Light seal's

[Kit Kindall]

Hello, I have a couple of medium format folding camera's that I've had no problems with. I've recently purchased a Zeiss Nettar, I took it out yesterday for a test drive, developed the negs and noticed a tiny light leak on every neg on the bottom left. Bellows are light tight. So could anyone tell me if the Nettar had light seal's. I can't see any evidence of previous seal's??? Cheers. Kit

 

[Deleted member 88956]

All I see on mine is light traps and no seals. But while you said bellows are fine, check again as this sounds like bellows. Don’t forget areas where bellows are attached to camera and lens board.

 

[Kit Kindall]

All I see on mine is light traps and no seals. But while you said bellows are fine, check again as this sounds like bellows. Don’t forget areas where bellows are attached to camera and lens board.

Hello, thanks for that. Will double check. I do have light seal foam (thin) that I've just used. I'll see what happens later today after another test run

All I see on mine is light traps and no seals. But while you said bellows are fine, check again as this sounds like bellows. Don’t forget areas where bellows are attached to camera and lens board.

 

[DWThomas]

Yesterday I offered what might vaguely pass for wisdom in reply to your post in the Folders group:

Closest thing I have is an Ercona II (post-WWII East German Zeiss). That does not appear to have seals, just a sort of "labyrinth" around the door.

Light leaks can definitely be a pain. Remember that the image is upside down on the film when looking for a spot. It's also wise to look at whether the leak, as seen on the negative, extends outside the image portion, perhaps to the edge of the film, as opposed to stopping at the image edge. The latter would likely indicate the leak is somewhere in the bellows or at least ahead of the film mask. Leaks to the film edge tend to be caused by light striking the film between the supply or take-up spool and the film gate/mask area. I've had that with the film backs on my Bronica SLR.​

Good luck!
DaveT

 

[Kit Kindall]

Yesterday I offered what might vaguely pass for wisdom in reply to your post in the Folders group:

Closest thing I have is an Ercona II (post-WWII East German Zeiss). That does not appear to have seals, just a sort of "labyrinth" around the door.

Light leaks can definitely be a pain. Remember that the image is upside down on the film when looking for a spot. It's also wise to look at whether the leak, as seen on the negative, extends outside the image portion, perhaps to the edge of the film, as opposed to stopping at the image edge. The latter would likely indicate the leak is somewhere in the bellows or at least ahead of the film mask. Leaks to the film edge tend to be caused by light striking the film between the supply or take-up spool and the film gate/mask area. I've had that with the film backs on my Bronica SLR.​

Good luck!
DaveT

Hello and thanks for your reply. The leak definitely starts from the edge of the film and extends and fades into the the negative by perhaps a half inch. It starts as a sharp line fading as it goes upward onto the neg, it's also on all of the negatives in the same place some lighter than others. Again thank you for your time.

 

[Kit Kindall]

Hello and thanks for your reply. The leak definitely starts from the edge of the film and extends and fades into the the negative by perhaps a half inch. It starts as a sharp line fading as it goes upward onto the neg, it's also on all of the negatives in the same place some lighter than others. Again thank you for your time.

I'm also thinking of putting some black wool into the top light trap, that'll be the trap below the viewfinder.

 

[Kit Kindall]

 

[DWThomas]

Hmm -- in a quick look on ePrey and about, there seems to be a number of variations over a fairly long history of the Nettar. That, combined with less than optimal pictures wasn't too helpful, but the sharp line and the faded result might suggest light getting in between the film supply spool and the film gate area -- but in that stretch along the door opening there doesn't appear to be any designed in bends or access holes one might expect to be critical. I guess if you can slip a bit of wool in the light trap and still close the door, it's certainly worth a try. Unlike when dealing with 35mm, I'd expect the film backing paper would make the door and hinge seal areas less likely candidates. (And then there's always gaffers tape or black vinyl electrical tape over the door/body closures! )

Seems there's always some challenges lurking in these older jobbies.

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I have a couple of Nettar 518/16 6x6 folders and they have a yarn-like light seal that's pushed into the trap.

 

[Kit Kindall]

Hmm -- in a quick look on ePrey and about, there seems to be a number of variations over a fairly long history of the Nettar. That, combined with less than optimal pictures wasn't too helpful, but the sharp line and the faded result might suggest light getting in between the film supply spool and the film gate area -- but in that stretch along the door opening there doesn't appear to be any designed in bends or access holes one might expect to be critical. I guess if you can slip a bit of wool in the light trap and still close the door, it's certainly worth a try. Unlike when dealing with 35mm, I'd expect the film backing paper would make the door and hinge seal areas less likely candidates. (And then there's always gaffers tape or black vinyl electrical tape over the door/body closures! )

Seems there's always some challenges lurking in these older jobbies.

Thanks very much for your help. I've attached some black wool into the top light trap. I've also replaced the seal for the door hinge. We will see.

 

[Kit Kindall]

I have a couple of Nettar 518/16 6x6 folders and they have a yarn-like light seal that's pushed into the trap.

Excellent, I've just put some into the top light trap, will see how it goes. Thanks for letting me know.