Need to replace light seals in Nikon

[lorirfrommontana]

Well, we took in about 5 rolls of film that my daughter and I took using her Nikon EM. Horrible light leaks. Took a look (yes I should have took a look before we shot 5 rolls of film) and it is missing half of its light seals. She unfortunately will not be able to take her Alaska trip as she got a part with the Rimrock Opera Company's one acts this summer but is planning on a New York trip this fall (we'll see if that one happens!) so she'd like it fixed by then. I found intstructions online and new seals are not that much so we are going to try it ourselves. Is there anything in particular we should look for or try and avoid while doing this?? Also anyone you would/would not order the new seal kit from?

When I got into photography I wasn't planning on becoming a camera repair person but it is sort of fun! Thanks in advance for any advice.

Lori

 

[archphoto]

Try ebay: interslice, they have a good kit, start with ebay # 120442942190 and ask the seller if he has a special kit for your EM.
He has a lot more kits, but not everything is listed on ebay.
I got the big universal kit from him, have several camera's and backs to do, and it comes with a special tool to ease the job, so you can do it your self.

Be shure to clean all the old gue first, I use acetone and Q-tips for it and then replace the seals.
Becarefull: the acetone attacs plastik's.

Peter

 

[23mjm]

Interslice on eBay is a great place to get a lightseal kit. I have gotten 2 form him. Look him up it is quality stuff and he includes a nice instruction book and he has more information at his website. I looked last night at his stuff, he didn't have any generic kits, so you might have to email him to see if he is going to list more generic kits. http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/sealreplacement.html and http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/interslice_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_ipgZ

 

[Greg_E]

The Jon Goodman kits are the best, so if you haven't purchased the seals yet, get his.

 

[elekm]

And if you can't wait, you can buy a product called "Foamies" at craft shops (99 cents a sheet) that will also do the trick. Get the 2mm version with self-adhesive. You can use a very thin screwdriver (from Radio Shack) to dig out the old stuff. You'll also need a straight edge and Xacto knife to cut the new material.

One sheet will let you refoam about 50 cameras.

Don't forget to replace the foam for the mirror.

 

[lorirfrommontana]

Thanks so much for the advice everyone! Have a great night. We are getting ready for the 4th celebration here in Montana. Our little town puts on the biggest display of fireworks in the state every year. They last about an hour and this year is supposed to be really big as it is the 100 year celebration of our towns volunteer fire department (they put on the fireworks every year). Lori

 

[GJA]

For a really fast and easy short term solution, simply use electrical tape to cover the window. One or two layers should do the trick most of the time!

 

[Greg_E]

Jon will get the kits turned out quickly, I wouldn't worry about the 3 or 4 days it takes to get his kits. He has some of the best materials that can be found, especially if you need to replace a bunch of flocking to kill reflections.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Jon Godman is the go to guy.A #1 product.
When you order your kit ask Jon if he has specific instruction for the EM.Take your time and avoid getting any gunk on the mirror or focusing screen.I've resealed 12 cameras using Mr. Goodman's kits.

 

[David William White]

I'll second the DIY route with adhesive backed foam cut with an exacto knife. But I'll admit that until I get sitting down to do it properly, I also use electrical tape over the door, especially the hinge.

 

[MattKing]

In case it isn't clear, interslice is Jon Goodman's eBay name.

I'm a happy customer.

Matt

 

[John Koehrer]

Goodman's got an excellent reputation.
Rather than using a screwdriver to dig out the old foam though, I use bamboo fondue skewers.
They can't scratch the paint. Something else that will help is dipping the end of whatever you use in alcohol it will loosen the adhesive on the old foam. Keep a tissue or two handy to wipe the tip off as you dig the old foam out, it's pretty sticky.

 

[lorirfrommontana]

Cool! Thanks for all the help.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Great tip John.
I happen to use naphtha (poured in a film can/applied with Q-Tips) to get the gunk off. Picked up a box of bamboo cuticle sticks & freebie wooden coffee stir sticks.A roll of paper towels is a necessity.

 

[23mjm]

Wow this seam to be one of the few times on APUG where everyone agrees!!!!!!

last time I looked on eBay for interslice---he only had kits for specific cameras no generic kits--hope this is not a new trend for him!!!!

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Which camera do you intend to reseal 23mjm?
I've done 7 different Nikon models,4 Pentax & 3 Cannon all with Jon's kit.I believe all or most 35mm SLR's use the same kind of seals.
Email him if you have a specific camera in mind.Real nice fellow & fast to respond.

