What causes light leak?

[carlthompson]

Hello,

I'm using a reconditioned Lomo LCA and just had some shots developed. On about a third of them I noticed a light leak as shown below. The leak had the same pattern in all the affected shots, a red bar on the right and a pinkish wash in the middle.

Can anyone explain what might have caused this, and why it only appeared in some shots?

Many thanks!

 

[LightRoom]

It's just that. The camera is defective and lets unwanted light in. I could also be carelesness manipulating the film. These LOMo were very cheap plasticy cameras, full of deffects. They have now become trendy, they each make their own peculiar effect. Have fun.

 

[Snow Crow]

Hello,

I'm using a reconditioned Lomo LCA and just had some shots developed. On about a third of them I noticed a light leak as shown below. The leak had the same pattern in all the affected shots, a red bar on the right and a pinkish wash in the middle.

Can anyone explain what might have caused this, and why it only appeared in some shots?

Many thanks!

This looks like a shutter issue to me. It is not moving at a constant speed! If it were a light leak, it would most likely be a bright corner.

--
Big Chief "Run-a-muck"

 

[Tom Axford]

Hello,

I'm using a reconditioned Lomo LCA and just had some shots developed. On about a third of them I noticed a light leak as shown below. The leak had the same pattern in all the affected shots, a red bar on the right and a pinkish wash in the middle.

Can anyone explain what might have caused this, and why it only appeared in some shots?

Many thanks!

It looks to me like a light leak that affects the film that has been wound on after being exposed (i.e. film on the take-up spool). That would explain the pattern of light leakage and it would also explain why some shots are affected and not others. If you take several shots in quick succession, the film gets wound on before the light leak has had time to have much affect.

Look for a leakage in the area of the take-up spool.

 

[ywjrh]

I'm guessing light is leaking in through the door hinge near the take up spool. You could try putting black tape over the hinge after you load some film.

 

[carlthompson]

Thanks very much for the replies, much appreciated. I'll have a closer look and see if I can cover up any possible areas where the light might get in.

 

[K D N]

A light leak is exactly what is sounds like - light leaking onto the film.

BUT you're shooting with a Lomo camera. Are you unfamiliar with lomography? Because you pretty much WANT light leaks when shooting lomography as it is part of its charm.

 

[PhotoTeach2]

A light leak is exactly what is sounds like - light leaking onto the film.

BUT you're shooting with a Lomo camera. Are you unfamiliar with lomography? Because you pretty much WANT light leaks when shooting lomography as it is part of its charm.

Yeah .... it not a problem ...

IT'S A FEATURE .... LOL

 

[Chikubi]

They may heve reconditioned it, but they may not have touched the seals, and the film door seals may be letting light sneak in as a result. You've also got a film window that lets you see the film cartridge info, and the seal for that can leak as well over time. Put a piece of black electrical tape over the window to test it.

In any case, if it's seals or the film window, you'll need to reseal the camera. There are kits to do it yourself, or you may be able to find a service shop to do it. If the camera is under some sort of warranty, I would pursue that option as well.

 

[Mark S Abeln]

Except those cameras don't have seals and they purposefully allow light leaks, because of Art.

 

[COYQ]

Except those cameras don't have seals and they purposefully allow light leaks, because of Art.

 

[Chikubi]

Except those cameras don't have seals and they purposefully allow light leaks, because of Art.

I know you're being somewhat facetious, but they actually do have seals which are foam strips on the film door itself, which is somewhat different than most cams that have them mainly on the body. There's also a foam seal around the film window as well.





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