Very strange Light leak

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

Hey Last week I bought a Camera so I tested it last weekend and got the film Developed yesterday. But there is a small problem and I want to see if anyone knows what could be causing it.

In Almost all pictures there is a light leak in the bottom left corner, but it's just a small thin line. But the strange thing is that it is not in all the pictures and it is both in pictures taken in the dark with flash and in full sunlight. In Some Pictures is more visible than in others.

This is what I know

The film I used was a bit old but always been stored in my fridge. When I started using the film it had maybe not reached room temperature.

I got it developed 1 week after I finished the roll

The Camera I am using is Samsung Vega 140s Quartz Date

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 1, 2023

Not like any light leak I have seen.

Is the mark always in the same spot? Exactly?
Is the mark present on the negatives?

My first guess is it is a problem with the equipment that made the print.

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

Nicholas Lindan said:
Not like any light leak I have seen.

Is the mark always in the same spot? Exactly?

Is the mark present on the negatives?

My first guess is it is a problem with the equipment that made the print.

Yes Always in the same spot in the bottom Left corner just more or less visible. and in some pictures not visible at all.
Yes the Marks is present on the negatives also.

Might be a developing Problem , but I did develop a disposable camera at the same time and there was no problem With that one.

xkaes · Jul 1, 2023

On the film, does the "streak" appear in any form OUTSIDE of the image frame? That will tell you if it is a processing problem. I assume this is a viefinder fixed zoom lens zoom camera. The problem may only be happening at certain zoom settings -- easy to test.

Don_ih · Jul 1, 2023

It's probably due to the gasket around the lens cracking in that location. Do a test with the camera zoomed to varying degrees - it will likely show up more.

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

xkaes said:
On the film, does the "streak" appear in any form OUTSIDE of the image frame? That will tell you if it is a processing problem. I assume this is a viefinder fixed zoom lens zoom camera. The problem may only be happening at certain zoom settings -- easy to test.

I did just check and no there is only a mark on the image not outside.
I've been trying Some different zoom Settings and it seems to appear on most of them, because I don't remember fully what zoom I was using in every picture.

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

Don_ih said:
It's probably due to the gasket around the lens cracking in that location. Do a test with the camera zoomed to varying degrees - it will likely show up more.

Okey , yes I will try that and see if I notice any difference in the visibility of the line.
If it would be the Gasket I guess there is no way to replace that? So maybe better to try to find a new camera once again.

Don_ih · Jul 1, 2023

SvennTe said:
Okey , yes I will try that and see if I notice any difference in the visibility of the line.
If it would be the Gasket I guess there is no way to replace that? So maybe better to try to find a new camera once again.

Frankly, I would avoid any of the point-and-shoot zoom cameras. These gaskets need to form a tight seal against the varying sizes of lens barrel as the lens extends. The gaskets will all shrink, eventually.. Your camera may be ok with the lens not zoomed at all - and that little mark is not really very much. But you don't know when it will get worse.

BobUK · Jul 1, 2023

You say that you "got the film developed yesterday."

If the line does not appear on the negatives it is probably down to the print processors equipment.
No idea what sort of shutter you have, but if it is shutter blind type, try firing the shutter on the B setting, and whilst it is open look for any frayed loose thread if it is a cotton blind. Or any other debris that could be there.

So check the negatives, and, open the back then look inside on the B setting.

Good Luck.

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

Don_ih said:
Frankly, I would avoid any of the point-and-shoot zoom cameras. These gaskets need to form a tight seal against the varying sizes of lens barrel as the lens extends. The gaskets will all shrink, eventually.. Your camera may be ok with the lens not zoomed at all - and that little mark is not really very much. But you don't know when it will get worse.

Yes I've been trying for the longest time to have any luck to find a point and shoot with fixed lens but haven't been that lucky yet. I just found this one at my local Thrift store so I bought it.
okey so the gaskets in my camera have probably just started shrinking. No right now the marks isn't that big of a deal but I will try to find a new camera before it get worse.

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

BobUK said:
You say that you "got the film developed yesterday."

If the line does not appear on the negatives it is probably down to the print processors equipment.
No idea what sort of shutter you have, but if it is shutter blind type, try firing the shutter on the B setting, and whilst it is open look for any frayed loose thread if it is a cotton blind. Or any other debris that could be there.

So check the negatives, and, open the back then look inside on the B setting.

Good Luck.

Yes I did get it developed yesterday. The line dose appear on the negatives.

Okey i will try that and see if I can find any debris on the B setting.

Thanks

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 1, 2023

So - the mark is on the negatives, doesn't go outside the frame and is always in the same spot.

Well, it's not processing or printing.

It looks much too defined/focused to be a light leak as we know it. It can't be debris in the camera as it is white, debris in the film gate would show up as black.

