Light leaks with Kiev 4

[Iodosan]

Good evening, everyone. I got the negatives of an hp5 roll that I used at a kiev4. In many photos there are these light leaks. Are they light infiltrations while I shoot, or when I unloaded the film? Or is it a film problem since I've already had problems with the other films in this batch? So far I've never had any infiltration issues with this camera!

 

[Donald Qualls]

Those certainly look like a light leak -- they're almost identical, and in the same location in the frame (it would be upper right in the camera, just under the meter adjusting screw, though that's probably a coincidence). They could also be one frame further along, film on the takeup spool struck by light coming through an incorrectly closed edge on the back. I'd start by checking whether the back is bent or otherwise damaged (cracked?), or trying to remember if it was fully and properly closed while you were exposing this film.

Did you process these films (this one and the others you've had problems with) yourself, or give them to a lab to process?

 

[Iodosan]

The back seems to be working fine. I shoot 4 films before without problems. I must use an electric black tape? For the test rolls I send to a economic lab only for negatives without scan.

 

[Huss]

I have the exact same light leak in my Kiev 4. It is coming through the little RF window on the shutter release side, and if you open the back in a dark room and shine a light into the rf window, you will see light come through via the upper sprocket area on the right side of the inside of the camera. With mine it depends on the rotation of the sprocket, so it happens about every 4th pic.

 

[Iodosan]

I have the exact same light leak in my Kiev 4. It is coming through the little RF window on the shutter release side, and if you open the back in a dark room and shine a light into the rf window, you will see light come through via the upper sprocket area on the right side of the inside of the camera. With mine it depends on the rotation of the sprocket, so it happens about every 4th pic.

Thank a lot! And the I can't do anything for repair this? What did you do to fix it?

 

[Huss]

Thank a lot! And the I can't do anything for repair this? What did you do to fix it?

Unfortunately I could not fix it. No repair shop here would touch it, as they claimed the build quality of these cameras is such that once you start taking things apart, others things fail..
But as it only happens every 4th shot, not all are affected.

 

[Donald Qualls]

From the description @Huss gives, it ought to be possible to install a piece of foam or similar and block the light from the RF getting into the sprocket. Unfortunately, removing the top cover is a significant job because of all the functions on and under the advance knob. And, as you note, there aren't many shops outside Russia that will work on these FSU cameras.

FWIW, I have two Kiev 4 bodies and neither of them does this (one overlaps frames more or less randomly, the other has a slow shutter, but they don't do this). After attempting to jump to Contax, I've concluded that the most cost effective way to get a good camera in the Contax mount is to keep buying Kiev 2, 3, and 4(various versions) bodies until I get a good one. Compared to buying and repairing a Contax, this is likely to be many hundreds of dollars cheaper, and multiple years faster.

You may be able to trade off money for time by contacting one of the Russian camera repairers who do work on Kiev bodies, and inquire about buying a freshly repaired/serviced one. I'm about to do that. I like the system and the ergonomics of the cameras (not to mention the fantastic precision of the wide base rangefinder) -- but I just can't afford to play with real Contax.

 

[Iodosan]

@Huss I tried to open the camera and with a phone light I looked for some infiltration from the rangefinder or viewfinder but found nothing. These infiltrations are on almost all the photos and sometimes they are also double. @Donald Qualls when I bought The Kiev I removed the top to clean the viewfinder but then I closed it and it worked perfectly. I will try one last roll paying close attention and adding Black tape. It would be a real shame because the shutter is perfect and I just bought a helios which looks amazing

 

[awty]

My Kiev 3 leaks as well.
Here is a guide for fixing, not for the faint hearted.
http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/fixing light leaks.html
The Kiev 3 is pretty cool but cumbersome, better cameras around. The Canon LTM's are the best value, I have about six and all work without a problem.....except the one that is pulled apart waiting for new curtains. Speaking of which the latter models have metal curtains.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Very first thing my 4AM needed was regluing light seals under top plate and new wool thread for back plate.
I'm sure if you google for Kiev-4 top plate or light leaks the info will come up. It is was easy DIY.