Shutter issue with EOS-1V?

TomTomJ · May 29, 2012

I recently picked up this EOS-1V from a local photographer/friend. He said he hasn't used it in years and wasn't sure of it's condition. I put a roll of BW400CN through it and noticed some of the frames had an odd line on the side. I had these developed and scanned at a local lab and the line is visible on the negatives so it wasn't introduced during scanning. My only guess is this is happening during faster shutter speeds or a problem with the film.

In the past week I've ran another roll of BW400CN as well as a roll of Portra 400. I just dropped those two rolls off to a different lab to get developed and scanned for comparison. The only differences since the original roll was I've installed a PB-E2 power booster grip.

Any idea of whats going on?

Here are some shots that dont have the line...

Lenses: 50mm f/1.2L or 50mm f/1.8

Vonder · May 29, 2012

It kinda looks like the lines are from underdevelopment but that's pretty unlikely from a regular lab. Is it like, the first 10 frames only, or does it skip and reappear? If it skips and reappears, maybe the shutter is dirty and dragging somehow. That's what I would expect from that shutter, which travels up and down instead of side to side.

It's been my experience that when people claim a camera's condition is unknown, it means they know SOMETHING is wrong.

mudman · May 29, 2012

almost looks like a variant of shutter capping, though capping would leave a darkened edge. Weird. Curious what other folks have to say on the matter.

F/1.4 · May 29, 2012

Could be the scanner, do you see a dark band on the film?

TomTomJ · May 29, 2012

Wolfeye said:
It kinda looks like the lines are from underdevelopment but that's pretty unlikely from a regular lab. Is it like, the first 10 frames only, or does it skip and reappear? If it skips and reappears, maybe the shutter is dirty and dragging somehow. That's what I would expect from that shutter, which travels up and down instead of side to side.

It's been my experience that when people claim a camera's condition is unknown, it means they know SOMETHING is wrong.

It's random (skip and reappear)

My friend is completely cool with taking the camera back if there's an issue. So I'm not to worried.

F/1.4 said:
Could be the scanner, do you see a dark band on the film?

Yes, I do see a dark band on the film.

DWThomas · May 30, 2012

Hmm {speculation warning!}- does the EOS 1V have a focal plane shutter that travels vertically? I have seen something a bit like this on an F-1 that was diagnosed as shutter curtain bounce (but showed up on the narrow dimension, as the shutter travels horizontally). It probably is more noticeable on fast exposures rather than slow, as the "bounce" represents a larger percentage of the total exposure.

I would suppose a CLA would fix it (but they ain't free!)

Poisson Du Jour · May 30, 2012

I would be very surprised indeed if the 1V had any sort of shutter bounce or shutter abnormality of its own volition same with its predecessors, the EOS 1N and little cousin, the EOS 3. The 1V is ultra-reliable that was its design brief, no corners cut on reliability or sturdy performance. But shutter problems can and do occur if that extremely sensitive shutter is in any way touched, most commonly during the film load/unload process e.g. even the leader touching the curtain is sufficient to impinge upon its accuracy. It's easy to scoff and dismiss such a suggestion, but those things are terribly, terribly sensitive to anything touching them: just a very light poke with a finger is enough to ruin its precision. So that's a possibility to ask your friend about, but granted, very few people could realise they've poked the shutter until a problem shows up. However, as a test, I would run another two rolls through the camera with Tv values from several seconds to the highest (1/8000), then assess the images again. If the band continues to show up over those further 72 frames of testing, a shutter problem is proven and the camera should either be politely returned to your friend or the camera lodged for examination and recalibration (though a replacement shutter with attendant labour charges would very likely run close to 2/3 the camera's market value!!).

Chris Nielsen · May 30, 2012

It looks exactly like the times I have had insufficient developer in the tank. Agitation is the only thing putting developer on that part of he film

Or at least as far as I recall...

TomTomJ · Jun 1, 2012

Once I get the recent scans back, I'll post up any that have the line. I really hope it was a problem with the original fim or the develop and it's not the camera.
If it's the camera, he said he'll take it back but then I'll be stuck looking for another one, I really like the 1V.

film_man · Jun 1, 2012

The blades travel vertically so this could be a sticky blade. Since it is one the top of the image that means that it is actually the bottom of the shutter. I don't know the travel direction (up/down) but it could be a the shutter blade is sticking a bit as it closes overexposing just that bit.

