Film Cameras: Diagnosing Light Leaks

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Table of Contents:
- The light leak I ran into (0:35)
- How to troubleshoot a light leak (1:51)
- Analyzing the light leak on the film (2:58)
- Ruling out the camera & film pack (4:54)
- Testing the polaroid holder (7:01)
- Attempting to seal up the holder (8:16)
- New pictures! (11:50)
- RZ67 light leak (12:53)
- Getting new light seals (13:48)
Check out my online course all about manual metering for film photography: www.nickcarverphoto.com/meter...
Light leaks can be rad. A good ol’ hipster portrait in the middle of the desert with a big streak of light across it...yeah that’s good stuff. But light leaks lose their charm pretty quick when they keep ruining $15 exposures again and again and again. And that’s exactly what I ran into recently as I attempted to photograph some hawk feathers and a bison skull using New55 film and a Polaroid 545i film holder.
Even if you don’t shoot 4x5 large format or peel-apart film, if you use a film camera older than a decade there’s a good chance you’ll encounter a pesky light leak at some point. And when it comes to diagnosing the source of the leak, it pays to take a methodical and logical approach so as to minimize wasted film and endless red-herring chases.
So when it came time to finally track down the leak on my 4x5 peel-apart system, I first broke it down to 3 likely culprits: the camera, the Polaroid holder, or the film pack. Then I could run tests on each one separately, starting first with the camera.
I ran a similar troubleshooting procedure on a light leak with my Mamiya RZ67, first eliminating film mishandling as the source, then eliminating the camera before nailing down the deteriorating light seals on the film back as the culprit. After replacing the seals, the leak was gone.
By the way, check out uscamera.com for excellent light seal kits covering all sorts of camera models as well as a wide selection of camera manuals and replacement parts.
Website: www.nickcarverphotography.com
Instagram: / nickcarver

[@Morinaka25]

Another one to look for if you shoot colour negative is the colour of the light leaks. If it's blue/white it's coming from in front of the film, if it's orange (exposure through the base layer) it's coming from back.

[@nickcarverphoto]

That’s a good tip. Thank you.

[@nickfanzo]

I’m the old days there were so many of us shooting large format with light leaks The solution was to keep a large dark cloth on the camera until the shot was over That means removing the slide under the cloth!

[@domlabr]

Way back, when I contacted a local camera repair guy to repair the light seals on my RB67 backs he suggested and used black wool instead of foam. The advantage is that the wool does not break down over time like the foam does. Touch wood, it's been working great ever since.

[@mikeparker3865]

Looks like a great coffee table book opportunity for camera nuts.

[@nickcarverphoto]

I was thinking a wall calendar, but I like that too.

[@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio]

Poor Nick has been tormented by light leaks. Glad you sorted it out.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Hopefully the nightmares will end now.

[@davidpearce2981]

Thanks nick, hope you and your family are safe and well

[@juanpatricio9204]

Thanks for this episode of "Leaking with Nick"

[@nickcarverphoto]

Aw ew.

[@marcusslade9804]

This has been like a whodunnit murder mystery for photographers. Your sleuthing powers are fully intact. Fascinating...and I'm motivated to venture from my cocktail of choice, the Negroni, to the Gimlet. Thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you.

[@fjalls]

9:38 I love that focused and "lets try not to fuck everything up" face

[@nickcarverphoto]

I’ve had to display that face frequently when dealing with New55.

[@FabrizioZago]

Thanks for taking us throught the entire process, glad you've found out the problem. The photos of the vintage cameras look really cool, I can really imagine that taking the photos of them can be really addictive. By showing the setup with the glass and the window light you gave me an idea for something else, thank you! :-)

[@kimjohnsen113]

Awesome Nick!

[@grahamjones2759]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[@Barzyz01]

Awesome. I went through that with a "new" rb67 back. New seals applied and it's game on!! Thanks for sharing!!! Prost!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Nice! So satisfying, too, to get some new seals on a piece of gear.

[@spamllama]

Those vintage camera pics would make great wall art.

[@davecarrera]

This great 3 year old video has put my mind at rest. I recently fixed the light seals i on a A12 back and the first 10 shots came out no stress but the last to were ok but the edge of the film looked like a panoramic silhouette of a mountain range. Your video advised me to be more care on the unloading of my films of which will finish the current roll and unload in my delivering bag just to check. I think you sir.

[@catmonkey6826]

Gimlet shaken, check. Video loaded on the big TV, check. Keeping us entertained during the lockdown, check. Thanks Nick!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thank you for watching!

[@heidkr00gaz]

Always a pleasure! Probably not gonna happen in this life but I am well prepared for the time with my large format camera. Maybe I should start with a medium format one. Thank you, Nick.

