What causes an orange light leak along one edge on Olympus OM-1 film photos?
Asked 5/16/2018
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I’m seeing an orange light leak/vertical band on two frames from an Olympus OM-1, while the rest of the roll looks normal. The OM-1 has a horizontal cloth shutter. I’ve read that orange leaks often come from behind the film, but I’m unsure how to diagnose this when it only affected a couple of shots. What are the most likely causes, and what should I inspect on the camera?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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I don't know this particular camera, but from the symptoms it looks very much like the back is not closing all the way. I'm assuming the back is hinged at left, by the cartridge. The leak is all along the right edge, which is where the largest gap would be if something isn't holding the back snug against the body.
It would have been helpful to see the whole width of the film, including the sprockets. The sprockets are useful for diagnosing things like this because they should not be exposed at all when everything is working.
With film in the camera, close the back and look carefully at the right edge. See if you can push on it a bit so that it closes more. You shouldn't be able to do that, but I suspect you will be able to. There is probably some sort of spring-loaded latch that isn't working anymore, but something else is still holding the back mostly shut. Or, maybe you just didn't shut it quite right for this roll.
Originally by user7603. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user7603
8y ago
0
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The most likely cause is a leak at the camera back rather than the shutter. An orange/red leak usually suggests light is reaching the film from the rear side, and because it appears along one edge, the back may not have been fully closed or held tightly shut for those frames.
A likely failure point is the back latch or the fit of the door on the side opposite the hinge. If the back can flex or sit slightly open, light can enter intermittently, which would explain why only two frames were affected.
What to check:
- Close the back and inspect the edge opposite the hinge.
- Gently press on that edge; it should not move inward noticeably.
- Check whether the latch is loose, worn, or not pulling the door snugly closed.
- If you have the negatives, include the film edge/sprocket area when inspecting; exposure there can help confirm a back-door leak.
Because the issue only appears on part of the roll, an intermittent sealing/latching problem is more likely than a constant shutter issue.
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