Camera back popped open

quixotic · Sep 2, 2018

Anyone else had this happen to them?

My incident had no obvious cause. It was just sitting on the tripod, and I was likely just composing the shot. Given that, I started wondering if some cameras have shoddier latches than others (this one was an Oly Om-4ti, and when I looked at the latch on my Leica R8, it was obviously a bit more robust).

Not much harm done. Only 2 shots ruined, since it was in low light, the back only opened about 1/2", and I managed to shut it in about 1/2 second.

It's just weird that it happened on the 32nd exposure in the roll (instead of the 1st or 2nd). And now it's got me a bit nervous. In future, I may resort to a bit of gorilla tape for a bit of extra security.

shutterfinger · Sep 2, 2018

I would inspect the camera for warped back, bent hinge, and latch fully engaging. When closing push in on the latch side of the back and ensure its fully seated.

winger · Sep 2, 2018

One of my cameras was in my hand when I tripped and fell, hitting the lens shade and breaking that. Months later, the latch for the back decided to stop working well. I used gaffer tape for awhile, but it eventually got repaired when the whole camera went in for repairs after something else went bad (also possibly delayed damage from the fall).

Having accidentally opened the back of my P645N once, I put gaffer tape on it, too, though that's more to keep my fingers off it than to actually hold it.

So if yours was bought used, you don't know what might have been done to it. If you've had it its whole life, have you knocked it into anything? Might not take much.

MattKing · Sep 3, 2018

Check too how the camera was mounted to the tripod - particularly if it was put on the tripod before the film was last loaded. If the tripod mounting impeded the proper closing of the door in the first place, it may have been waiting to pop open throughout the roll.
Of course, it is also always possible that an invisible gremlin snuck in when you weren't looking and raised the rewind crank to unlatch it, and the tripod was actually holding the door closed until you somehow flexed it.
I have had tripod heads impede the closing of a Mamiya C330 back door, but I've never had any of my OM bodies open without warning.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 3, 2018

quixotic said:
Anyone else had this happen to them?

My incident had no obvious cause. It was just sitting on the tripod, and I was likely just composing the shot. Given that, I started wondering if some cameras have shoddier latches than others (this one was an Oly Om-4ti, and when I looked at the latch on my Leica R8, it was obviously a bit more robust).

Not much harm done. Only 2 shots ruined, since it was in low light, the back only opened about 1/2", and I managed to shut it in about 1/2 second.

It's just weird that it happened on the 32nd exposure in the roll (instead of the 1st or 2nd). And now it's got me a bit nervous. In future, I may resort to a bit of gorilla tape for a bit of extra security.

was the film properly sitting on the take-up spool?

narsuitus · Sep 3, 2018

Many years ago, I accidentally opened a camera that had film in it and ruined the latent images. Since then, I have routinely cover the latch of each of my film cameras with black or red tape to indicate that the camera is loaded.

BAC1967 · Sep 3, 2018

I use gaffers tape on some cameras, especially if I don’t trust the latch. Some latches just seem like they would be easy to accidentally bump open. I wouldn’t use Gorilla tape, that may be hard to get off and may damage the finish of the camera.

Helios 1984 · Sep 3, 2018

With my Spotmatic, Praktica L & Topcon 35-L, I always use the lower leather case. At first it was to prevent light leaks & backs from popping open, now it's just an habit.

paladin1420 · Sep 3, 2018

My Canonet QL17 has a tendency to pop open. I replaced the seals which helps but for extra peace of mind I tape the door closed when it’s loaded. The tape also gives me a handy place to attach the tab from the film box or a note about which film is loaded.

quixotic · Sep 3, 2018

RalphLambrecht said:
was the film properly sitting on the take-up spool?

It seemed to be. Smooth winding, and it was most of the way through the roll. I'm still not sure how it happened, but now I'll be extra careful.

tezzasmall · Sep 4, 2018

The only time a back has opened was with one of my Holga's when I first got it. It had it's first 120 colour print film in it. Despite falling to the floor in bright sunlight, so getting the back on again took a couple of seconds, not a single exposure was ruined!

I now have elastic bands on both of my Holga's to stop it happening again. I'm sure it's just one of the many ways that users have had to upgrade their Holga cameras. LOL

Terry S

RalphLambrecht · Sep 5, 2018

quixotic said:
Anyone else had this happen to them?

My incident had no obvious cause. It was just sitting on the tripod, and I was likely just composing the shot. Given that, I started wondering if some cameras have shoddier latches than others (this one was an Oly Om-4ti, and when I looked at the latch on my Leica R8, it was obviously a bit more robust).

Not much harm done. Only 2 shots ruined, since it was in low light, the back only opened about 1/2", and I managed to shut it in about 1/2 second.

It's just weird that it happened on the 32nd exposure in the roll (instead of the 1st or 2nd). And now it's got me a bit nervous. In future, I may resort to a bit of gorilla tape for a bit of extra security.

Once a back pops open, there is little need to rush.even 1/2s is a pretty hefty exposure.

M-88 · Sep 5, 2018

Even though a latch of OM cameras itself is very thin, it sits firmly in its place and is held down by removable plate (which you remove in order to open the back cover if film rewind crank / door release is broken for some reason. I've had OM-1, 2, 2s, 4, 10, 20 and 40 and none of them ever manifested the problem. I'd suggest checking the mechanism for end-play (both - vertical and horizontal), but I think it just wasn't firmly closed.

BMbikerider · Sep 5, 2018

RalphLambrecht said:
was the film properly sitting on the take-up spool?

I would discount this because even if the back closed, the route of the film would be distorted and it would have been noticed after 32 frames when the film would have been difficult to wind on.

outwest · Sep 5, 2018

This reminds me of a camera fair back when. The Nikon rep was showing a camera and was discussing how secure the back latch was on the Nikon when he just reached over to the camera some other firm's rep had in his hand and just touched it so and the back popped open! He got a dirty look from that rep but a lot of smiles from the potential customers standing around.

Theo Sulphate · Sep 5, 2018

I thought of this thread while playing with my Contax IIIa yesterday - it has two latches on the bottom plate that must be rotated to remove the back. Get a Contax: no way is it popping open!

https://www.cameraquest.com/conrf.htm

Theo Sulphate · Sep 5, 2018

It seems that some cameras have a reassuring click when the back is closed: you just know the latch is holding the back secure and it won't pop open.

Others, you press the back closed and hear nothing or there's just a faint sound - nothing to reassure you that the back is held securely.

Then there are those cameras (N8008?) which are notorious for the latch breaking.

barzune · Sep 5, 2018

On cameras and pocket watches, those with a spring catch, I always release the catch when I close the cover, and I support the cover while I press/open the release.

The weird thought in my head is that this process reduces friction under spring pressure, upon both connecting surfaces, of the catch mechanism
thereby avoiding a smoothing/rounding of the mating corners.

Camera back popped open

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