Trying to fix a light leak on my old Pentax K1000 turned into a whole weekend project

Thought it was just the foam seals, so I bought a $12 kit and spent Saturday replacing them. After a test roll, the leak was still there, just a different shape. Turns out the back latch was slightly bent and letting light in from the hinge side, something I never would have guessed. Had to carefully bend it back with pliers and a cloth, which took another 3 hours of trial and error. Anyone else had a simple fix turn into a major camera surgery?

3 comments

3 Comments

janaf761mo ago

Wait, isn't the foam usually on the door itself, not the back latch area? I thought light leaks from a bent latch would be a straight line, not a shape. Maybe the foam kit didn't fully stick down in that corner and it's still letting some light creep in?

hugo6451mo ago

Wait, you spent 3 hours bending a back latch with pliers? That's wild. @janaf76 might be onto something about the foam not sticking, but a bent latch sounds like a whole different beast.

wilson.anthony18d ago

I had to bend my latch twice before it finally sealed right.