Is This a Bellows Leak?

Alex Hawley · Nov 3, 2005

Please help me diagnose this problem. Below are four 8x10 contact prints taken over the last year. As you can see, the upper right quadrant in each one is less dense (meaning more dense on the negative). The pattern is quite similar between each one. I'm thinking this is a transient bellows leak. Here's what I have determined so far:

Its not the lens-there are two different lens/shutter combos here, one just recently overhauled by Grimes and used in one of these shots.

Its not the film holders-I checked my records and its independent of any of my holders.

It seems to only happen when aimed into the sun with the sun high and right of center. Shots taken with camera angles a little left or further right on the same day and location don't show the problem.

The problem has never occurred with the sun behind the camera

I do not believe its due to a light leak in the darkroom. If it was, I believe all of the sheets loaded, unloaded, processed during a session would have similar problems.

These were all taken with normal bellows length for the lens used, 9.5 inches or 12 inches. The bellows was not extended. I have taken many close-ups with the bellows extended during this period and have not seen the problem.

This is maddening because I'm losing negatives, plus this location is a good hundred miles away. And also, I only seem to get into this situation when shooting in this area due to the way the light and shadows are working, for whatever that's worth.

So what to do next? I'm trying to find a flashlight that works so I can try scoping the bellows. But since this problem seems fairly transient, I'm not real confident the standard bellows check will reveal anything.

BradS · Nov 3, 2005

Is this location somewhere in Nevada? I've heard of strange apparitions in and around the Tonopah area.

Loose Gravel · Nov 3, 2005

It doesn't strike me like a classic (meaning pinholes) bellows leak. Looks like it comes up from the bottom. How well does the back fit the camera? I'm wondering about a back-to-camera leak or around the film holder-to-back back leak. I have a leak in my old Kodak, that altho different in shape, reminds me of what I'm seeing here, yet I have a new bellows so I've ruled out the bellows.

Have you put a light bulb inside your camera to see what leaks out?

Donald Miller · Nov 3, 2005

Alex, it sure looks suspect...I am not sure about a bellows leak since my experience has been more localized and extreme.. However it could be...I would remove the lens board and take a light through the lens board opening in a darkened room with a film holder loaded...that normally shows leaks.

Alex Hawley · Nov 3, 2005

No Brad, its the Eastern Kansas Flint Hills. Just an occasional abandoned and flooded missile silo in the area. No secret hangers or government laboritories.

Flotsam · Nov 3, 2005

I can sympathise. Sometimes I get the most unexplainable effects on my film when shooting outdoors, never really a problem in the studio. Is it Bellows? Holders? Back? or something else? Who knows? It's never consistant enough to really pin down. I have taken to wrapping my darkcloth all around the camera before I pull the slide (you gotta put it somewhere), especially when there is direct sun hitting it.

Alex Hawley · Nov 3, 2005

Donald Miller said:
Alex, it sure looks suspect...I am not sure about a bellows leak since my experience has been more localized and extreme.. However it could be...I would remove the lens board and take a light through the lens board opening in a darkened room with a film holder loaded...that normally shows leaks.

Don, you're a genius! Found three very small leaks right at the tip of the pleats. Now, fixing them looks a bit tough because of the geometry involved. Think for right now, I'll put a small dab of black duct tape on each one. Anyone have a suggestion for a better repair? (short of a new bellows)

Dan Williams · Nov 3, 2005

Alex,

You might want to take your camera into your darkroom, stick a small flashlight inside the camera and, in the dark, examine the camera for light leaks. Maybe put an empty holder on the camera to duplicate normal conditions.

Flotsam · Nov 3, 2005

Alex Hawley said:
Don, you're a genius! Found three very small leaks right at the tip of the pleats. Now, fixing them looks a bit tough because of the geometry involved. Think for right now, I'll put a small dab of black duct tape on each one. Anyone have a suggestion for a better repair? (short of a new bellows)

I think that Bostick & Sullivan sells a bellows repair kit.
I have used black neoprene repair cement (Readily available in any Kansas Dive Shop ) to repair small holes. It stays very flexible.

