Olympus OM-4ti back won't close

quixotic · Nov 15, 2022

It closes just fine without a film canister in it, but when I put the film in it, the two clasps won't lock. The one clasp moves as per normal, but I guess not far enough to allow the clasp on the back to lock on to it. Anybody seen this before? (I've used this camera for plenty of rolls in the past and it worked just fine, so I'm puzzled).

MattKing · Nov 15, 2022

Any chance this is a self loaded cassette, and you have put the film in wrong?
Don't ask me how I know about this.

foc · Nov 16, 2022

Any chance of an image of what you are talking about?
It may help.

Hilo · Nov 16, 2022

You could ask John Hermanson: http://www.zuiko.com/index_002.htm

quixotic · Nov 16, 2022

It's just Delta 100. I tried a few other cannisters, and same thing. I remember now that the last time I used it (4 years ago), it was starting to pop open by itself (with film in it), so I resorted to gorilla tape to hold the back closed. Unless I can figure it out, I'll probably just resort to tape again.

I said "clasp", but it's just two interlocking hooks, one on the back, and one on the main body.

I was going to just grab another one off ebay, but then I looked at the prices. Whoa!

quixotic · Nov 16, 2022

I just tried John Hermanson's email. It's no longer working.

Huss · Nov 16, 2022

Contact site sponsor Zacks camera repair. He does excellent work.

quixotic · Nov 16, 2022

Well, I got it working. I had to bend the hook on the back up ever so slightly so it could hold on to the hook on the body. That allows the back to hold on to the body, but now there's a bit of play there (probably close to the mm). I'll have to run a roll of film through to see if there are now any light leaks.

wblynch · Nov 21, 2022

John Hermanson still takes in most OM cameras, including the 4’s. (Sadly he won’t take Pen F any longer)

www.zuiko.com

grain elevator · Nov 21, 2022

quixotic said:
Well, I got it working. I had to bend the hook on the back up ever so slightly so it could hold on to the hook on the body. That allows the back to hold on to the body, but now there's a bit of play there (probably close to the mm). I'll have to run a roll of film through to see if there are now any light leaks.

This sort of thing can be due to dirt or whatever being stuck in the light traps, or the foam light seals themselves bunching up, where the door is supposed to go. Have you checked them?

quixotic · Nov 21, 2022

But I would think if it had something to do with the light traps or seals, the back wouldn't close in the absence of a film canister, also. So it must've just been the small, extra bulk of the canister in there that caused the issue. Anyway, I now have some film in there, and just to be on the safe side, I put some gorilla tape around both sides of the opening, right by the clasps.

Huss · Nov 21, 2022

I had a Lomo Perfect u500 pano camera that I ‘thought’ the back firmly closed. Because it seem like it did. But one day I discovered it was just friction that kept it closed, and the metal latch did not actually engage! Never leaked light.

Olympus OM-4ti back won't close

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