R5: Red stripe on pictures. Any ideas please?

[Joe 90]

This red stripe has appeared on about 6 out of 36 slides. It always occurs in exactly the same place, but on some pictures it is especially faint, and hardly noticable. The stripe is always red, always upright, always in exactly the same positionon on the slide. Any help appreciated.

[rob_x2004]

On an R5 I would be guessing where, but I would suggest it has to be a light leak from somewhere, and being in exactly the same place it must e getting in on the flat section of film somewhere between the film can and the take up spool. Time for a CLA and new seals.

ps..what colour is the stripe on prints from normal c41 negative.

[nobbylon]

yep, light leak from rear of cam

[adan]

Likely the foam rubber seal around the window in the back that shows you the film cassette to identify which film is loaded is getting stale and corroded, and allowing light to leak in.

All that black foam, (the stuff the mirror hits when it swings up, also) tends to turn into black goo after about 15-20 years. Fairly common with aging R4/R5s.

You may even be able to replace the foam seal in the back yourself, if that is what it turns out to be. A simple peel-and-stick job once you've removed the old foam.

The reason it is intermittent and varies in brightness is that it is a very faint leak, and will vary with how strong the light is hitting the leak point, and how long you left the film in one place between exposures.

Crazy-making - but easier to solve than some camera problems.

(The red coloring is also because it is a slow leak - red light always seems to penetrate a bit further, noticeable in the red/orange/yellow smear you get on slide film right where the exposed leader transitions to the film that was protected by the cassette during loading.)

[nobbylon]

get your new seal kit here,
Favorite Classics / Jon Goodman's Seal Replacement Instructions
The Finest Complete Camera Light Seal Foam Kit - PROOF! on eBay, also, Parts Repair, Film Cameras, Cameras Photo (end time 04-Apr-08 00:41:01 BST)

Jon sells under user name interslice on the evilbay, great service, great kit and the job is surprisingly easy to do.

[earleygallery]

I had the same problem on my R3. Leica UK sent me a new foam for the film 'window' and I also bought a kit from 'interslice' to replace the other seals (would be easy to make a piece for the window from the kit anyway) which had indeed turned to goo, it took me about 1hr to do the job and now all is well again.

[suilvenman]

Would that be the Chateau de Chinon on the photo by any chance?

Cheers, Ken.

[Joe 90]

I've had a look, and the light seal around the film window is very crumbly. This has to be it. This ties in well with the shots that have the stripe, as shots taken in the Chateau where the film window was protected from direct sun are OK. The shot here was taken from the deck of a boat, with the camera in full sun for some time. Ken, you are right about the picture, Chateau de Chillon, on Lake Geneva.

I bought the R5 off an auction site recently, and this issue only showed up for the first time after 4 or so rolls. I didn't notice it at all on earlier films. I will be loading some Kodachrome 64 today, and it will probably be a while before I get the slides back to check them. I will use a windowless back from a Minolta XD7 until I fix the seal properly and then test that with print film that I can process locally.

I don't want this to put readers off buying old R bodies! I also bought an R4 MOT sold 'as defective', by a dealer a year ago, and have put a few rolls through that too with good results. Thanks for all the replies!

[rob_x2004]

Originally Posted by Joe 90

I will use a windowless back from a Minolta XD7 until I fix the seal properly

Probably find the minoltas better built or deteriorate less with time. Dunno. The one I inherited certainly aged better than my 6.2. But hten if I want to I can get the Leica serviced. How come you dont jsut tape over the window since changing the back doesnt replace your door seal_08.jpg?

[Joe 90]

The Minoltas seem to age about the same, and are much lighter. They are not as strong. I did break off the Minolta flash mount quite easily. Bits like that are nothing like as solid.
However, the back is a solid door, exactly the same as the R4, but no window and with a metal spring where the window foam is to keep pressure on the film can. The R5 back door has a slightly finer pattern on the film pressure plate surface. Not sure what difference that makes.

[StFreud]

You´ve got a email. Regards, S.F.