[@jdebultra]

Sweet. Good content

[@gabrielsilvaz4199]

Hello Nick love your channel!!! I’ve learned a lot by watching your videos. I recently built myself a large format 4x5 mono rail view camera and the way that I checked for light leaks was by putting a bright LED Headlamp inside the camera at various different angles and checked for light leaks in complete darkness with my home made film holders attached Closed and opened film gate. I don’t have a lot of cash to spend on film unfortunately. I didn’t want to waste any film. I found a few light leaks and fix them. I haven’t ruined any film yet thankfully. Hopefully some of your viewers can save their are precious film with this comment. I love your content thank you for everything you’ve done for the film community out there!!

[@andreewoodson]

Congrats!

[@davidmb2587]

Denatured alcohol. I feel another episode of behind the glass with a glass coming up...

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

Hopefully with the other type of alcohol.

[@iNerdier]

If he's drinking meths then that's going to be the final episode.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Man if I ever do a behind the glass with a glass about denatured alcohol, someone please stage an intervention.

[@shaunhall8158]

Glad you sorted it Nick, not the end of the world problem but the sort of thing that will play on your mind in there early hours when you cannot sleep... two solutions, fix it or more single malt!

[@tedsmith_photography]

Another highly comprehensive tuition sir! I don't know how much those holders are but I would have given up long before you did! Interestingly I had a minor light leak on an A12 Blad back. I sent it to my regular Hasselblad Elf (Graham Rose at GRES.co.uk) and it came back like new! New seals, dark slide, lubricated and spacer re-aligned. And pictures are perfect now.

[@Tenwhiskers]

Thanks for the US Camera information . Great site !

[@KentuckyMan30]

Loved hanging out with you as always! I found this super interesting (just like all your videos) and I don't shoot film at all. By the way, those shots of your cameras looked incredible!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thank you very much!

[@stuartbaines2843]

👍 Camera shots look great!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thanks!

[@kevinflynn6306]

Thanks Nick and thank you for the light seal information, I did not know replacement kits were available so I have been using black knitting wool (thick) I was not sure it would work but I have used it on my RB67 backs and several 35mm cameras with good success, just thought I would pass that along regards Kevin Flynn

[@BackFocus11]

Great video..... not much out there on this topic. Thanks for putting this out Nick!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jerbod2]

This is super informative!

[@TonyGouge]

Dang. A lot of work. But at least you have it taken care of!

[@c1m1w]

Thought for future sealing tasks - I've tried to use vinyl tape for hiding LED's on electrical devices, and it's pretty transparent! Perhaps 30 stops, but exposed to direct light that's not even close to reliable. What does work is a layer of aluminium ducting tape first and then the vinyl - totally opaque, very conformal, and with black tape over the top looks fine.

[@fotolookconde]

@Nick Carver thanks for the video! Light leaks could be tricky to spot! I have now two situations to deal with light leaks. One is in a film back from my Mamiya and the other is in my darkroom!!!

[@soulstart89]

Hey nick. Glad your solved the issue on both cameras. I have a rz67 pro ii kit. The difference with the professional ii backs for the pro ii camera compared to the first version just (professional) is that the pro ii backs was designed not to need light seals. The first version has light seals. I have a pro ii kit with all second version backs. When I was looking into the exact same back you just bought I found Out the difference between the two backs. Hope you and family are coping being around each other and are well. 👍🏾

[@nickcarverphoto]

I did not know that. Thanks for pointing that out. That was a smart move on Mamiya’s part to eliminate the light seals. They’re bound to fail at some point.

[@nomadben]

I'm glad you were finally able to solve the problem Nick! I really liked the photos of your cameras. Also, do you think you might start uploading at 4K at some point? That would be pretty sweet. Cheers dude

[@christopherrasmussen8718]

Glad you nailed your leak. I have a used holder and I am pretty sure I will have to pull it apart to make sure it's tight. Thats funny. I hit US Camera up for seals to fit my (new to me) FUJI GX617. He got right back to me telling he he didn't have them, but wants to work with me to get a pattern for his use. So last thing before Covid, Gary asked me to measure the doors, They are super long and he told me he might not be able to get a big enough piece of seal material to fit. I'll need to get back to that. Hope to be able to head out to nature soom to shoot some film.

[@fjalls]

Omg omg omg omg omg Nick uploaded a video

[@nickcarverphoto]

Fjäll Not as exciting as an on location...but it’s something.