Mike

 

[David Grenet]

I contacted Jon via ebay recently asking about generic kits. He said he has stopped selling them at this point due to "abusive and dishonest buyers".

I don't quite understand what happened but I am somewhat disappointed by this as I have a few cameras/backs that I need to reseal and a generic kit is really what I need...

 

[Greg_E]

Then ask him to "build" you a kit and buy it from him. He'll cut the materials pretty much anyway you want as long as you are willing to actually pay for it, you are not limited to what he puts on ebay. Track down his email address (I think but could be wrong Jon_Goodman@yahoo.com ). Offer to give him a deposit or pay upfront before he makes your kit. He searches long and hard to find the best materials and manufacturers and knows camera repair. If you need help, join the Yahoo group "Camera-fix" (Dead Link Removed) and ask questions, chances are good that he replies.

 

[namke]

I bought a kit from Jon/Interslice a couple of years ago; when I came to re-seal another camera recently I found that I had mislaid the thin strips. A quick email to him (via eBay) and he was able to supply a set of the small strips very quickly. So, another 'thumbs up' for him from me (and he does seem to be accommodating for special orders!)

 

[archphoto]

David, if you have more camera's to repair, why don't you order the Universal kit from Jon and make it fit as you are repairing ?

I got one of those kits and it is great and as expensive as 2 special kits, but enough for 4 or more camera's.
The Universal kit is a very good deal and value for the money you pay for it.

Peter

 

[Jon Goodman]

First of all, a giant thanks to everybody for the support, the kind and complimentary words and Mike...for spelling my name as Godman...well, I usually keep a $50 bill handy for situations like this, but the new world economy hasn't been so good lately. Fact is, for the past few years I've been busier than a one-legged man in a sack race.

Some of you have asked me about the disappearance of the general light seal kits from the E-Bay auctions. Please let me keep this as short and antiseptic as possible: about 18 months ago a seller on E-Bay began buying my kits, cutting them into pre-cut kits and presenting the instructions I have written as accompaniments to his kits. When I refused to sell any more kits to him, he began having shills buy the kits and send them to him. When I refused to sell to his shills, he became agitated, sent some threats and then vanished for several months. Now he has re-appeared, and he is doing the same thing. Here are a few more facts for you: in 18 months he has operated under 5 different E-Bay IDs. One of them was nterslice. This person simply removed the first "i" from my ID. More recently, he began using the account of one of his shills who last lived in Las Vegas (darolb) but the ID was altered recently to camerasealkitsandmore. He claims to be out of Eugene, Oregon, but that is not true. He is out of Flagstaff, Arizona. He does not reveal his name to the buyers of his kits. That in itself would be a large red flag if I was a buyer. He has copied the bamboo tool I designed many years ago and he continues to point buyers to my instruction page (on the Classic Camera Repair Forum).

This whole project...the 10 year span of it has been a complex set of risks. Most have been financial, some more personal, but all of them have been assumed by me. Not one bit of this fell out of the sky. Not the specialty foam, not the specialty tools, cutters, tables I designed and built, not the instructions I've written, not a bit of it landed in my lap.

On the positive side of the ledger, I'll be making as many pre-cut kits as possible. As many as time permits, that is. The cutters, templates, dies all require time to make. The waste will be less. It will be easier and quicker...All seal pieces will be carefully checked with actual cameras whenever possible. If you have a camera you want me to consider, please contact me by email and we can discuss it.

Thanks again!
Jon

 

[23mjm]

Hi Jon thanks for the reply.

I have many older cameras and most are well sealed because of you. Would you be willing to sell a generic kit on a custom auction. I/we contact you and you send us an auction. I am so sorry that you have to put up with a jack ass, because you have helped so many keep their cameras up and shooting.

Thank you

Michael

 

[MattKing]

Jon:

Maybe you should sell directly, through APUG. The advertising rates are very reasonable here

My Koni Omegas are grateful to you.

Matt

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Godman................Freudian slip?

That guy ripping off your product should be fitted with a cement overcoat.
What a smaghead!!

 

[Steve Smith]

Getting a kit from Jon is the best way forward. However, I have quite a lot of black self adhesive foam about 1mm thick here so if anyone wants some to have a go themselves, I can post you a bit.

We have it on a 36" roll, many metres long.


Steve.