Argh! Light leak.

ntenny · Mar 26, 2008

It's all your fault, fellow APUG folks. I haven't shot much 35mm in a long time, but a thread here inspired me to pull out one of my old rangefinders and put a couple of rolls through. The self-timer control had fallen apart the last time I had the camera out---Soviet quality control at work---but since I can't remember the last time I used a self-timer I didn't worry about it.

It didn't occur to me that the hole left by a piece that fell out would go through to the takeup chamber! Shot after shot after shot ensconced itself on the film, rolled onto the takeup spool, then sat there getting a lovely stripe burned across it.

Out of the two rolls, I might have five frames that are salvageable because they didn't sit on the surface long enough to be completely wiped out. Obviously, the *other* 67 frames were works of genius, every one! Bother.

I've taped the hole and am trying again. But, really, how disheartening. Just needed to vent a bit.

-NT

Vonder · Mar 26, 2008

Soviet-era rangefinder? When there are fine Japanese rangefinders going for a song on eBay? I got a Yashica MG-1 there a couple years ago for like, $15.

ntenny · Mar 26, 2008

Wolfeye said:
Soviet-era rangefinder? When there are fine Japanese rangefinders going for a song on eBay? I got a Yashica MG-1 there a couple years ago for like, $15.

I like the fifties-industrial gestalt of the Soviet RFs, though. And I lucked out on one of them and got an Industar-26 lens (basically a Tessar clone) that produces some really, really lovely pictures. Um, when I don't wipe them out by leaving holes in the camera, that is.

You can have my share of the 70s Japanese rangefinders. I don't have world enough and time to go in that direction along with everything else. There are plate cameras and TLRs out there that need me!

-NT

Vonder · Mar 26, 2008

Sounds like a nice camera

ntenny said:
I like the fifties-industrial gestalt of the Soviet RFs, though. And I lucked out on one of them and got an Industar-26 lens (basically a Tessar clone) that produces some really, really lovely pictures. Um, when I don't wipe them out by leaving holes in the camera, that is.

You can have my share of the 70s Japanese rangefinders. I don't have world enough and time to go in that direction along with everything else. There are plate cameras and TLRs out there that need me!

-NT

I understand. My advice was meant half in jest, but those Japanese cameras are probably more reliable. As you mentioned the Soviet quality-control seems a bit low on your camera - how long until a shoddy screw or gear goes bad and leaves you unable to use the camera at all?

Christopher Walrath · Mar 26, 2008

So sorry to hear that, NT. I could have had the same probs with a homemade pinhole canera I made except I just happened to notice that the tripod hole goes all the way through (it was a folder and the bellows stopped the light). Hope it goes better from here.

RoNinHeart · Mar 27, 2008

Well at least now you know where it is. Had the same problem with an old half frame that lost one of it's strap eyelets.

ntenny · Mar 27, 2008

Christopher Walrath said:
Hope it goes better from here.

Me too! This is getting silly; I shot a whole roll with the same camera yesterday, only to notice that it seemed like there were an awful lot of frames, and then that when I advanced the film, the feeder spool didn't seem to be turning...

I've used the camera before with good results, but something's clearly Just Not Right here. Maybe a poltergeist has moved in there in the couple of years since I last used it.

You just don't get this kind of entertainment with d*g*t*l.

-NT

marsbars · Mar 29, 2008

At least your light leak is from something you can fix with some tape. I shot several rolls of B&W film that to my tight budget isn't cheap, only to find out that my F2 has a light leak in it, but it is the shutter itself. The titanium foil in the shutter has finally given out from age. There is a small tear that doesn't look like a tear till you shine bright light into it. I think that I could still use the camera for certain things as the tear is only on the curtain that is exposed when the shutter is cocked. I could probably still use it for static shots. Only cock the shutter the moment I am ready to shoot, remove the lens cap and shoot. More of a PITA than it is worth if you ask me. It will get fixed sooner than later, just have to save the dough to get it repaired.

gr82bart · Mar 29, 2008

Basically then, what you have a is a more expensive, metal Holga?

Regards, Art (Runs and hides ...)

ntenny · Mar 29, 2008

marsbars said:
[...] my F2 has a light leak in it, but it is the shutter itself. The titanium foil in the shutter has finally given out from age. There is a small tear that doesn't look like a tear till you shine bright light into it.

I have no idea what the internal tolerances are like on an F2---could you put a tiny dab of liquid electrical tape on it or something? Or is that just the sort of crazy idea that comes from people who use Soviet cameras?

-NT

marsbars · Mar 30, 2008

ntenny said:
I have no idea what the internal tolerances are like on an F2---could you put a tiny dab of liquid electrical tape on it or something? Or is that just the sort of crazy idea that comes from people who use Soviet cameras?

-NT

I suppose that could work for a while, but I have never seen liquid electrical tape. But I would think that it could gum up the drum that the shutter curtain rides on. Might have to look into that liquid electrical tape though till I can afford to get the shutter curtains replaced. Right now it is just a nice paper weight, or hammer if I really need it.

Argh! Light leak.

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency