Rolleiflex 2.8C light baffle

[campy51]

The Rolleiflex 2.8C and 2.8D use a light baffle and would like to know if anyone has repaired one and what material did you use?

 

[shutterfinger]

The light baffle is the bellows type device discussed in your other post. Rubberized nylon will be best but black rip stop nylon painted with 3 or 4 thin layers of Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Artist Paint #1040 Carbon Black diluted with water no more than 1:1, painted with a fine bristle economy artist brush will work as well. The number of coats is the minimum necessary to make the material light tight. It will be durable and last for years.

https://www.goldenpaints.com/products/colors/heavy-body

 

[campy51]

I should just contact you directly, you always seem to have useful information whether it be my post or others. I don't remember if I added this information to my other post but what I found is the light leak is coming in from the viewing lens under the viewfinder and I read something last night that someone installed a half moon plastic shield (part of 35mm film canister) on the viewing lens and it seems to work. I may explore that option more and try to find the best material for that.

 

[shutterfinger]

There are NO openings between the viewing area and the image box. The film supply and film take up are separate compartments also. A body that has a light leak from the viewing lens has been damages or has a factory defect.

 

[campy51]

I believe that's what the baffle is for and I also read it in a few other discussions.

 

[shutterfinger]

The baffle blocks stray light from the front standard/lens holder frame. Depending on the condition of the baffle no stray light should reach the image box. Light could reflect off the view mirror onto the back of the lens frame then through a weak spot in the baffle, but light from the front lens frame and cover are more likely.
Have you shined a bright light around the camera front and into and around the view lens while keeping the image box in total darkness and observed stray light from the view lens? Remove the camera back, secure a dark cloth around the film opening at the image box, taking shutter closed, shine a bright light from ever angle on the sides, top, bottom, front of the camera.

 

[campy51]

I did shine a light from the front and all the way around and didn't see anything but when I took the viewfinder off and pointed it in and around the rear of the viewing lens I could see the light from at the rear at the taking lens coming through. I had sent the camera for repair to Procamera and he repaired the baffle but when I got it back it was still doing it but what I did before sending it back was to pull the rear latches of the baffle from the rear taking area and it made a big difference. It may have not been fully seated, but I could still see a little light coming through.I spoke to them after they received it and the tech thought that the glue he used may have come undone. They are giving me a partial credit for the work done on the camera, they also worked on the shutter and cleaned the lenses. I am expecting delivery today of the camera and I will test it again. I want to try and fix it myself and have found shutter curtain material that you can buy that is silk with a rubberized coating which should work. I wish I could find a video or instructions on how to remove the front housing on the 2.8 models, I have removed the front of a Rolleicord but I don't want to wing it on a 2.8 since the camera is in great condition otherwise and don't want to end up with a parts camera.

 

[campy51]

I received the camera back today and what I can see is the light baffle repair has come unglued in one small spot ( 1/8"). I tried to get a little contact cement in the opening to see if will fix it. I don't know if contact cement is strong enough but we will see. It almost looks like I could put a little black yarn in the opening and tack it with some glue and call it a day.

 

[shutterfinger]

Contact cement should do the trick. Recommended for cameras: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Low-VOC-Pl...924761&hash=item2381139367:g:tgEAAOSwx3VdsMEC

 

[campy51]

I ended up placing a few small pieces of light shield where it has opened and it seems to be working. I have a roll in the camera now and have taken some test shots. What I did was expose the view finder to some strong light to see if my patch worked on a couple of frames. It was only a problem at it's closest focusing point when the bellows was fully extended.

 

[campy51]

Here's a sample shot after my little repair. No leak even after I exposed the viewfinder glass to some strong light and moved it around at different angles with the bellows extended at the closest focus stop.

 

[shutterfinger]

Good job!