Am I wasting time? how easy is it to expose a film?

[ongakublue]

Hi guys,

I bought a 'new' minolta srt and I notice that the back of it, i mean the door behind which the film is housed, when you close it, it does not close tightly. There is a little give in the top left hand corner. I suppose a couple of millimetres that can be pushed in, if you get what I mean. It can be pushed in but won't stay in. Is it possible this would cause light to somehow leak into the film? Or am I being paranoid? Maybe someone else has a camera where the film 'door' is not totally immovable when shut. I would be wasting my time taking picture with it of course if it's a problem.

Thanks!


J

 

[jeffreythree]

I can push in the middle top of the back on my SRT102 and there are no light leaks. Only way to really tell is shoot a roll, or maybe look through the front without a lens and with the mirror up while shining a bright light on the place in question.

 

[RobC]

can't remember its been so long since I sold my srt whether its has light seals which could be replaced if they are knackered. But as jeffreythree says, you won't know until you try it whether it lets light in or not.

you do need to be careful handling a lot of camers to not over pressurise the back which flexes them and either lets light in or bends them. I suspect that may have happened to yours but if its light tight and a bit of pressure on back doesn't casue it to let light in then its OK.
Try it and see.

 

[ongakublue]

Hi guys, thanks a lot. It seems like it might be OK then. Let's hope so

 

[dasBlute]

try it out, you can always use gaffers tape and holga-ize it if needed

 

[Sirius Glass]

The only way to really know is to shoot a test roll.

 

[Rook]

Chances are good that there will be no sign of light leak.
But it still may be a good idea to put in new foam seals. Buy a sheet of camera seal foam, remove the old foam and replace. A project which can be completed in one evening. Not only will the door close nice and snuggly, but you can feel confident that the new seal will prevent light leaking for the next 20+ years!

 

[Xmas]

Only replace seals when sticky or dusty, replace mirror seals first as the mirror sealing tends to get to shutter, foam in shutter is not a wonderful thing!