Plauged with light leaks..

[rootberry]

Ok, So I bought a Wehman 8x10 (used) a few months ago. It's an amazing camera, and an absolute joy to use and carry around. What is not a joy are the many sheets I've fogged so far with this camera. New holders, old holders, darkcloth over the camera back during exposures. Now, I can deal with stuff like this usually- but what's driving me mad is the fact that the leaks happen at completely random times! It's as if the holders seat correctly in the back sometimes, and sometimes they don't.. I guess the spring on the back isn't creating enough tension to hold the holders firmly, which doesn't make sense to me because it's basically new.. Has anyone had this problem with their wehman? Should I email Bruce Wehman, even though I bought the camera second hand?

 

[Nick Zentena]

How about the flash light test? Put the camera in a darkened room with a lit flashlight inside. Wait for your eyes to adjust. See if it's leaking light. Do it with the holder in I guess.

 

[Scott Peters]

hmm, never had that problem with my Wehman. Is the back perfectly seated? The bellows shouldn't be the issue as it is relatively new...perhaps the lensboard or the back seating properly? I can't imagine the spring being an issue either. Try Bruce and also the flashlight suggestion.

 

[Roger Hicks]

How about the flash light test? Put the camera in a darkened room with a lit flashlight inside. Wait for your eyes to adjust. See if it's leaking light. Do it with the holder in I guess.

An AA mini-mag with the top unscrewed -- 'candle' mode -- is the best I have found for this.

 

[Neil Miller]

Does the back tilt? Try putting a holder in lengthways and tilting the back to see if the holder touches the struts at any point.

Regards,
Neil.

 

[mjs]

My Wehman has never leaked light, although I have noticed that I have a tendency to not insert the holder all the way into the back. I just happened to notice once when I first got the camera: it felt like the holder was in all the way but when I looked, it was a quarter of an inch short of full insertion into the back. Now that I know about it, it isn't a problem: when it feels as though it's fully inserted, it isn't: push a little more.

What sort of light leaks are you getting? Are they consistantly in the same place? Are they from the slide insertion side of the film holder, or from the film loading side, or along one of the other sides? Is the occurance truely random or does it happen more often on the brightest or dimmest of days or at night after work when you're tired or the last few sheets of an outing or ? Are you certain that you are flipping the bail lever back down after you've inserted a film holder?

mjs

 

[eddie gunks]

if it is not camera or holder related think about changing bag and darkroom next....especially if it is "totally random". fluorescent tubes in your DR?

eddie

 

[Logan Group]

Could the bellows leak based on the length of the bellows extension? Meaning if you are focused at infinity and the bellows are compressed maybe the light leak is sealed. Perhaps when you extend the bellows the leak occurs, or when compressed. I would extend the bellows and in a dark room place a LED light (a $8 keychain one would work fine) inside the bellows and look for leaks. If you don't see any compress the bellows and check again. That should confirm or eliminate the bellows as a problem.

 

[rootberry]

Ok, so I think I pinpointed my problem. The leaks seem to be coming from the back not seating firmly enough. The holders seem to be seating fine, but along the top of the camera the back needs more tension.. With the design of the camera, I'm at a loss to figure out just how to fix it.

 

[coriana6jp]

Best idea is to email, Bruce Wehman. He is an incredibly nice guy and a real pleasure to deal with. I am sure he will help you out. I love my camera and am very surprised at the leaks. Never had problems with mine.

Please let us know the outcome.

Gary

 

[ChuckP]

Maybe you could talk to the previous owner. It must have been OK sometime in the past.