M5 shutter curtain

jaz1943 · Aug 19, 2014

My shutter curtain is faded and spotted. Would it hurt it to use a "sharpie" to coat or darken it?

snapguy · Aug 19, 2014

well...

This notion scares me and I am fearless....

Dr Croubie · Aug 19, 2014

a) would the ink dry in enough of a contiguous blob to stop light penetration?
b) would said blob be able to handle being wrapped around the spindle, and the forces associated with taking the picture?
c) would the ink possible melt/run in high temperatures or through use, and re-set wrapped around the spindle, potentially gluing the curtain together?

(I have no idea, but you'll probably want to be sure of the answers before you do anything like that)

summicron1 · Aug 19, 2014

if your negatives are not showing fogging, I'd say leave it alone.

conduct a test -- put asa 400 film in the camera, take the camera outside, take the lens off, expose the shutter curtain directly to the sunlight for, oh, 10 seconds (time selected at random) to simulate a worse-case scenario lens change.

Wind the film on without taking a picture (fire the shutter blind with the lens cap on) and develop the film.

Frame fogged? Camera repair shops have a matt black stuff they can paint onto those things, but more likely it is time for a new curtain.

Frame only lightly fogged? Then quit exposing your shutter to direct sunlight for 10 seconds. The owner's manual DOES say to change lenses in dim light, at least in shadow.

frame not fogged? Then don't worry about it.

Xmas · Aug 19, 2014

summicron1 said:
if your negatives are not showing fogging, I'd say leave it alone.

conduct a test -- put asa 400 film in the camera, take the camera outside, take the lens off, expose the shutter curtain directly to the sunlight for, oh, 10 seconds (time selected at random) to simulate a worse-case scenario lens change.

Wind the film on without taking a picture (fire the shutter blind with the lens cap on) and develop the film.

Frame fogged? Camera repair shops have a matt black stuff they can paint onto those things, but more likely it is time for a new curtain.

Frame only lightly fogged? Then quit exposing your shutter to direct sunlight for 10 seconds. The owner's manual DOES say to change lenses in dim light, at least in shadow.

frame not fogged? Then don't worry about it.

Don't fix it until it is broken.
They do get sunburn.
If you get leaks unto film post for salvage instructions.

michaelbsc · Aug 20, 2014

I agree don't mess with it until it's necessary. But once it becomes necessary there is a fabric paint that works wonders, not a sharpie. Can't remember what it is right now, but you should be able to search for it easily.

jaz1943 · Aug 20, 2014

Thanks all. I will take everyone's advice.

jochen · Aug 20, 2014

Hello,
take your M 5 into a dark room and light with a strong LED torch from the front onto the shutter curtain. Do you see light? If not, i'd leave it as it is. If you see light, the repair can get rather expensive and is nothing for DIY.

E. von Hoegh · Aug 20, 2014

summicron1 said:
if your negatives are not showing fogging, I'd say leave it alone.

conduct a test -- put asa 400 film in the camera, take the camera outside, take the lens off, expose the shutter curtain directly to the sunlight for, oh, 10 seconds (time selected at random) to simulate a worse-case scenario lens change.

Wind the film on without taking a picture (fire the shutter blind with the lens cap on) and develop the film.

Frame fogged? Camera repair shops have a matt black stuff they can paint onto those things, but more likely it is time for a new curtain.

Frame only lightly fogged? Then quit exposing your shutter to direct sunlight for 10 seconds. The owner's manual DOES say to change lenses in dim light, at least in shadow.

frame not fogged? Then don't worry about it.

To which I will add, check both curtains; that is, perform the test with the shutter wound and unwound. It's a good policy to keep the lenscap on the lens, and when it's uncapped, be mindful of where the lens is pointed.

250swb · Aug 20, 2014

If it does let a bit of light through then compensating for it by capping the lens and not pointing the camera at strong light is pure folly, because it is a strategy designed to go wrong, most likely when you thought you got a great photograph.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, but if it is broke fix it, don't fudge the issue.

Steve

M5 shutter curtain

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