Light Leak

[JonathanJ]

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OK, i just got my first roll developed from my new-to-me R9.  Unfortunately, it looks like I have a light leak.  It happens at the exact same spot on the negatives but, oddly, it doesn’t happen on every negative.  Perhaps 8 of the 36 are affected.  Even when I took one photo right after another, some were affected, some were not.  Strange?  Anyhow, everything tells me it is a light leak, but I am no expert, and I ask for any input.  Is it worth shooting another roll to confirm?  Is it possible that it was a problem with the film cartridge, or a leak during processing?  It just seem so strange that it happened so sporadically.

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[jankap]

It could be, that it comes from the back of your camera. Try without film and without a lens and exposure B; can you see light if you look into the lens opening. Right side, below. With the back of the camera pointing to a strong light (sun).

Otherwise, black tape on the back of your camera, where there could be a leak and a test film.

Edited June 4 by jankap

[Carlos cruz]

Light leak extending into the perforations indicate that it has source at the back of camera, I’d look around hinges, locking mechanism at the camera back. From the shape of the leak I’d guess that hole is somewhere near the top, and my wild guess just next to pressure plate.

Edited June 4 by Carlos cruz

[masjah]

Don't forget the little window on the back cover which enables you to see the film type on the cassette. (My older R8 leaks light if bright sunlight falls directly on this window, particularly when the camera is on a tripod.) I don't forget which film I'm using, so a bit of black tape solved the problem for me.

 

[Eclectic Man]

The issue is in the same place on the frames, so very unlikely to be a processing fault.

As it is linear I suspect it is not a pinhole, so looks more like a problem with some linear light seal.  Could you post an image of the back of the camera with it open?

[250swb]

Well it's coming into the camera from the back because the leak is orange, and it extends over the edge of the image area, so I agree with @masjah it's coming in at the film window.  I tape all mine up as a matter or routine on any older SLR, the foam is tricky to cut accurately to make a new light seal and if you do forget what the film is you can always peel the tape back briefly. 

[JonathanJ]

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11 hours ago, jankap said:

It could be, that it comes from the back of your camera. Try without film and without a lens and exposure B; can you see light if you look into the lens opening. Right side, below. With the back of the camera pointing to a strong light (sun).

Otherwise, black tape on the back of your camera, where there could be a leak and a test film.

Thanks for your help.  I see no light coming in.  But I think I will just tape up the back and send another roll through it to see.

[JonathanJ]

11 hours ago, Carlos cruz said:

Light leak extending into the perforations indicate that it has source at the back of camera, I’d look around hinges, locking mechanism at the camera back. From the shape of the leak I’d guess that hole is somewhere near the top, and my wild guess just next to pressure plate.

Thanks!  I can’t seem to find it, but I am going to keep looking

 

[JonathanJ]

10 hours ago, masjah said:

Don't forget the little window on the back cover which enables you to see the film type on the cassette. (My older R8 leaks light if bright sunlight falls directly on this window, particularly when the camera is on a tripod.) I don't forget which film I'm using, so a bit of black tape solved the problem for me.

 

That seems like a great easy fix.  I appreciate it.

 

[JonathanJ]

5 hours ago, 250swb said:

Well it's coming into the camera from the back because the leak is orange, and it extends over the edge of the image area, so I agree with @masjah it's coming in at the film window.  I tape all mine up as a matter or routine on any older SLR, the foam is tricky to cut accurately to make a new light seal and if you do forget what the film is you can always peel the tape back briefly. 

I appreciate it.  I am going to tape it up, and run another roll through it and see what happens

 

[JonathanJ]

I want to say thanks to all of you for your help.  I am probably just going to cover up the film window first, and see if that takes care of it.

But, do you have anybody that you recommend to repair a problem like this?  Or just do a CLA?  Outside of the light leak, it seems to be doing well.   But, I just got the camera, and I wouldn’t mind sending it somewhere for a once over.  Thanks again to you all!

