad at first then seems to lessen and then disappear, and why we have sprocket shadows coming from the side facing the indicator window.

Azriel · Jun 20, 2016

MattKing said:
There are seals. Check around the film identification window in the back.

Who could help out a Knight but a King Yeah my theory above is that it's the indicator window and the pull from the last shot moved the canister, exposing the light.

paul ron · Jun 20, 2016

frames 33 n 34 ghosted sprockets were probably on the take up spool when the door lifted when the motor drive tugged on the canister or started the rewind.

Ricardo Miranda · Jun 22, 2016

Azriel said:
This is the first roll I put through

Azriel said:
That would have to mean I took all my pictures holding the camera upside down.

I don't believe you know how a 35mm SLR exposes film.
The fact you see the image correctly in the viewfinder is a function of the Pentaprism.
The film sees it upside down.
The side that has all the numbers 35, 35A is at the top of the film chamber in a modern film chamber on the left 35mm camera.
An Exacta would be different.
Please, consult a basic 35mm handbook or just Google it.

You didn't gave any development details.
I'll suggest Next time, you fix the film for longer.
You might find the ghost sprockets magically disappearing.

Azriel · Jun 23, 2016

Ricardo Miranda said:
You might find the ghost sprockets magically disappearing.

Nope, left a strip overnight and nothing.

Light leak issue on an Elan iie

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