Alex Hawley · Nov 3, 2005

Flotsam said:
I think that Bostick & Sullivan sells a bellows repair kit.
I have used black neoprene repair cement (Readily available in any Kansas Dive Shop ) to repair small holes. It stays very flexible.

Neal, as you might guess, there are scant few dive shops here (believe it actually is called Kansas Dive Shop) but our hardware stores are glorious places for such things.

Thanks to everyone for the tips and help. Its amazing how nefarious those little holes can be.

noseoil · Nov 3, 2005

Alex, I used some gaffer's tape recently to do a bellows repair on the old B&J 8x10. It looks like poop on a popsickle to have the black tape corners on a red bellows, but I had to do something. I didn't realize I had a problem until I started using a longer lens in very bright sunlight. With the bellows racked out longer than usual, I did a couple of shots at the San Xavier mission which showed up with a series of small bands in the sky. Sure enough, plenty of holes at the corners when I put the camera in a darkened room and played with a light. It is better now, but I have to decide about a better repair, new bellows or a new camera (Shen Hao 8x10?). Decisions, decisions. tim

Charles Webb · Nov 3, 2005

Alex, Make the repair with Acrylic paint sold in any hobby store. Use a tiny dab of black on the inside, and match the outside red as close as possible.
with Acrylic Red. The Acrylic drys flexable and not tacky or stickey. Be sure the black is dry inside before folding the box. Electrical or Gaffers/duct tape leaves a mess and is very difficult to remove! Done carefully it will be impossible to see when finished! Charlie..........

PS, I have often repaired old "paper" bellows by painting the entire bellows inside and out with Acrylic Matte Medium. When dry it is clear/transparent,
I then go back over the whole bellows with the black acrylic for opacity.
the fully dried finished bellows will be flexible and fold up very well!
The Matte Medium makes the bellows hold together and stay flexible, the black inside covers any pin holes etc. The black on the outside is kind of an insurance policy to aid in plugging any leaks. This wont work with holes or torn fabric.

vet173 · Nov 4, 2005

Looks like you found the problem. As an aside I grew up in Wichita (park city) I now live in Washington. I can remember when those hills looked so BIG.

juan · Nov 4, 2005

Alex,
Try liquid electrical tape sold in hardware stores - it's opaque and will stay flexible when dry. Be sure to leave the bellows racked out a bit until it's dry.
juan

mikebarger · Nov 4, 2005

Alex, if the hardware store doesn't have what you are looking for, there used to be a dive shop on east 6th street in Topeka clear out by Eastboro shopping center (its in an old pizza hut building).

I can check to see if they are still open and have the stuff Neal refers to if you like.

Mike

Jim Noel · Nov 4, 2005

Bellows repair

By all means get the B&S bellows repair kit. We use them to keep the 30 4X5's at school in repair. The kit is the best I have seen.

Jim

Alex Hawley · Nov 4, 2005

mikebarger said:
Alex, if the hardware store doesn't have what you are looking for, there used to be a dive shop on east 6th street in Topeka clear out by Eastboro shopping center (its in an old pizza hut building).

I can check to see if they are still open and have the stuff Neal refers to if you like.

Mike

Thanks for the offer Mike. I stopped at our local hardware store this evening and they had some. So as soon as I catch up on the threads and e-mail, I'll start daubing up the leaks.

Thanks to everyone for the all the suggestions. I had never heard of the liquid electrical tape until this thread. I will also keep the B&S kit in mind . I knew my fellow APUGers would come to the rescue!

Thanks again,
Alex

Charles Webb · Nov 5, 2005

I really don't appreciate the fact that my suggestion which works and is very well known and accepted by professional camera repairmen was so completely ignored by Alex and the rest. You can be certain that I will not waste time or effort in the future to reply to such requests for help! Charlie......

Alex Hawley · Nov 5, 2005

Charlie, Hey man, I for sure didn't ignore your suggestion. In fact, if the local staore hadn't had the liquid tape, I was going to buy the acrylic coatings from them,which I know they had. I'm keeping you suggestion for when I need to treat the entire bellows, (maybe sooner rather than later). Thanks!

Is This a Bellows Leak?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency