Light leak or dev problem?

ericdan · Jan 20, 2018

Just reorganized some old film and noticed this issue on this roll.
At first I thought it's just flare but it leaks outside of the frame into the next picture.
I also noticed that it's reaching above and below the frame and that its towards the end of the roll. Is it possible that this is a light leak through the film cassette?

WilmarcoImaging · Jan 20, 2018

Light leak. Is it possible that the film door was opened? In principle the cassette can leak but rare in my experience. Is it a reusable cassette or single use?

trendland · Jan 20, 2018

WilmarcoImaging said:
Light leak. Is it possible that the film door was opened? In principle the cassette can leak but rare in my experience. Is it a reusable cassette or single use?

Wilmarcolmaging you said it. Once I opened the OP's file IMG I had the same idea : How could it happen to open the camera so a little bit? Just 3 frames seams to be damaged.
On the other side - look at the markings on the film. It seams to be everything is ok.
So at last it should be an issue of sunlight through the lens. .....

with regards

trendland · Jan 20, 2018

WilmarcoImaging said:
Light leak. Is it possible that the film door was opened? In principle the cassette can leak but rare in my experience. Is it a reusable cassette or single use?

No it isn't only "trough the lens" - I just look at it again.The space between frames and the markings near perforation are infected........
The "clasic" Do not Open camera with film inside is responcible for!
with regards

Rudeofus · Jan 20, 2018

I would definitely exclude accidental camera opening as the cause, since the frame border is completely unaffected.

The most likely culprit IMHO is that one of the pics was shot with the sun just outside the image frame, and the extremely strong sunlight created enough internal reflections to expose the adjacent frames. This happens even with good cameras. The area with the sprocket holes is blocked by the camera and remains unexposed, but the adjacent frames including the areas between frames are not covered.

Sirius Glass · Jan 20, 2018

Light leak. Was the camera back opened?

ericdan · Jan 20, 2018

Camera back was closed. If I opened that I am sure I would've ruined more frames than just one and a half. I've done that by accident before and that looked very different from this light leak.
This was shot on a Leica MP. I've never noticed anything like this before

ericdan · Jan 20, 2018

WilmarcoImaging said:
Light leak. Is it possible that the film door was opened? In principle the cassette can leak but rare in my experience. Is it a reusable cassette or single use?

was a single use one. Fuji Provia 400X

ericdan · Jan 20, 2018

I have accidentally opened the camera bottom plate on the Leica MP before. That results in light leaks from bottom sprockets through frame and getting weaker towards the top sprocket holes. The light leak also gets weaker towards the beginning of the roll as that is blocked by wound up film.
This light leak is limited to 1.5 frames. Very odd. Even light entering through the cassette is hard to imagine.

WilmarcoImaging · Jan 20, 2018

Then it's probably what Rudeofus suggested, sun on the edge of the frame. It looks like the sun was nearly directly overhead, and it could have just caught the lens rim or front element. Which lens was used? Did it have a hood/shade?

Sirius Glass · Jan 20, 2018

WilmarcoImaging said:
Then it's probably what Rudeofus suggested, sun on the edge of the frame. It looks like the sun was nearly directly overhead, and it could have just caught the lens rim or front element. Which lens was used? Did it have a hood/shade?

That does not explain covering one and a half frames.

ericdan · Jan 20, 2018

WilmarcoImaging said:
Then it's probably what Rudeofus suggested, sun on the edge of the frame. It looks like the sun was nearly directly overhead, and it could have just caught the lens rim or front element. Which lens was used? Did it have a hood/shade?

was a summicron 35mm v4 with hood.

ericdan · Jan 20, 2018

just a freak accident.
It can't be from the cassette. the sprocket holes would've been exposed too.
It must have been in the camera, but not by the bottom plate or back door as that would have exposed the sprockets as well. Leica M opens from the bottom.
that only leaves the lens. I think Rudeofus is right.

mnemosyne · Jan 21, 2018

IMO NOT a freak accident at all and NOT the lens but rather the lack of a lens. Exposing the bare shutter of an M Leica to bright sunlight will result in this kind of "light leak". I think the TO caused this by changing lenses and not shielding the shutter from direct sunlight before shooting the portrait of the lady. I had this happen to me once with my M2 when it was new to me and I didn't know ...

ericdan · Jan 21, 2018

OK, that's interesting. I only have one lens, so I am not taking it off very often. Usually only when I try to wipe it dry after I get out of the rain etc.
Very good to know that that is what might have caused it.

mnemosyne · Jan 22, 2018

Yes, the bare shutter cloth of the Leica M is not light tight in bright sunlight. This is also explained in the manual. Another possibility, IIRC there are also some light seals at certain places around the finder and shutter dial area of the M, depending on the model, that, in case of fault, would in theory allow light to enter the camera from the front (this side of the shutter gate) but IDK if they can create this kind of pattern. You might get a more definite answer in the "M" section of the L-forum, I remember there were always lots of light leak discussions and usually some expert folk was able to pin down the leak by looking at the pictures.

Light leak or dev problem?

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency