Rolleiflex vs snowdrift

Toffle · Dec 30, 2007

Snowshoeing in the woods north of Quebec City, I took a header into four feet of snow with my "brand new" 3.5f strapped to my chest. (up to a moment before, I had it safely stowed under my coat) I blew the snow from the lenses and dials and patted it dry the best I could. I was an hour from nowhere, so I kept going. I finished the roll of film that was in the chamber, and ran a second through for good measure. The shutter plunger felt pretty slow, (well, really slow) but the speeds sounded ok. When I got home, I opened the camera and let it air dry for an hour or so. There is no sign of moisture inside or out that I can see. The shutter and all the dials feel pretty good now. Does anyone have any opinions as to what I should be doing next? I won't be near a real camera shop for the rest of the week, so I'm hoping that I will be able to do any minor service myself.

Thanks, and Happy New Years,

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2007

Sorry about your fall from grace.

Film is cheap. Shoot more film, enjoy your stay. Have the film processed before you think about servicing the camera. Then if something is wrong you can show them how it is working.

Steve

Alden · Dec 30, 2007

Toffle said:
Snowshoeing in the woods north of Quebec City, I took a header into four feet of snow with my "brand new" 3.5f strapped to my chest. (up to a moment before, I had it safely stowed under my coat) I blew the snow from the lenses and dials and patted it dry the best I could. I was an hour from nowhere, so I kept going. I finished the roll of film that was in the chamber, and ran a second through for good measure. The shutter plunger felt pretty slow, (well, really slow) but the speeds sounded ok. When I got home, I opened the camera and let it air dry for an hour or so. There is no sign of moisture inside or out that I can see. The shutter and all the dials feel pretty good now. Does anyone have any opinions as to what I should be doing next? I won't be near a real camera shop for the rest of the week, so I'm hoping that I will be able to do any minor service myself.

Thank, and Happy New Years,

My Rollei froze up after about an hour in ten degrees F, but I didn't know it until I developed the film. I had been shooting horses on the cold prairie. Once it warmed up it was fine. I have not had trouble in the past in the cold with it and as its going on forty years, I think it might appreciate a CLA. My advice is to leave it be, put another roll through, develop, and I would venture to guess that you'll be alright. They are such good machines that a repairman once told me not to touch it, until it finally gives out altogether. I still think a CLA would be a good idea for anything 30 or more years to safeguard your exposures.

photobackpacker · Dec 30, 2007

Hi Tom:

If there is no visible moisture and everything seems normal, you are probably okay. You could take the extra step of "freeze drying" the camera - basically using the extreme low humidity to ensure the camera is free of moisture. To do this, you bring the camera outside and expose it to the cold air while protecting it from any snow. Putting it in your car is a good way to do this. Then, after 15 to 20 minutes, seal it tightly in a plastic bag and bring it back inside. Keep it sealed in the plastic until it has reached room temperature.

This will draw moisture out.

Good luck.

Bruce

ricksplace · Dec 30, 2007

Hi Tom.

Too bad about your face plant. I've done my fair share too. In my experience, so long as the snow is dry (not sticky or wet) the chances of snow and water getting inside your camera is low. You did the right thing by wiping the snow off right away, and continue using it. If the camera seems OK, it probably is. I sent my Rollei in for a CLA about a year ago, and it sounds like yours is due sometime soon. It's money well spent. There are a few places in Canada that will do a CLA without the hassle of cross-border shipping.

After the CLA, everything is so smoooooth...

Toffle · Dec 30, 2007

Thanks folks,
I've loaded my camera with film once again, and will be doing some tourist stuff this afternoon. (this time safely on the streets of Quebec City) This should give me an idea of any possible damage to the camera. For what it's worth, I had a CLA tentatively scheduled for the end of January, so I'll know by then for sure if things are working out.

By the way, this is the most beautiful camera I have ever owned. It focuses so cleanly, exposures are very consistent. It just feels so... right. I've been doing 6X6 for ages, but with the Rolleiflex, it looks like an entirely different format.

Thanks again.

Toffle · Dec 30, 2007

Well I spent the afternoon on the chilly streets of Quebec City and nothing seems awry. (apart from having to push film from 100 to 400... grabbed the wrong rolls of film) The shutter clicks perfectly and focusing is fine.

One more for the "Teach me something" file.

Cheers,
(dang, it's cold)

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2007

Toffle said:
Well I spent the afternoon on the chilly streets of Quebec City and nothing seems awry. (apart from having to push film from 100 to 400... grabbed the wrong rolls of film) The shutter clicks perfectly and focusing is fine.

One more for the "Teach me something" file.

Cheers,
(dang, it's cold)

Glad to hear that. Sometimes it is nice when I am right.

Steve

Toffle · Dec 30, 2007

As it turns out (mark this on your calendar, Sirius) I'm glad you are right as well.

In the big scheme of things, I think I was pretty fortunate... The reason I ended up head first in the snow is because I was trying to traverse an open stream (on snowshoes). Six inches shy and my precious Rollei would have been in six inches of icy water and my story would have been a lot sadder.

Happy New Year to all.

photobum · Jan 1, 2008

That shutter seemed to slow down or became stiffer because you were out in the woods, north of Quebec, in December. Winter is cold. Dropping cameras and lenses in the snow is going to happen.

The Rollei was born during the days of trench warfare. It was designed for much worse than a drop in snow. You wipe the snow off as best you can. The modern microfiber towel is the thing to have with you in the woods. A blower tube with brush gets in all the little spots. Do this while still out in the cold. Wrap the camera up in a towel, coat or sweater before coming inside and all will be well. Do not use a plastic bag. The camera will survived these conditions much better than you.

The amount of gear I drop in the snow is scarey. The colder it is the better off the camera is too. No big deal.

My Rollei is a 3.5 F model too. This is one of the best all round tough cameras ever made. As long as you don't twist out the back it is damn near bulletproof.

Toffle · Jan 1, 2008

I agree that the cold weather may have been something of an ally here. If it had been wet Southern Ontario snow, the story could have been very different. Since my walk in the woods, I have run a half dozen or so rolls through and everything feels fine. We shall see when I get back in the darkroom.

Happy New Year to all.

Shoot a roll of film today.

Cheers,

Jersey Vic · Jan 1, 2008

These are tough cameras. My lighter and far less armored Rolleicord took a dive off of the roof of our car onto asphalt. My sunny f16 exposures are still dead on.

dpurdy · Jan 1, 2008

I think I would rather have dropped my 2.8E2 face down in snow than face down in beach sand as I did. It was caked in sand and the finder was bent but I was able to blow it all out with an air can and pretty much reshape the finder and the camera was seemingly undamaged. No scratches in the lens coating and no grit in the focus and I put a lot of film through the camera without a cla for years.

Shelly Grimson · Jan 1, 2008

Just got home from the fantastic snowscene in Toronto and wiped off the Hassy with napkins. Usually I just use my cotton t-shirt under layer to get off the excess and put the camera back into the bag. I save Silica gel packets from every purchase where they pack with it and put a few in my gadget bag. I think that prevents it whatever moisture got in from staying in the camera. When it is extremely cold I usually plastic wrap my camera with a packet before coming inside so that condensation will be absorbed by the gel, until the camera gets back to room temp.
shel

Allan Swindles · Jan 2, 2008

Don't forget to dry out the silca gel frequently or it will continue to give off the moisture it has absorbed.

matti · Jan 2, 2008

My 2 year old son hit my Rolleiflex 3,5 E with a snowball yesterday. Right on the front taking lens. Maybe I pressed the shutter in time...
/matti

elekm · Jan 2, 2008

This is pretty much what I was going to say, except for the part about dropping my own gear.

Well put.

photobum said:
That shutter seemed to slow down or became stiffer because you were out in the woods, north of Quebec, in December. Winter is cold. Dropping cameras and lenses in the snow is going to happen.

The Rollei was born during the days of trench warfare. It was designed for much worse than a drop in snow. You wipe the snow off as best you can. The modern microfiber towel is the thing to have with you in the woods. A blower tube with brush gets in all the little spots. Do this while still out in the cold. Wrap the camera up in a towel, coat or sweater before coming inside and all will be well. Do not use a plastic bag. The camera will survived these conditions much better than you.

The amount of gear I drop in the snow is scarey. The colder it is the better off the camera is too. No big deal.

My Rollei is a 3.5 F model too. This is one of the best all round tough cameras ever made. As long as you don't twist out the back it is damn near bulletproof.

Rolleiflex vs snowdrift

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency