Devastated

[138S]

Thanks.

There's no light leak on it, it just doesn't fold back onto itself where it should so it's blocking the mirror from moving freely.

Yes, but perhaps you may add some fabric, glued with Liquid Stitch to restore its original nature...

Anyway, given bodies are that cheap, it would be great you get one with belows in good condition.

 

[removed account4]

Used gear is notorious for needing a CLA ( clean lube adjust)
When you received the camera did u take it to a shop and have it “overhauled “. ?
Your missing frames probably have nothing to do with you but with gear that needs to
Be “spruced up”... CLA should always be figured in to cost of used gear ( or hand me downs from friends family)
( unless u know what u are doing sometimes it costs more to do it yourself because utube vids only show the poor schlep’s final and successful attempt not the 10 cameras and parts broken while claiming “so ez a 10 year old can do it” )

I don't think sagging or leaky bellows would have anything to do with blank film.

 

[shutterfinger]

So I took the camera apart and it seems the bellow causes the problem as it physically blocks the mirror from flipping sometimes as it collapses unevenly due to wear & tear of course. So, question. Change or repair?

Are the bellows stiff or loose? Do they sag?

 

[Arthurwg]

Really impossible that it could be the light meter. The film has so much latitude that you would have got something. Must be user error or mechanical malfunction.

 

[Donald Qualls]

The way I read the OP's last couple posts, after removing the lens and film back, he found that the bellows was misfolded badly enough to protrude inside the body at infinity focus setting and block free movement of the mirror. If that's the case, it's got nothing to do with metering or operator errors, it's just a badly abused bellows. I'd already advised him, in PM, to look at a new bellows or a replacement body (to designate the one with bad bellows for parts) -- didn't realize either bellows or bodies were that inexpensive (by about a factor of two).

 

[TiborDublin]

Are the bellows stiff or loose? Do they sag?

Yeah, they do misfold really unfortunately.

 

[shutterfinger]

Not what I ask.

They will misfold due to the material being worn (loose) or being dried out (stiff) and not folding at each pleat where they should.
Stiff - repairable; loose/sagging - replace.

 

[TiborDublin]

The way I read the OP's last couple posts, after removing the lens and film back, he found that the bellows was misfolded badly enough to protrude inside the body at infinity focus setting and block free movement of the mirror. If that's the case, it's got nothing to do with metering or operator errors, it's just a badly abused bellows. I'd already advised him, in PM, to look at a new bellows or a replacement body (to designate the one with bad bellows for parts) -- didn't realize either bellows or bodies were that inexpensive (by about a factor of two).

Thanks very much

 

[film_man]

I always prefer to repair than replace (unless it is prohibitive to do so). The reason being that if I repair I know it is fixed and good to go for years, if I replace who knows when it will break next.