Medalist light leak- strange little shape! Never seen this anywhere...

[Dan Daniel]

So here's a nice mystery. A light leak in a Kodak Medalist (II). Not all the time, but when it does happen it is always pretty much exactly like this- 'quivering sewing needle' I call it. I'll just post one example but I have more. Leaks is on the upper right corner of film when in camera.

I don't think I've ever seen a shape like this. And for such a leak to be so consistent in look (but sporadic in oocurrance; focus distance doesn't affect look or randomness of leak).

Camera has been checked in dark room with flashlight inside. No obvious little dots, pinholes, or such.

Shutter leaf bounce? Helical bleed? Well, any thoughts appreciated.

 

[koraks]

Bottom of the frame, so likely a leak at the top of the camera. The edge of the film is not affected, so it happens when the film is behind the gate, so it happens around exposure time. This suggests something at the front side of the camera. It's a narrow line, so the light is relatively collimated.

You could try placing an affected negative back in the camera so you can see if the light leak aligns with a structure in the camera. The usual trick with the flashlight in a dark room also applies; shine a powerful flashlight into the camera and observe the outside of the camera to see if you can find any place where the light gets through. You'll have to look at all angles given how directional it is.

The reason why it's intermittent is probably due to the usual factors of the time the film spends in that place (i.e. time between shots), lighting conditions and handling of the camera (held up to the sun etc.)

 

[Donald Qualls]

I'd also look for a narrow edge (a baffle?) inside the camera that might reflect light from the relatively bright upper area out of frame.

 

[Bill Burk]

If it’s shutter blade, it may be low and slow. A laser pointer might reveal it, and a lens cap might mitigate it if that’s truly the case.

 

[Chuck1]

What's going on in the sky?

 

[Donald Qualls]

That's a reflection from whatever is behind the negative. You can see more of it above the film edge.

 

[Michael Howard]

Is the subject holding a samurai sword, perhaps waving it a little? Sorry, I had to say it...

 

[Dan Daniel]

What's going on in the sky?

Yeah, as Donald says, it is the background where the negative was held up to get the photo. Nothing more! I didn't include a scan/reversal of the image, but the rest of the image looks fine. It is only that giant hair or reflection or leak that is an issue.

Thanks for all the thoughts on this. Very helpful (even the sword! A whole new series of using leak leaks as part of images comes to mind). The way that the leak is almost a precise shape has thrown me off. I'll need to look hard into the assorted possibilities.

 

[koraks]

Is the subject holding a samurai sword, perhaps waving it a little? Sorry, I had to say it...

LOL! Man, once you see it, it's just impossible to unsee it!

 

[Chuck1]

It does look like a hair,
But that would be clear on the neg

 

[reddesert]

I'd also look for a narrow edge (a baffle?) inside the camera that might reflect light from the relatively bright upper area out of frame.

Investigating this further, you might look to see if all the affected frames have a bright area at the top, and then look to see if it it's something like a reflection off the flash sync wires that run through the bottom of the inner body chamber (the inner of the lens helical). It would seem a little weird for such a reflection to always be in the same place on film, but it's a little hard for me to see other causes, like how to get a light leak through the body top or similar.