Oops.

kc.virginia · 04-01-2012, 02:37 PM

So I got the first roll back from my new (to me) KM and I was puzzled by a couple of photos that had light leaks. Then I realized both of them occurred after two completely overexposed photos. So...I think I must have had the shutter set to "Bulb" instead of 1000 on the really overexposed shots, and that let too much light into the next shots. Doh!

Does that sound like the right explanation?

Example:

The rest look pretty good (despite using 400 film on a sunny day at noon - dumb me). I'll post a couple in the "share your photos" thread.

**RKKS08** · 04-01-2012, 03:08 PM

This shouldn't be possible. With "B" the shutter should close when you release the button. And the frame where the film is pressed against should act as a light seal to prevent light leaking to the next/previous part of the film.

But as the KM has a rubberised cloth shutter which moves horizontal like the MX (unlike the ME Super with a metal shutter moving vertical), I would rather think the second curtain is closing too late or too slow. Sometimes this can be fixed with CLA, but not always.

EDIT:
One of my Russian Zorkis has the same problem, but only at 1/30 sec, and only if I shoot in a slightly downward angle. And it depends strongly on history (how long the shutter was not used, and which exposure times were used prior to the shot). Cleaning improved the situation, but didn't totally fix the issue. But I have a second Zorki body, which does not show this error (but shortcuts the flash contact all the time instead - you can't have everything).

kc.virginia · 04-02-2012, 06:17 AM

Thank you for the explanation. I'm going to send it in for a CLA before too long, so hopefully if it's a shutter issue it can be fixed. I'll also be more careful on the next roll and see if it shows up again. Maybe I can isolate the specific conditions in which it occurs, like you did with your Zorki. (I've always been fascinated by those....)

**monochrome** · 04-02-2012, 06:58 AM

Originally posted by kc.virginia

Thank you for the explanation. I'm going to send it in for a CLA before too long, so hopefully if it's a shutter issue it can be fixed. I'll also be more careful on the next roll and see if it shows up again. Maybe I can isolate the specific conditions in which it occurs, like you did with your Zorki. (I've always been fascinated by those....)

Be sure to send it to Eric at www.Pentaxs.com. He is the best - and the evaluation costs you nothing.

And BTW, if I could walk out the front door into the Shenandoah Valley I'd be in heaven (and take more photographs). If I could turn back time I'd make my 4th great-grandfather stay home.

04-01-2012, 02:37 PM	#1
kc.virginia Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Shenandoah Valley, VA Posts: 71	Oops. So I got the first roll back from my new (to me) KM and I was puzzled by a couple of photos that had light leaks. Then I realized both of them occurred after two completely overexposed photos. So...I think I must have had the shutter set to "Bulb" instead of 1000 on the really overexposed shots, and that let too much light into the next shots. Doh! Does that sound like the right explanation? Example: The rest look pretty good (despite using 400 film on a sunny day at noon - dumb me). I'll post a couple in the "share your photos" thread.

04-01-2012, 03:08 PM	#2
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	This shouldn't be possible. With "B" the shutter should close when you release the button. And the frame where the film is pressed against should act as a light seal to prevent light leaking to the next/previous part of the film. But as the KM has a rubberised cloth shutter which moves horizontal like the MX (unlike the ME Super with a metal shutter moving vertical), I would rather think the second curtain is closing too late or too slow. Sometimes this can be fixed with CLA, but not always. EDIT: One of my Russian Zorkis has the same problem, but only at 1/30 sec, and only if I shoot in a slightly downward angle. And it depends strongly on history (how long the shutter was not used, and which exposure times were used prior to the shot). Cleaning improved the situation, but didn't totally fix the issue. But I have a second Zorki body, which does not show this error (but shortcuts the flash contact all the time instead - you can't have everything). Last edited by RKKS08; 04-01-2012 at 03:20 PM.

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04-02-2012, 06:17 AM	#3
kc.virginia Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Shenandoah Valley, VA Posts: 71 Original Poster	Thank you for the explanation. I'm going to send it in for a CLA before too long, so hopefully if it's a shutter issue it can be fixed. I'll also be more careful on the next roll and see if it shows up again. Maybe I can isolate the specific conditions in which it occurs, like you did with your Zorki. (I've always been fascinated by those....)

04-02-2012, 06:58 AM	#4
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by kc.virginia Thank you for the explanation. I'm going to send it in for a CLA before too long, so hopefully if it's a shutter issue it can be fixed. I'll also be more careful on the next roll and see if it shows up again. Maybe I can isolate the specific conditions in which it occurs, like you did with your Zorki. (I've always been fascinated by those....) Be sure to send it to Eric at www.Pentaxs.com. He is the best - and the evaluation costs you nothing. And BTW, if I could walk out the front door into the Shenandoah Valley I'd be in heaven (and take more photographs). If I could turn back time I'd make my 4th great-grandfather stay home.