Canon AE-1 light leaks?

6 years 3 months ago #560673 by jmar
Hey guys. I'm very grateful such a forum exists!

After a few years of beginner-tier digital photography, I decided to try my hand at film photography. I picked up a Canon AE-1 and a zoom lens for about $150. Not too bad.

Anyways, a friend of mine suggested wasting a cheap roll of film just making sure that it shoots fine. I did so. (Attached photos).

Anyways, it looks like, indeed, there are light leaks. I googled a few examples and the errant photos match. (Some of the photos don't make sense, I know. There are a few clear examples, though, of light light leaks. Right?)

Is this something I can fix by myself? Is it worth fixing?

(On the image I attached where it's four photos in one, the bottom-right photo is what I found to be a clear example.)


Attachments:
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6 years 3 months ago #560677 by icepics
I'm not sure. The exposure is certainly off being this grainy. Was this fresh film? some almost looks like the color shifted which can happen with old film. You said cheap, what did you use??

If it's a light leak usually you'll see that orange-ish streak in the same area in all or most of the pictures. But maybe there is more than one small leak.

What can happen is the seals can deteriorate in older cameras (and the Canon AE-1 has always been considered to be a good camera). If you have no film in the camera, and open the door, do you notice along the edges, the black foam? If it looks thin or worn the seals might need to be replaced. There are kits to replace those. Otherwise you could use black electrical or gaffer's tape on the outside of the camera as a quick temporary fix after you load film and close the door (but then you have to replace it every time you load film and the tape could mess up the leatherette).

I think I'd probably check the seals and replace those if need be, then shoot another test roll. 

Sharon
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6 years 3 months ago #561612 by jmar
Sharon,

Sorry for the delayed response. That seems to be it - it looks like most of the light sealing is downright missing, as if the owner sold the body after removing the sealant. I'll replace the sealing, go through another roll, and report the results.

Thank you!


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6 years 3 months ago - 6 years 3 months ago #561629 by Screamin Scott
Replacing the seals is easy, I've done several... Just make sure not to get any of the old foam in the interior of the camera body. I got my kits from Jon Goodman (interslice on  eBay)

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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6 years 3 months ago #562631 by effron
A Canon AE-1 and a "zoom" for $150 is also not a good deal, I'd seek a return and refund if possible....

Why so serious?
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