Light leak on an Ansco Speedex JR?

havelegs · Jun 2, 2015

Got this nifty cam in some "junk" store for about $10. While it has some normal wear on the body the lens and bellow look pretty good. I did notice it had some very tiny leaks in the bellow but was able to fill it in. Notice that there's some light leakage coming in but can't figure out where it is coming from, perhaps the red window on the back cover?

Bottom of image

Sirius Glass · Jun 2, 2015

Cover the red window with gaffers tape and test it. Today's films are more light sensitive than when the camera was built.

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gone · Jun 2, 2015

Could be. Cover it w/ a piece of electrical tape next time you shoot it, and peel back the tape in the shade to see the numbers when you advance the film. Great IQ from the lens.

havelegs · Jun 2, 2015

momus said:
Could be. Cover it w/ a piece of electrical tape next time you shoot it, and peel back the tape in the shade to see the numbers when you advance the film. Great IQ from the lens.

OK - My friend also suggested that as well, bet that's the issue. Thanks!

VisualDarkness · Jun 3, 2015

Would't that type of light leak be red?

mgb74 · Jun 3, 2015

The image should be recorded on the film "upside down". Every roll film camera with window that I've seen, had the window along the bottom of the roll. Therefore wouldn't it show up in the top of the frame as viewed?

havelegs · Jun 3, 2015

mgb74 said:
The image should be recorded on the film "upside down". Every roll film camera with window that I've seen, had the window along the bottom of the roll. Therefore wouldn't it show up in the top of the frame as viewed?

The window is in the middle.

Rick A · Jun 4, 2015

The light leak is not from the red window. If it was, there would be a frame number transposed onto the film. The leak is near the front of the bellows. Take the camera into a darkened room, insert a flashlight into the back and switch it on. Shine the light at all parts of the inside of the bellows and look for a pinhole(or worse).

havelegs · Jun 4, 2015

Rick A said:
The light leak is not from the red window. If it was, there would be a frame number transposed onto the film. The leak is near the front of the bellows. Take the camera into a darkened room, insert a flashlight into the back and switch it on. Shine the light at all parts of the inside of the bellows and look for a pinhole(or worse).

Did that already but I'll take a look at the bellows again. Thanks.

mgb74 · Jun 4, 2015

havelegs said:
The window is in the middle.

Your right (obviously). I was thinking of my 6x9s. Because there are multiple rows of numbers printed on the film, for various formats, the window placement will vary for 6x4x5, 6x6, and 6x9.

nosmok · Jun 6, 2015

I have great luck taking MF folders out in the sun, opening the back, putting the bellows over 1 eye, and closing the other eye. After a few moments, you'll see every pinhole with the exception of those all the way back in the last fold or two before the back. Then just put a finger over about where you see the pinhole, if the light goes away you've got it.

rjbuzzclick · Jun 6, 2015

When you do the flashlight test for the bellows mentioned about, also look directly in the lens from the front and see if there is light leaking between the shutter blades. I have one of these cameras and that happened to me.

binglebugbob · Jun 7, 2015

I just found a light leak from 3 tiny pinholes in an agfa bellows and even in a darkroom, I couldn't find them with either a maglite or an ordinary penlight. I then tried a penlight with 3 LED bulbs and only THEN I could see them by manipulating the folds just right.

One old school fix is to mix elmer's glue with india ink and, using a Q tip, daub it on the pinholes inside the bellows. (just let the elmer's glue dry before you fold up the camera. If the hole is more serious or a rip (and it doesn't sound like that's the problem, gaffer's tape is flat black and is great for repairing a leaky bellows.

binglebugbob · Jun 7, 2015

As a post script, just shining a light into the back of the camera didn't light up the holes. I had to take the LED penlight and trace along each fold fairly close to the fabric of the bellows. Even as I passed the light over the holes, it only lit the holes when the light was directly behind them. Of course, if the holes are so big you could drop a golf ball through them, then that's a different matter.

havelegs · Jun 7, 2015

I was able to find a couple of leaks and will repair and test

binglebugbob · Jun 9, 2015

Let us know how it works!
bob

TenSpeed · Jun 10, 2015

Any luck with fixing it?

Light leak on an Ansco Speedex JR?

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