Horseman 6x12 rollfilm holder fogging

[erikg]

For users of the Horseman 6x12 back: I've gotten some slight fogging on a number of frames, on the side that is opposite from the darkslide. Has anyone else experienced this? Any idea as to a cause? My thought is that there may be some light piping through the darkslide slot, but the fog is on the other side. I've looked for light leaks all around and everything seems quite tight, but obviously I'm missing something. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RoBBo]

I'd check the seals on the hinge, check to make sure that end of your darkslide isn't bent or anything, and make extra sure that the back is actually coupling to the camera correctly, especially on that end. Looking at mine, there really aren't that many things that could go wrong with it, they're pretty simple, though the foam on it is very quickly deteriorating, even though it had never been used up until a month or two ago.

 

[Russ Young]

I've had the same problem with mine- traced it to the seals around the dark slide. Basic solution- keep the dark slide pulled out but still filling the slot when shooting. Hope this is helpful.
Russ

 

[erikg]

Thanks guys. I'm pretty certain it is the dark slide slot. Since I like to shoot this camera handheld and the dark slide is so long I made a shorty dark slide that will fill the gap and not get in the way. I just did a test and it seems to do the trick. I still don't understand why the fog is on the other side of the frame, maybe the film bulges slightly there and catches the light as it skims across. Anyway, I'm not going to argue with success.

 

[erikg]

Well, I spoke too soon. It wasn't the darkslide slot, in fact it wasn't the back at all that was the source of the fog, but the camera. Took a bit of testing since I couldn't see it by eye. A bit of tape took care of the problem. So, no marks against the reputation of the Horseman back from here.