Light Leak on my Nikon FM2 or processing problem

sterioma · Apr 18, 2020

During these lockdown days I have had a chance to organize some contacts sheets that I had printed a few months ago. I realized that some of the frames don't look right around the sproket area, which is not dark as it should be.

I have taken a photo of one of such contact sheets (here on a light table); others rolls from the same camera have similar issues normally one or two frames in the whole roll. I suspect a light leak in my Nikon FM2, and I have a "repair kit" ready. Just wanted to confirm with you guys, as the foam seems in pretty good shape from a visual inspection.

blockend · Apr 18, 2020

If the camera is pointing directly into the sun, flare can diffract outside the frame into the rebate area on most cameras. You would have to compare to other frames to be certain whether it's light bleed or light leak.

sterioma · Apr 18, 2020

From a quick scan to other negatives, I can't see a pattern with respect to the position of the sun.

In frame 16 in the photo above there was a low sun at my back/left side (the darker areas are shadows from the trees just outside the frame on the left). Interestingly, frame 17 (only partially shown on my photo) is virtually identical, shot from the same position (just a tad closer) and maybe a few seconds later and it looks fine.

koraks · Apr 18, 2020

This looks like a light leak on the horizontal top edge of the back, about 1/3 from the left margin of the gate (the image frame during exposure).
Check any seals on the bottom edge as well; the problem may be present there too, but less apparent as the light will usually hit the top of the camera.

eli griggs · Apr 20, 2020

You could hold off on the repair long enough to shoot a short roll of similar exposures (to the Sun) with the camera door taped at the seams with good electric tape or duck tape, just to see if it is the light seals and no flare from natural light.

sterioma · Apr 20, 2020

eli griggs said:
You could hold off on the repair long enough to shoot a short roll of similar exposures (to the Sun) with the camera door taped at the seams with good electric tape or duck tape, just to see if it is the light seals and no flare from natural light.

Too late I am afraid as I have already replaced the light seals with some help from my wife

Testing with electric tape would have been a good idea though, before embarking on the replacement. As I mentioned early, though, not all affected frames were frontlit situations; sometimes I had the sun at my back and I got the same problem.

John Koehrer · Apr 20, 2020

16 & 17 were shot in quick(?) succession IF it were a minor leak it may not show up. The question is was the camera
carried for longer times between the fogged frames?
Doesn't solve the problem but might suggest very slight defect in the trap.

Light Leak on my Nikon FM2 or processing problem

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