testing the Contax 137MA, problem?

[Katastrofo]

I finally got around to shooting with this camera, bought last year. Here
are some shots from a very expired roll of Kodak Gold 100:

first two shots accidentally deleted





But on over 2/3 the roll of 36, I got this (you can see a little of this in
the first shot):


Can anyone give me the 411 on this, is it bad film, Wallies' processing,
or the camera having a problem?

Lens is the Zeiss Planar 1.7/50, got both the Contax and the lens for
$125 total, seller thought it was a good idea to end an auction at 10am
on a weekday.

Thanks,

Bill

[naplam]

Maybe there's some light leaking into the camera, it doesn't have to appear in every photo. I have a Yashica fx-70 whose "leather" cover has peeled off completely, and it has some tape to prevent light entering, BUT, when the sun is in a particular position, light enters through a little hole, and reflects off somewhere towards the film when the mirror is up. So it only happens in maybe a couple of photos every roll. I still have to fix it in my camera, i'm lazy So, open up your camera, take a strong light and look for possible tiny holes that let light in. If the light seals are ok, look at places that would normally be covered by the leather, particularly at the borders and don't look only for light going directly to the film, look at surfaces visible from the film too.

oh, and about the film, i don't think it's because it's expired, IF the shape is similar and placed in the same spot in every photo (i understand that's the case, yes?)

[shad309]

I agree with Naplam. I think this is a light leak.

[Katastrofo]

Thanks, naplam and shad309, I was suspecting either the shutter was
hanging up, or a light leak somewhere. I'll do a total reseal including
mirror foam and see if that will cure it. I also got a couple of shots where
there was killer grain/noise like maybe the meter was in tachycardia or
something . Those shots were always facing towards the sun, too.

Thanks again,

Bill

[shad309]

Bill,
Couple more questions: This is just streaks right? no creases in the film? also, do the streaks extend to the sprocket holes of the film?

Let us know what you find out too! Playing detective is fun

[Katastrofo]

Be back in a second, will check the film.

Yep, streaks are in the same place all the time and run fully across the
film.....(?)

[shad309]

If you take the film strip and line up the frame over the shutter, you may be able to pinpoint the exact location your leak is coming from.

I wouldn't be suprised if some of the foam seal is missing in that exact spot

[Katastrofo]

Very nice, shad309, not just a pretty face, are we? Will check
and see, thanks much!

[shad309]

LOL, 12 years in a photo lab and you become a camera doctor/repariman.

Pretty face...... it's in the genes

[Katastrofo]

Thanks again, much appreciated!

[JoeCool]

Hi Katastrofo,
seems that the light leak is near the hinge of the camera back door. The foam gets old and sticky, so there comes only very little light through the hinge onto the film, exactly on the frame which is rolled on the take-up-spool (hope that is understandable, had to browse for "hinge" and so). Just replace all light seals and it will be perfect. Nothing to worry about. For first solution, just put some black tape outside on the hinge and don't let your camera with film in it be exposed to bright light, put it in a drawer or a camera bag. Light coming through can be prevented this way as long as you don't have it fixed.

Gerd

[Katastrofo]

Gerd, thanks, I'm taking it in tomorrow to replace all the seals.

Bill