I'd love to know the cause. So far the best candidate is Space Aliens did it.

I wouldn't get another camera - it takes good pictures (I am assuming, the example above looks fine) - and the little white bar in the corner is a unique signature.

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

Nicholas Lindan said:
So - the mark is on the negatives, doesn't go outside the frame and is always in the same spot.

Well, it's not processing or printing.

It looks much too defined/focused to be a light leak as we know it. It can't be debris in the camera as it is white, debris in the film gate would show up as black.

I'd love to know the cause. So far the best candidate is Space Aliens did it.

I wouldn't get another camera - it takes good pictures (I am assuming, the example above looks fine) - and the little white bar in the corner is a unique signature.

Yes Exactly.

Yes it's very focused and it's even more defined in other pictures than the one I posted. Oh okey so no point to look after Debris

I will probably Put in a new roll in a week or something and I will post here in this thread if it has the same problem with that roll. it will be another type of film. Haha it must be Space Aliens hopefully They leve me alone.

Yes it did take good pictures, my best point and shoot so far. (except the line ofc)

Don_ih · Jul 1, 2023

Here is an example of a photo taken by me, with an Olympus Mju II 80, that has the same problem.

Does that leave any doubt?

Sharktooth · Jul 1, 2023

Since the line is at the lower left corner of your final image, it means the offending light must be in the upper right corner of the film frame in the camera. Your camera has the film canister loaded on the right side, and there is a viewing window in the back to enable you to see what type of film is loaded. It's possible you may have light leaking in through that window. I'd tape over that window in the back to avoid any potential for light leaks there. Keep in mind that the foam used to seal that window to the film canister could be degraded. I wouldn't trust those things now, since most of these cameras are probably 20 years old, or more.

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

Don_ih said:
Here is an example of a photo taken by me, with an Olympus Mju II 80, that has the same problem.

View attachment 342672

Does that leave any doubt?

very similar to my problem, so it is probably that how causing it

SvennTe · Jul 1, 2023

Sharktooth said:
Since the line is at the lower left corner of your final image, it means the offending light must be in the upper right corner of the film frame in the camera. Your camera has the film canister loaded on the right side, and there is a viewing window in the back to enable you to see what type of film is loaded. It's possible you may have light leaking in through that window. I'd tape over that window in the back to avoid any potential for light leaks there. Keep in mind that the foam used to seal that window to the film canister could be degraded. I wouldn't trust those things now, since most of these cameras are probably 20 years old, or more.

Okey yes I will try that and see if it helps.

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 1, 2023

Don_ih said:
Here is an example of a photo taken by me, with an Olympus Mju II 80, that has the same problem.

I'll be damned. It is a big circular light leak that only intersects the image at the corners of the film gate.

A possibility is light leaking in between the plastic zooming cylinder-thingys of the lens. A thin gap between the outer cylinder and the body might provide enough colimation so the image on the film is well defined.

Don_ih · Jul 1, 2023

Nicholas Lindan said:
I'll be damned. It is a big circular light leak that only intersects the image at the corners of the film gate.

A possibility is light leaking in between the plastic zooming cylinder-thingys of the lens. A thin gap between the outer cylinder and the body might provide enough colimation so the image on the film is well defined.

That's what I've been saying. It's a gasket failure. The leak location changes depending on the zoom level, in my camera.

Sirius Glass · Jul 1, 2023

Since the light streak is in the bottom left, look for a light leak in the top right of the camera. If it is a range finder camera, it could be a problem in the upper housing.

xkaes · Jul 1, 2023

Nix the "light leak through the film window" idea. If there were a light leak through the back of the camera, it would show up outside the film frame. It doesn't. It's obviously in front of the shutter box.

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 1, 2023

Don_ih said:
That's what I've been saying. It's a gasket failure. The leak location changes depending on the zoom level, in my camera.

Absolute agreement. Sorry, I didn't see your earlier posts.

Don_ih · Jul 1, 2023

A light leak from the film window would not show up as a while streak - it would be red, since it's going through the back of film. Any time there's a light leak that's white, it's because white light is hitting the front of the film.

Sirius Glass · Jul 1, 2023

Don_ih said:
A light leak from the film window would not show up as a while streak - it would be red, since it's going through the back of film. Any time there's a light leak that's white, it's because white light is hitting the front of the film.

Not if it comes from the front of the film. You are implying that the light is coming through the back to the back of the film.

Don_ih · Jul 1, 2023

Sirius Glass said:
Not if it comes from the front of the film. You are implying that the light is coming through the back to the back of the film.

The film window is in the back of the camera. I'm sure you've seen them. What film window is in front of the film? Siriusly....

Very strange Light leak

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Very strange Light leak

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