If it is the shutter see if the seller would service it instead of taking it back. You may even want to pay a bit for it yourself as you would then get a proper new/serviced shutter whereas buying another one will just be yet another unknown.

TomTomJ · Jun 4, 2012

I got a few rolls back today and the problem is still there. So It's not the development or scanning. I also tried a roll at Target just for comparison and it also had the line on a few shots.

Portra 400 (+1 comp.)

Film - Passion Tea Lemonade by Tom Janz, on Flickr

Poisson Du Jour · Jun 4, 2012

A fault with the 1Vs shutter (a lagging blade by the look of it) looks proven so from here your choices are to hand the camera back to your friend, discuss and maybe share repatriation cost or ... ditch the camera (which you should not do: it's far too good for that easy way out!).

TomTomJ · Jun 4, 2012

I was shocked to find out I can add the 1V to my canon CPS account, it's the only film camera on the list.
So I'll get 30% off repairs. I'll probably send it to Canon tomorrow to get checked out.

My friend said he's willing to pay some of the repair cost, so I'll probably go that route.

Poisson Du Jour · Jun 4, 2012

If it's a Canon, of course it will be covered by the CPS! CPS covers my EOS1N and L-series optics.

TomTomJ · Jun 4, 2012

Poisson Du Jour said:
If it's a Canon, of course it will be covered by the CPS! CPS covers my EOS1N and L-series optics.

Yea, I love CPS. I have all my gear registered with it. 5D3, 7D, 40D, all my L lenses and now the 1V.
When I went to the registration page the 1V was the very last camera on the list and it was the only film camera, haha I was glad to see it on there.

Now I'm debating if I should use one of my "Clean & Checks" certificats or send it for a diagnostic/repair. It might only need a CLA.

TomTomJ · Jun 6, 2012

I was nea[FONT=arial, sans-serif]r Jamesburg NJ so I dropped off the 1V to get repaired at Canon. I'm pretty sure they'll be replacing the shutter and it only cost me $66 (after CPS discount)[/FONT]

Poisson Du Jour · Jun 7, 2012

What would you do without me, eh? LOL!

sandermarijn · Jun 7, 2012

TomTomJ said:
it only cost me $66 (after CPS discount)

WHOW

TomTomJ · Jun 7, 2012

sandermarijn said:
WHOW

Yea exactly, that's what I said when he told me the price! hahaha

Vanishing Point Ent. · Jun 7, 2012

I like to turn a negative into a positive !

Film is NOT a Four-Letter Word !

brucemuir · Jun 7, 2012

Poisson Du Jour said:
If it's a Canon, of course it will be covered by the CPS! CPS covers my EOS1N and L-series optics.

Not CPS usa.
The last film camera covered is a 1V and they drop coverage for the digital bodies fairly quickly.
I have a 1D2 and the last digital they cover is the 1D2n.

TomTomJ · Jun 15, 2012

I got the camera back from Canon. The receipt said "Shutter Repair"... Agh, the guy at the counter said it was probably going to get a new shutter, which I was excited about. I guess the issue was repairable, I'm not sure if there's a way to tell if it was replaced or not.

I'm currently running a roll of Tri-X through it to see if the issue has bene resolved. I'll get this developed next week and find out.

sandermarijn · Jun 16, 2012

TomTomJ said:
The receipt said "Shutter Repair"... Agh, the guy at the counter said it was probably going to get a new shutter, which I was excited about. I guess the issue was repairable, I'm not sure if there's a way to tell if it was replaced or not.

Don't worry about it. It takes a veeeery long time before the shutter of an analogue SLR of the 1v's calibre reaches its nominal death. It's much more likely that the previous shutter broke down because of operator error or some other external cause than from some inherent shutter defect.

Hoping that the camera is fine now! If so then it should last you forever (quite a long time actually).

zaku II · Jul 23, 2015

I have the same issue! Got mine off ebay and the film roll count was only 21. I made a mistake of not shooting a test roll and I shot four or five important rolls. I thought it was uneven development at first but all the rolls had the same dark band at the top. I requested a refund but I'll check Canon if they will still repair the shutter for under $100.

film_man · Jul 23, 2015

TomTomJ said:
The receipt said "Shutter Repair"... Agh, the guy at the counter said it was probably going to get a
new shutter, which I was excited about.

They probably repaired by replacing worn parts so yeah, you got a new shutter. Maybe not an entire new shutter assembly but its been serviced so you should be good to go for a few thousand rolls now.

Shutter issue with EOS-1V?

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