[@fjalls]

@@nickcarverphoto I dont know, everything that concerns Photography is exciting to me. I like your meticulous way of doing things. Im the opposite and go by brute force which I hate

[@gootyeriz]

I have the occasional light leak on my RB67 backs. I ordered a light seal replacement kit from a guy named John Goodman from Texas, i think. It came with tools and instructions. My wife did the repair. She has more steady hands. I still get a leak here and there.

[@catmonkey6826]

And... A video on your vintage cameras would be great too.

[@besimai]

Looking furrowed to the next " in front of the glass with a glass". Love the chanel 😁

[@nickcarverphoto]

Haha - That’s what I’ll title my next self-portrait.

[@markhesse2928]

This explains the light leaks on the Anza Ocotillo triptych I bought from you--actually makes that kind of a cool artefact now! I bought a used camera back on Ebay for a Canon AE-1 to replace an old databack that it originally came with. The light seals on the replacement looked very old and, well, leaky. I fashioned a new seal from the felt from the lip of an old 35mm film canister. Haven't tried it yet, because I have doubts as to the effectiveness of the repair, but I'll check out the websites you mentioned to get some proper material.

[@nickcarverphoto]

I like the MacGyver approach to fixing the light seals. Never thought of using the 35mm felt. But if it seals there, seems like it would seal elsewhere.

[@markhesse2928]

@@nickcarverphoto Well, I ordered the proper kit from US Camera, so that should work, if not, there's always black electrical tape.

[@MarcoFantin1]

OMG I also just started photographing my camera gear (lenses)! It must be the quarantine... I made a video on my little channel. Thanks for the inspiration Nick!

[@nickcarverphoto]

Quarantine got us all photographing things on our shelves!

[@glennstephenson184]

Just about due for a BGWG man- looking forward to it :)

[@nickcarverphoto]

Good to know. Thanks, man

[@vproven]

Could you repeat that? 😏 Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.

[@pooryapercini4194]

no bro, sorry we all do not have vintage cameras. but i'm glad a person like you does. how about a behind a glass with all the vintage glasses intro series ?

[@trueblack6760]

I'm so glad to know you will not need to lose your hair anymore!

[@jarrupoljin]

OH thanks so much! Just recently got light leak on my RB67 and didn't know where to get the light seals. Kinda surprising this didn't happen before as my film back practically has no light seals as they've crumbled away so much

[@nickcarverphoto]

Light leaks are so weird. They seem to come and go at their leisure. On my 6x6 back, I shot 4 rolls in bright outdoor light, and only the first and last roll showed leaks.

[@jarrupoljin]

@@nickcarverphoto Yeah first my light leak only happened on the last frames and now it has disappeared completely! So uhh guess I wont be replacing those light seals yet

[@andyvan5692]

one other "line of inquiry" is to use a lens hood, polarisers, etc. as, for me, my 500c\m had that issue, but as I had the film back inspected quite recently, and was using that roll to do a light leak test( also checking shutter speeds, etc. on my lenses); then my only conclusion, after using a hood on the next roll, was that glare was the only cause. [it was my misreading of the histogram of my z6, which I was using as a light meter at the time{the right side of the box DOES show white, when the highlights are too bright!, I didn't spot this error until a 'recognisance' shoot for that next roll} ]- I also used Ektar 100 instead of 400 asa roll, so minimised the chance of a repeat of this error, some did still over expose, but the rest showed good exposure.

[@Khrastal]

Here we go again

[@jekeyes]

I have a light leak on a Kiev-6C. After hours of troubleshooting, I found that the curtain has a seam that is separating slightly when advancing the film. My work around is covering the lens and eye piece when advancing the film.

[@xandercesari9773]

I just replaced my AE1's light seals with a US Camera kit last week! Definitely a bit of a tedious process, mostly removing the old ones. But overall not tricky and well worth it.

[@nickcarverphoto]

And isn’t it so satisfying to close that film door with the new seals on? Tight as a drum.

[@xandercesari9773]

Nick Carver SO satisfying. It's up there with popping bubble wrap and peeling off protective stickers.

[@gideonsanchez8476]

WOOPWOOOP

[@charlesgough3528]

Thanks for the web address for uscamera..I've an RB-67 and god knows I've a leaky back.

[@filipecostapt6427]

It would be interisting seeing a video of you using that old cameras you have laying arround (unless they are broken or the film format for them are not available any more).

[@nickcarverphoto]

I’ve put a roll through the oldest Brownie. Had to re-spool some 120 onto the old rollers, but it was fun. Maybe I’ll do it again someday and film the process.

