Vertical light leak on Hasselblad

[Grim Tuesday]

I recently shot several rolls of film on one trip and ended up with light leaks. I am trying to figure out what could be the cause. The confusing factor to me is that I replaced the light seal on this back about a month ago and I think I did a good job. Also, I am familiar with the style of light leaks caused by a bad seal because I've gotten them before. In my experience, they look like a ray of light cutting through the picture at an angle. These leaks look completely different. On this trip, I only took one back because I wasn't confident in the light seals on any of my other ones. I rarely used the darkslide for that reason, but I did occasionally put it in as a shutter lock. I changed lenses a lot.

Here are some example pictures. It seems that most pictures were affected somewhat but some pictures were majorly afflicted. The first picture is in the category I would say was majorly affected, the second is one that is minor.

https://imgur.com/a/GfoaTJ5


I think the presence of the leak could have to do with how long the film spent in the gate, if I changed a lens with that film in the gate, or if I put the dark slide in when that film was in the gate.

I know that almost all light leaks on Hasselblads come from the light traps, but I can't help but feel that this one doesn't, because the shape doesn't look right for it. Is there anything about the shape and color of this leak that could tell me where it is coming from? In the lineup are the connection between camera and back, the barn door shutters, the window at the back of the C12 back and of course the darkslide seal. I also happen to have a roll of film in this back right now with 4 exposures left. Does anyone have an suggestions for what experiments I should run on it to determine where the culprit is?

 

[cramej]

It's a darkslide light trap leak. Look a the positioning - turn it upside down and backwards and it's in the exact location it should be. If you replaced the trap yourself, you need to disassemble and make sure everything is still in place and it didn't shift when you put it together the first time.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Hmm, does it seem like the kind that is caused by inserting the darkslide or the kind that is a slow leak all the time?

 

[cramej]

Looks to be a constant one to me. You can see in the first image that the direction of light would be pointed straight at the slot. In the second, the light is coming from behind your position so it isn't as noticeable. I have 4 backs that I repaired recently and a couple of them need to be looked at again for this same reason.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Ugh, how annoying! I was really looking forward to scanning all these rolls but I'm not looking forward to little surprises in every single picture... Especially annoying is I looked back at my test roll after replacing the darkslide and this problem is evident in it if I had looked closer! It's completely my fault!

 

[Grim Tuesday]

In case anyone comes upon this thread in the future looking for the cause of their light leak I can officially say I have proof positive that the leak observed is a chronic one, from the darkslide slot. I spent some significant time in a dark room with a flashlight and there is a particular angle in which some light can get through the darkslide slot when the light is angled just perfectly and there is no slide in the slot. I guess there are always some photons getting in, so all my film is fogged to some extent, but any exposures taken quickly from my camera bag look about OK. Very annoying. Almost annoying enough to make me switch back to TLRs and their uncomplicated light leaks. Or even 35mm... @cramej, what source did you use to get your replacement light seals? I bought from the blackbird711 guy on eBay and am wondering if there might be something wrong with his current batch, or just my installation skills.

 

[cramej]

I believe mine were from the same seller. I'm not sure that it is an issue with the product itself as I haven't checked them out yet. My installation method was to use a darkslide to compress the foam, place another darkslide on top of the trap to hold it down (allowing me to remove the one compressing the foam) and then place the plate back on top and screw it down. It's possible something shifted while I was doing that. I just couldn't get the foam to stay in place if I didn't do it this way.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I think I was able to do it just by following his "copyrighted" instructions. Looking at what's going on, it seems that there is light peeking through the bottom margin area not covered by the plastic and only by foam, at least in my installation. I wonder if there are any experienced Hasselblad people who could point out what I must have done wrong to get that result (maybe I did something backwards?)

Also, his kit doesn't have the foil part. Does anyone know if it's still possible to buy OEM kits, or are our only options the guy in California and the guy in Italy?

 

[warden]

I used the same eBay guy and my kit came with the foil and large piece of foam, but not the slimmer piece of foam so I had a leak until I sourced the foam elsewhere.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

I used the same eBay guy and my kit came with the foil and large piece of foam, but not the slimmer piece of foam so I had a leak until I sourced the foam elsewhere.

What smaller piece of foam?

 

[warden]

What smaller piece of foam?

Watch this video. There are two pieces of foam.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Interesting, are you thinking of the one on the back of the backplate? Mine was so flat I didn't even notice it. What did you source as your replacement foam?

 

[MattKing]

Does Jon Goodman offer a kit? If so, it will be of high quality, and have excellent instructions.
He is a member here and has been posting recently.

 

[warden]

Interesting, are you thinking of the one on the back of the backplate? Mine was so flat I didn't even notice it. What did you source as your replacement foam?

That flatness could be part of the problem.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014Z09D8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Grim Tuesday]

That flatness could be part of the problem.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014Z09D8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I think you are correct on this and I totally bet this is the issue. I just took a look at the listing for the light seal seller from the EU and he or she includes a velvet strip for the top. And it's also $5 cheaper than our American seller. Even with shipping from Europe it may arrive in around the same amount of time. I guess I know where my next set of seals will be coming from!

 

[warden]

I think you are correct on this and I totally bet this is the issue. I just took a look at the listing for the light seal seller from the EU and he or she includes a velvet strip for the top. And it's also $5 cheaper than our American seller. Even with shipping from Europe it may arrive in around the same amount of time. I guess I know where my next set of seals will be coming from!

I know where mine are coming from too - I'll make them myself. They're very simple and now that I've had some experience with them I see no need to order them.

 

[bdial]

The last time I replaced the failed seal in one of my backs, I wasn't sure which ebay seller had the best product, so punted and called Hasselblad. Theirs were maybe $5.00 more than the ebay ones.

 

[warden]

The last time I replaced the failed seal in one of my backs, I wasn't sure which ebay seller had the best product, so punted and called Hasselblad. Theirs were maybe $5.00 more than the ebay ones.

No kidding? I tried the same thing but I could not get a response from them, so I went to eBay route which I didn’t like. These things are so cheap it would make sense just to buy 10 of them and be set for a while.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Some interesting info. I wrote to Blackbird on eBay asking if he had any advice on how to make sure this doesn't happen upon re-installation and got a response from his wife saying she didn't have any technical advice to give but would be happy to send me a replacement for free. I have read elsewhere that blackbird is a rather elderly gent -- I hope he is in good health.

 

[bdial]

No kidding? I tried the same thing but I could not get a response from them, so I went to eBay route which I didn’t like. These things are so cheap it would make sense just to buy 10 of them and be set for a while.

I called them up at whatever the service center's phone number is/was and told them I wanted to buy a couple of back light seals. Whoever I talked to said "sure, no problem...", took my CC number, address, etc. and they showed up a few days later.

But, it was 4 or 5 years ago, so things may have changed (but I hope not).

 

[warden]

I called them up at whatever the service center's phone number is/was and told them I wanted to buy a couple of back light seals. Whoever I talked to said "sure, no problem...", took my CC number, address, etc. and they showed up a few days later.

But, it was 4 or 5 years ago, so things may have changed (but I hope not).

My experience was just a few months ago, but maybe the problem was on my end. I don't know.

 

[mitrajoon]

I've found the folks at the NJ HQs very responsive.