Light leak test on a Mamiya RZ67

[goros]

Hi all,

I know i have some bad light leak in a couple of film backs for my Mamiya RZ67 Pro II. I also know what I should do to check them, but I do not know how to do it. I mean how to lift the mirror and waffer with no film in the back and no lens attached to the front.

The backs that are leaking are a standard one for the RZ67 Pro (not II) and another for 6x6 format that, although with new seals, is leaking badly.

Thanks

 

[John Koehrer]

Do they present the same leak with the magazine off the camera?
The difference would be removing the dark slide so if your covered the film aperture and removed the slide, that would be the same as being mounted on the camera.

 

[Marc B.]

1) Remove lens from body.
2) Put Multi R-M switch to M position.
3) Fire shutter to raise mirror.

Rubber band the neck opening of a dark T-shirt around the lens board.
Hold the camera in front of your face, with the lens board facing yourself.
Stick your head through the waist of the T-shirt, like using a dark cloth for LF cameras.
Hold the camera near a table lamp with the shade removed, (bare bulb it).
Good idea to fully extend the bellows, too. Check for light leaks there as well.


Remember, when it is time to reinstall the lens, the camera must be cocked,
(mirror down), and lens must be cocked.

Sometimes it's easier to put the camera on a tripod, then move the lamp around the camera, instead of trying to move the camera around the lamp.

 

[goros]

Thanks

That was what I need. Just the last question: Will it work with no film in the back?

Thanks again

 

[Marc B.]

Yes, that's how you check for light leaks, without film, and without the dark slide.
Worn fiber, wipe seals, in the dark slide slot are often a source of light leaks.
Shine light close to the dark slide slot, and rotate the back several times, too.

 

[TimmyMac]

In my experience, RZ backs usually leak at the foam right beside the hinge on the back. When you open the back to pull out the insert you'll know what I mean.

 

[Marc B.]

Original Pro model backs, yes; Pro II backs, not so much.