What caused these light leaks at beginning of the roll?

[Jonnysound]

Hi
Could someone help me identity this light leak?
It only appears on the first 3-5 frames. I think its only happened when using iso 400 and 800. I've attached some pics taken with cinestill 800t. The light leak starts off really bad then decreases after those first few frames. Light seals seem fine. Unless its door not completely shut after loading. I got 37 from 36 roll. Once loaded you press shutter and it automatically advances the film, which sounds like 3 continuous shots.
(Also had red marks from static in the camera, Cinestill says to advance and rewind slow, but its impossible, I have a contax 167mt which has a motor and it was -3°c at the time.)

 

[MattKing]

That looks like a light leak through the opening on a re-used cassette where the felt is worn.
I would try a "normal" factory load film to see if that solves the problem.

 

[glbeas]

Did you load the camera under a bright sun? Its definitely light struck through the felt slot.

 

[shutterfinger]

The Contax 167mt has a film window in the back so you can verify the type film that is in the camera.
http://www.cameramanuals.org/contax/contax_167mt.pdf
Replace the seals around the window or block it completely. Do not use open cell foam to light seal this window.

 

[AgX]

A light leak at the back door window would affect the whole film, a leak at the cassette velvet not.

 

[zanxion72]

Yeap! This is lip fog. It does not exist in the later frames of the roll due to the light being attenuated almost completely after the first semi-opaque layers of the roll in the canister.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Did you load the camera under a bright sun? Its definitely light struck through the felt slot.

A light leak at the back door window would affect the whole film, a leak at the cassette velvet not.

Yeap! This is lip fog. It does not exist in the later frames of the roll due to the light being attenuated almost completely after the first semi-opaque layers of the roll in the canister.

Replace worn cassettes and load film in subdued light.

 

[shutterfinger]

A light leak at the back door window would affect the whole film, a leak at the cassette velvet not.

Depends on seal condition and angle of light reaching the door window.
Door windows are a source of leaks and best blocked.
The OP made no reference to using reloaded cassettes.

 

[MattKing]

The OP made no reference to using reloaded cassettes.

Cinestill films are on motion picture stock and sort of re-loaded.
And IIRC, they are susceptible to light piping.

 

[AgX]

Depends on seal condition and angle of light reaching the door window.

Yes, but I understood the OP had his problem regularly only at the start of his film strips.

 

[Jonnysound]

Yes, but I understood the OP had his problem regularly only at the start of his film strips.

Yep. Ive had it before but seems an intermittent. But exactly the same at the start of the roll. It was very sunny that day (iso800!). I think its either the angle of light through the cassette or the window, maybe as the film advances and takes up the slack pulls the cassette closer and tighter to the seal around the window. Ill stick some black electrical tape over it as recommended. Actually i remember a similar light leak a while back that appeared like this but on the last few pics, maybe it is the window. Doubt its the shutter. And the cinestill is brand new (from remjet removed repact kodak vision3) ive found online they will give you a free replacement roll for the static electric red marks.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Do you load the film in dim light?