Light leak?

Way · 06-07-2006

Looks like my ZI has a light leak? Ugh!

varjag · 06-07-2006

If it is a light leak it is a bit strange one: it has unexposed areas/streaks right in the middle.

Is it on several frames, or just on this one?

laptoprob · 06-07-2006

The ZI has a metal vertical shutter, right? Guess it's some other cause then.
Especially the curved line on the left is puzzling...

Che Hale · 06-07-2006

Could be light getting past the light seal on the film can.

rardinger · 06-07-2006

The leak extends to the top of the frame, in the black area, meaning it likely cannot be happening when the film is in the camera if the light causing the leak would come through the lens/lens opening. Leaks in the plastic window in the back of some cameras could have a similar appearance to this leak (I do not know if the ZI has such a window). As mentioned above, a light leak through the film can opening is a good thought. Do need further info on frequency, placement on the roll, etc.

Avotius · 06-07-2006

I think the most important part to finding out what this leak is about is comparing to other leaks on the roll of there are any. If this is actually a problem with the camera then I would think it would be the film window thing on the back of the ZI.

Way · 06-07-2006

Thanks for the info. Here are a few more. Please excuse the cat hair in one of them - I just wanted to get these posted ASAP!

kmack · 06-07-2006

It certainly is consistant. I am not completely sure it is a light leak. Something about those curves as Rob pointed out. Also the third picture, other than the cat hair, look almost like the film was crinkled.

How was the film developed?

Way · 06-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmack

It certainly is consistant. I am not completely sure it is a light leak. Something about those curves as Rob pointed out. Also the third picture, other than the cat hair, look almost like the film was crinkled.

How was the film developed?

Film is HP5. Took it to a local photo lab.

I just came back from my local camera store and they said it is a light leak. Looking at the negatives more closely you can see a little of it on almost every frame.

jano · 06-07-2006

The curved part almost does look like a crinkle. Recommend you run a short roll of cheap color c41 and dev it somewhere else (cheap place) and see if you still get the same results.

Palaeoboy · 06-07-2006

Does the intensity of the lines decrease the further you go through the film? That could suggest a film canister leak. It may have happened during processng at the lab. Has it happened with more than one film? If it has happened to more than one film and goes to the top and bottom of the negative then there is a light leak of the camera back. Im more inclined to think its a one off with a faulty film canister at this stage.

Way · 06-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palaeoboy

Does the intensity of the lines decrease the further you go through the film? That could suggest a film canister leak. It may have happened during processng at the lab. Has it happened with more than one film? If it has happened to more than one film and goes to the top and bottom of the negative then there is a light leak of the camera back. Im more inclined to think its a one off with a faulty film canister at this stage.

It has happened on two rolls.

titrisol · 06-07-2006

A light leak it is, but not in the camera.... IMHO that is a processing fault and you should get your money back from the lab

Can you see it in the sprocket area as well?
Run another roll of color and see if it happnes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Way

Film is HP5. Took it to a local photo lab.

I just came back from my local camera store and they said it is a light leak. Looking at the negatives more closely you can see a little of it on almost every frame.

kmack · 06-07-2006

“Curiouser and curiouser!” as Alice would say.

Even though it has occured on two rolls of film, I like jano's suggestion of shooting a cheap roll of C41 something and get it developed at the cheapest place you can find other than your current lab. Just to positively rule out problems with your current lab.

The only way I could imagine a light leak like that with a vertical plane shutter is a hole in the shutter itself or a small gap between the metal curtains at the right side.

Jon Goodman · 06-07-2006

Please run a cheap roll of color C-41 type film through and see what happens. This is the best tool to use for us to analyze a light leak. Light striking color film from behind will cause orange, yellowish or reddish leak marks. Light striking color film from the front side will only wash it out, causing whitish to grayish marks. Once we know which direction the light is striking the film, we can start narrowing the search.

Jon
aka Interslice on E-Bay

Way · 06-07-2006

Thanks for all the input! I'll definitely try a roll of C-41 and see what happens. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks again!

Dan States · 06-08-2006

Just in case I would try exposing the film canister window to bright light for a few frames, then taping it over with electrical tape. If the effect stops you know it's the film window.

Good luck.

Dan

Way · 06-16-2006

Just an update - I took some cheap color film, shot the roll in bright sun light and had it develped at Costco. No odd streaks or anomalies of any kind. Perhaps the previous lab did screw up those two rolls?

Jon Goodman · 06-16-2006

Good! It could be. Please keep an eye on things and see. Hopefully that was the problem.
Jon

Larry Cloetta · 06-16-2006

This is my first post, and I registered just so I could reply to this thread. I had exactly the same light leak problem. My original thinking was that it had to do with the film canister or processing, but I was wrong. It was the camera. I shot 5 rolls with the same results as were shown in this thread--light leaks demonstrating these same patterns.

I sent the camera back to Hasselblad about 6 weeks ago. I phoned them about 3 weeks ago, and they said that they had sent the camera back to Japan for repair. I just got it back today, so I can't tell you if it is fixed or not, but am guessing it is (reason to follow). Time will tell. Most of the repair work slip which was with the camera when I received it today was in Japanese, however there was an English translation of the pertinent sentence "replaced entire inside of body, except for name ring." Your guess is as good as mine, but it is obviously not a minor problem.

I was having another symptom from the beginning, but I didn't know it was a symptom because I didn't have another ZI body here to compare it with. The shutter speeds were very difficult to read, and I kept wondering why there were no loud complaints on this forum about that. I have not had a chance to run a roll through the repaired body yet, but now the shutter speed read outs are vastly easier to read, so I am guessing that the two problems were related.

Noting that your light leaks look exactly like mine did, and noting also that the chances of it being anything but a light leak in the camera if it occurs on multiple rolls are slim to none, I would suggest that you not waste any more time or film. Call Hasselblad's service center and send it in as per their instructions.(mine went in before the change in distribution).

Hope this helps.