Clara HD Anyone bought or opened up their Kobo Clara HD recently?

[LeJon]

Kobo Clara HD has a known backlight bleed issue as seen on attached pic taken from previous Clara threads which can be fix from this helpful video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxqVLnosNTI

I'm travelling to Montreal soon and looking to get the Clara HD from Indigo store.

1. For those who purchased in 2019, does it still have the backlight bleed issue?

2. If you opened up to change SD card, did Kobo install foam on the sides now or only at the bottom still?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by LeJon

Kobo Clara HD has a known backlight bleed issue as seen on attached pic taken from previous Clara threads which can be fix from this helpful video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxqVLnosNTI

I'm travelling to Montreal soon and looking to get the Clara HD from Indigo store.

1. For those who purchased in 2019, does it still have the backlight bleed issue?

2. If you opened up to change SD card, did Kobo install foam on the sides now or only at the bottom still?

I bought a Clara HD less than a month ago. The screen has no light bleed issue. (Not sure why my picture was turned sideways. But you can see it is fine.)

I have not opened the Clara at all. I was planning on changing the SD, but honestly I'm lazy and really don't need the space.

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by LeJon

Kobo Clara HD has a known backlight bleed issue as seen on attached pic taken from previous Clara threads which can be fix from this helpful video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxqVLnosNTI

I'm travelling to Montreal soon and looking to get the Clara HD from Indigo store.

1. For those who purchased in 2019, does it still have the backlight bleed issue?

2. If you opened up to change SD card, did Kobo install foam on the sides now or only at the bottom still?

While that video fixed it that way, based on what mine looked like, and other reports, the issue is that some glue along the sides didn't hold properly. It could be there wasn't enough, or some cases were slightly warped. If this has been fixed in the manufacturing, I expect it has been a change in how the glue was applied.

If you do see the light bleed, there is a simpler fix than in the video. Run a black felt-tip pen along the edges of the screen. This prevents the reflection that appears to be the cause of the problem.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by davidfor

While that video fixed it that way, based on what mine looked like, and other reports, the issue is that some glue along the sides didn't hold properly. It could be there wasn't enough, or some cases were slightly warped. If this has been fixed in the manufacturing, I expect it has been a change in how the glue was applied.

If you do see the light bleed, there is a simpler fix than in the video. Run a black felt-tip pen along the edges of the screen. This prevents the reflection that appears to be the cause of the problem.

I thought it was due to lack of light blocking tape along the sides of the screen?

[Barbara1955]

I have had 3 in the past year NONE have had Light Bleed.

[LeJon]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I bought a Clara HD less than a month ago. The screen has no light bleed issue. (Not sure why my picture was turned sideways. But you can see it is fine.)

I have not opened the Clara at all. I was planning on changing the SD, but honestly I'm lazy and really don't need the space.

Great. Is it possible to take a pic of your Clara with similar light settings and setup like this one?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by LeJon

Great. Is it possible to take a pic of your Clara with similar light settings and setup like this one?

The things I do for you people

Here are two pictures. The first one recreates the exact settings in your attached picture (light set at 5%). The second one has the light and color temperature both cranked to 100%

Now one thing: The light bleed is those bright spots you see along the left hand side of the screen in your picture. The cones of light and shadow along the bottom edge can happen with any frontlit e-ink reader, if the front light is set very low (like the 5% shown) and you are in a completely dark room. They look a little more pronounced in that picture than I am used to seeing them, but every reader I've seen, Kobo, Nook or Kindle could have that under the right conditions.

It's from the way frontlighting works. There isn't a solid bar of light at any of the edges of the screen. It is a series of LEDs (I think it's five on the Clara) so there can be a slight shadow between the LEDs close to the source. It should only occur along the edge of the screen where the lights are housed (usually the bottom, but on the Oasis, they are on the side).

As you can see with my own 5% picture, it isn't usually noticeable. Only under some conditions. I usually leave my light at 25% and haven't seen it on my Clara, even at night in a completely black room.

[mimbel]

Hello
I bought a Kobo Clara from Fnac in France for less than a month and I have fortunately not this problem of light. the lighting is perfectly hoomogeneous. I think the problem is solved with the new versions.
For the SD card I ordered a card of 32 GO class 10 which I have not yet opened the hood. lol

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by LeJon

Great. Is it possible to take a pic of your Clara with similar light settings and setup like this one?

Your picture shows Light bleed on lower right. When did you get this Clara?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Your picture shows Light bleed on lower right. When did you get this Clara?

I'm pretty sure he pulled that picture off the internet. It looks like the same picture I shared when I was trying to show what Clara light bleed looks like.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by Barbara1955

Your picture shows Light bleed on lower right. When did you get this Clara?

Given the OP states that he has not yet purchased a Clara HD and is waiting for his trip to Montreal, I would agree with Zodwallop that the image was downloaded from the Internet. Specifically as mentioned in the first post, from a previous thread on the Clara HD light bleed.

Kobo Clara HD has a known backlight bleed issue as seen on attached pic taken from previous Clara threads

[readingbunny]

Here's my Kobo Clara HD I bought very recently. There's a bit of lightbleeding and shadows down the sides and near the bottom. It doesn't really bother me, but as it's my first e-reader I have no idea if this is normal or not. What do you guys think? I have around a week left to return it hassle-free, if this level of lightbleeding is unacceptable.

Brightness around 5%, one with 0% orange light, one with 100% orange light.

[tracyeo]

Originally Posted by readingbunny

Here's my Kobo Clara HD I bought very recently. There's a bit of lightbleeding and shadows down the sides and near the bottom. It doesn't really bother me, but as it's my first e-reader I have no idea if this is normal or not. What do you guys think? I have around a week left to return it hassle-free, if this level of lightbleeding is unacceptable.

Brightness around 5%, one with 0% orange light, one with 100% orange light.

Mine also has a small amount of light bleed that doesn’t bother me. I didn’t know what light bleed was until I read this thread. My warranty expires next month so I called Kobo and they are going to do a replacement.

[Barbara1955]

OK that explains it.

[homesikalien]

I bought mine last quarter last year and it appears to have the backlight bleed issue. Although it didn't really bother me that much, I felt I should do something about it.Today, I chatted online with Kobo support and after they made me conduct a couple of tests (power off and on and factory reset), they agreed to replace my defective unit. I am wondering if they will give me a new unit or a refurbished one. Anyone here with any knowledge regarding this? Thanks