Why do I have blue (or orange) fogging or bleeding onto the negative?

Kodak Film
Kodak Film

Why do you have blue/orange fogging/bleeding onto the film negative? Does your camera have a Light Leak?

If you are shooting outside in direct sunlight and you have the above issue with your film and you have blue fogging or bleeding, this is most likely because you are using a tungsten film in the daylight leaking thru. If it's orange, then this is most likely because you are using a daylight film and it's leaking thru. Of course, many things factor into the equation, so deal with it on a case by case basis. Where could the issues come from?

There could be a few culprits:

1) It could be that your camera is a Single-Lens Reflex (SLR). Both the Konvas and Kinor are SLR's. With that said, you are most likely not keeping a good seal between your eye and the eyecup on the viewfinder. It's an easy mistake to do, but you may, unknowingly, be pulling your eye away from the viewfinder during shooting (many people don't realize that their breathing and heartbeating may cause this issue)!

The light goes through the viewfinder and hits the film creating a weird blue or orange "fog" on the negative, depending on if you have tungsten or daylight film (the extra light from the viewfinder is also exposing the film). Just a slight break in how well your eye is sealed can create a problem, especially if the Sun is at the proper angle.

You may want to get an eye cushion to put over top of the rubber eyecup which helps avoid this issue a little better. Try Cinema Supplies if you don't know where to go (for the Konvas viewfinder, you're looking for the "small round" - not sure which size fits the Kinor). The eyepiece cushions really help to keep a good seal and are also very comfortable - well worth the little bit of money spent! (You may want to get two, just in case you work with a DP that has an eye infection).

2) Another issue could be a problem with your magazine seal; you especially see this kind of problem in exterior World War II footage. The cure is easy: make sure you put gaffers tape around the edges of your magazine every time you load film into it. This blocks any light from entering the magazine and prematurely exposing the film. Problem solved.

3) It could be that your magazine wasn't seated properly. Konvas magazines can be tight to insert into the camera body. Just make sure you here the magazine release "click" and lock the magazine in and is should be properly inserted.

4) A fourth issue could be that you have film that was accidentally (or purposefully) exposed to x-rays. Mostly this is due to modern airport security measures.

5) Another problem is from short-ends and/or recans. It could be that the film you bought was accidentally exposed to light at some point before you received it. Make sure you buy your short-ends and recans from reputable dealers.

Important note: You probably won't have the problems of #4 and #5 if you are buying your film new (unless someone carried the film through an x-ray before shooting overseas).

There are other reasons, but the above listed issues are the usual suspects...