Extra light on the sides of frames

[Zimmermakr]

I recently purchased a Nikon FE2 off of eBay. Everything seemed to work properly at first, but when looking back at my first roll of film, I noticed that there was a slight dark band at the top of each image. I attached some pictures from a contact sheet to show the problem - that light stripe at the top of each frame. It is more noticeable in some images then others but is consistently there.

Does anybody know what this problem could be? Could it be something as simple as bad light seals, or is it more likely a mechanical issue? I had a photography professor watch as the shutter fired and we were unable to tell if that was the problem.

If light seals are a likely culprit, what is an average cost for having them replaced? Could I potentially damage the camera if I attempt to fix them myself by getting a kit and following the instructions?

I've also attached a couple of pictures of the camera's interior.

Thank you so much.

 

[dxqcanada]

It appears to be a light leak from the seal.
Not difficult to replace with the correct size seal.

 

[480sparky]

It could be bad seals. It also could be a light leak in the cassette and at even the lab.

Try another roll and see if it's still there.

Seals are easy to replace. Just tedious and sometimes frustrating.

 

[compur]

It could be a shutter issue but is more likely caused by bad light seals which I can see are in bad shape in your photo of the open back. You can test this by loading a roll of film and putting some opaque tape over the edges of the film door before shooting the roll. Be sure to rewind the film before removing the tape.

Replacing light seals is not difficult but, if you do it, be sure to put a protective cover over the shutter curtain while you work so you don't accidentally damage it. I use a business card held with some low tack tape. The FE2's shutter curtains are particularly fragile and should never be touched.

 

[480sparky]

Whatever solutions you try, try them one at a time. Use the process of elimination to find the culprit.

 

[dxqcanada]

If you go for light seal replacement ... read info from Jon Goodman
Favorite Classics Jon Goodman s Seal Replacement Instructions

 

[Zimmermakr]

Wow, thank you guys all so much! This has been so helpful. I feel so much better about dealing with this now.

 

[480sparky]

PM me for Jon's email. I've bought from him and he's a straight shooter.

 

[Rick58]

I just replaced my RB seals with Jon's kits. Good guy, good product. Highly recommend,

 

[cgw]

Probably a bad or totally gone seal at the door hinge--an easy fix with a bit of thin, self-adhesive craft store foam for a buck or less. The seals along the length of the door aren't critical for light-tightness but help with moisture and dust. I'd try that before buying into a seal kit.