 

 

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[TomB_tx]

I've had light leaks around that back film window in several R models. You can get replacement foam seals (the foam gets compressed over time and fails to seal) - I think DAG carries the actual Leica replacement part. This isn't unique to Leica - I've had it happen on other cameras with that rear window as well.

I have just cut a piece of black vinyl electrical tape to fit the windows and called it good. Done carefully it looks fine. I figure a replacement foam will eventually have the same problem, while the black tape won't.

[250swb]

2 hours ago, JonathanJ said:

I want to say thanks to all of you for your help.  I am probably just going to cover up the film window first, and see if that takes care of it.

But, do you have anybody that you recommend to repair a problem like this?  Or just do a CLA?  Outside of the light leak, it seems to be doing well.   But, I just got the camera, and I wouldn’t mind sending it somewhere for a once over.  Thanks again to you all!

 

 

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It’s non-problem, SLR’s existed for decades before the idea that the photographer needed help remembering what film they were using came along. It’s a small piece of foam light seal with a hole punched in it, and standard light seal kits rarely if ever include a replacement. A CLA  for a camera that is otherwise working is $250 down the drain for a $0.005 piece of foam. If tape over the window isn’t the solution foam light seals won’t be the problem because the R8 and R9 don’t use them, it’s the deep and accurate overlap between the baffles between the door and body that create a light seal, just as it does with pro level Nikon SLR’s. If there is a foam seal it is a dust seal, not a light seal.

[Eclectic Man]

Just a thought, but looking at the image of the camera with the back open, it does not look to me that the problem is necessarily to do with the light seal around the window, but could be a problem with light leaking in around the hinge.  I suggest you examine that carefully with a magnifying glass.  Try tape over the window anyway, but shine a strong light on the hinge to check if that is the source of the leak.

Good luck.

[Eclectic Man]

Just had an idea.  Open the camera back and place the film inside aligning it with the shutter opening.  Try with the light leak to the right, and to the left of the opening as well as behind the shutter.  This will indicate exactly where the light is getting in.  

(You have to orient the film correctly, of course, but you know that.)

[250swb]

3 hours ago, Eclectic Man said:

Just had an idea.  Open the camera back and place the film inside aligning it with the shutter opening.  Try with the light leak to the right, and to the left of the opening as well as behind the shutter.  This will indicate exactly where the light is getting in.  

(You have to orient the film correctly, of course, but you know that.)

The R8 and R9 don't have any foam light seals around the door or hinge, so unless there is physical damage which would be easy to spot the only foam light seal is around the inspection window, and these always degrade as they do on any old camera.

[David Weber]

From shape and position I am pretty sure, the problem is the film window. You can make such a frame around window quite easily yourself. I am using  Light Seals Foam from japanhobbytool 3mm thick for those window frames. The shape dosen't have to be a 100% perfect, as long as the new frame blocks all light from the window it's ok.

[JonathanJ]

On 6/16/2025 at 11:14 AM, David Weber said:

From shape and position I am pretty sure, the problem is the film window. You can make such a frame around window quite easily yourself. I am using  Light Seals Foam from japanhobbytool 3mm thick for those window frames. The shape dosen't have to be a 100% perfect, as long as the new frame blocks all light from the window it's ok.

Thanks.  Right now, i am shooting a roll with the window covered with electrical tape.  If that’s the cause, I will use the foam like you recommended.  Thanks for the advice.  I appreciate it.

[JonathanJ]

On 6/16/2025 at 10:14 AM, 250swb said:

The R8 and R9 don't have any foam light seals around the door or hinge, so unless there is physical damage which would be easy to spot the only foam light seal is around the inspection window, and these always degrade as they do on any old camera.

Well, that makes it easy.  I’m shooting another roll now, with the window covered with electrical tape.  Fingers crossed.

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[JonathanJ]

On 6/16/2025 at 6:17 AM, Eclectic Man said:

Just had an idea.  Open the camera back and place the film inside aligning it with the shutter opening.  Try with the light leak to the right, and to the left of the opening as well as behind the shutter.  This will indicate exactly where the light is getting in.  

(You have to orient the film correctly, of course, but you know that.)

Thanks!