[@IainHC1]

Well done m8 :-) I was wondering the other day how you got on with this problem :-)

[@jiaruilin4789]

Thank you for making this video! I have been struggling with the light leakage of my Rollei SL66 for over a year. It's a strange shape right in the middle of images. I never found the leak point. I sought a lot of professional help, but everyone gave me different solutions. After watching this video, I might try to run more tests. If anyone knows about what to do with the light leakage in the center of the photo and its not connect to the edge, please, i really need some advice.😫

[@nathanjohansen7169]

Nick, if you haven't thrown out those "bad" New55 images yet you could sign them and sell them on your website á la avant-garde. We will buy them!

[@andrewschrotenboer9445]

Very informative video. I’ve returned to film photography after a while in the digital world and am attempting to shoot 120 film on a Kodak 2A with adapters (from 116-120). I’ve been getting leaks on the edges of my pictures, and am now wondering if I mishandled the film while putting it in. The bellows don’t allow the light from an LED flashlight through, and I’m struggling to think what could be leaking around the lense if anything. The only other thing would be the Autographic door, or the red counter window. Also, am I correct in thinking that the rear panel of a camera like this doesn’t use foam light seal strips? Could be one other possibility.

[@crlclssic]

😎

[@NorthCalGamers]

How the hell you only have 67k subscribers

[@maxwellwellmax878]

Everytime i see the message that you uploaded a video, I see you on your 80s outfit lol.

[@nickcarverphoto]

My deepest apologies. Haha

[@maxwellwellmax878]

@@nickcarverphoto Nah, its a good thing, brings back good memories and puts a smile on my face.

[@adriancozma6102]

Any alternatives to new55 since they're not producing anything anymore? 😢

[@PianoBlackTrimRep.]

Sir, please do more videos of you taking photos of liquor stores.

[@nickcarverphoto]

No promises on the liquor stores specifically, but I got more on locations coming 👍🏼

[@anonymousdoner3370]

Light; our friend, our enemy.

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

Always chasing the light

[@nickcarverphoto]

Amen to that

[@sednasix6608]

What 4x5 camera is that?

[@StudentBoots]

I wonder if using paper negs, or Ilford's positive paper would get the same look you're looking for, but without the expense.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Probably worth a try

[@StudentBoots]

@@nickcarverphoto If you get a pack of 8x10 RC paper and cut it down, ifs about 25 Canadian cents. Darkroom doesn't have to be perfectly dark, just a room at night with the lights off is fine. Also shouldn't be too hard to get a safelight and trays and Dev from Freestyle

[@nicktauro3201]

Cost of new Polaroid back vs cost of all those sheets of film?

[@MarceloCN]

I remember when i tear down my Yashica just to fix a light problem on the prism.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Oh man. That’s a deep dive for a light leak.

[@andyvan5692]

good video, but one other cause of "light leaks" in 120 & 35 mm film, aka the "lightning" which comes from REWINDING too fast, static builds up and discharges to the film strip; Also in 120/LF, rotating the back with NO darkslide in!!- as the corners of the image area are exposed (quickly, but still of a significant duration) so light gets in; another MF/LF one is the SUN etc. getting inside the darkslide slit, on bright days, as some leakage does occur. the above all assume the most amateur of mistakes (not clicking the backs shut, or mounting to the camera tightly!), or a 'Mechanical malfunction of the backs, is not one that is made here :-).

[@jokesNgiggles]

Surprised you didn't use gaffers tape

[@stanmorgan4628]

My thought as well.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Surprisingly, I don’t own any.

[@rgrbrn]

How many new 55 sheets have u use to fix??? Seems a lot! 15$ each 😓

[@nickcarverphoto]

Way more than I would have liked. Would have been much cheaper to just buy a second Polaroid holder at the start to see if that was the problem.

[@mil0931]

What is it about New55 that makes you keep shooting it? This "regular" film looked much cleaner to me.

[@nickcarverphoto]

If I was looking for “cleaner”, I definitely wouldn’t shoot New55. I mainly shoot it because of the grungy, imperfect look and the process is enjoyable. Probably similar to why some people shoot wet plate.

[@michatrojanowski8798]

Sooo... the best way to get rid of light leak is to get another polaroid holder?

[@briansavage932]

Man, what a journey this was, huh? How much alcohol did it take to keep you from pulling your hair out? Also, which alcohol was it? Possibly a "part 3" to this saga? Haha.

[@nickcarverphoto]

Haha! Dude seriously

[@chevy2die]

Couldn't you have just bought a new polaroid holder for less than the amount of New55 you had to burn?

[@lgm9324]

You forgot minimal hair loss.

[@iNerdier]

Alternative title: how to spend $200 on new55

[@nickcarverphoto]

Seriously. So crazy.

[@ucevrim]

First 😊