Shutter Tester

bd3 · Apr 15, 2007

Hope this it the correct place to post this. I'd like to find out where one would purchase a shutter tester. I have tried google but haven't found much.

Thanks,
Bill

patrickjames · Apr 15, 2007

I have one from Calumet that I bought years ago. Give them a try.

Patrick

craigclu · Apr 15, 2007

I have the one that Calumet sells under its original maker's name and it is very competent. I also have one built into the Metrolux II timer that I have. I just got the Metrolux and it's not functioning correctly on the enlarger power outlet and I may be sending it back for a likely fuse repair but I briefly played with the shutter timer on it and it seems to work well and agreed with my old timer on the few runs I tried. I had forgotten about that feature until the timer arrived but for the right situation, where you might be considering an enlarging timer/analyzer anyway, it would save owning 2 devices.

Roger Hicks · Apr 16, 2007

Dear Bill,

I have a ZTS which doubles as a (very good) exposure meter. Google ZTS.

Cheers,

R.

Greg_E · Apr 16, 2007

I made mine, there are several plans on the internet and most of them involve using the soundcard in your computer and free software.

wclavey · Apr 16, 2007

Greg_E said:
I made mine, there are several plans on the internet and most of them involve using the soundcard in your computer and free software.

Do you happen to remember any of the link addresses? I, too, have searched for a schematic on Google and not found one. Thanks.

John Bartley · Apr 16, 2007

All I've ever used is a microphone plugged into the sound card. I use audio manipulation software to see what the times are between the significant sounds which are the opening and closing of the shutter. It's scarily accurate according to what I've seen.

cheers

Steve Smith · Apr 16, 2007

I was thinking about building one using an LED and a photo transistor. I was going to buy a simple stand alone counter and build a stable 1kHz oscilator.

The phototransistor is then used to gate the oscilator into the counter so that the counter counts up whilst the shutter is open.

So the operation is: Reset counter, release shutter, read shutter opening time in milliseconds on counter display.

Then convert the time e.g. 2mS = 1/500; 250ms = 1/4; etc.

I do like the sound recording method though. I had not thought of that.

Steve.

Frank R · Apr 16, 2007

I ordered one from Calumet after building one of those sound card types. The Calumet is real simple and real fast to use; I highly recommend it.

You could even carry it with your other camera equipment if necessary.

Jim Jones · Apr 16, 2007

Steve Smith said:
I was thinking about building one using an LED and a photo transistor. I was going to buy a simple stand alone counter and build a stable 1kHz oscilator.

The phototransistor is then used to gate the oscilator into the counter so that the counter counts up whilst the shutter is open.

So the operation is: Reset counter, release shutter, read shutter opening time in milliseconds on counter display.

Then convert the time e.g. 2mS = 1/500; 250ms = 1/4; etc.

I do like the sound recording method though. I had not thought of that.

Steve.

A clock rate much higher than 1kHz is required for accuracy at high shutter speeds. For 5% accuracy one should count at least 20 cycles.

Accuracy in the sound recording method requires knowing which sound is actually related to the opening and closing of the shutter. Using light through the shutter to trigger a phototransistor, and the phototranstor output to trigger the sound card, might be more reliable.

The ultimate shutter tester is a oscilloscope. It can measure flash sync timing and shutter efficiency. It can detect problems like shutter bounce. Learning to use an oscilloscope is certainly easier than learning to use most cameras well.

Steve Smith · Apr 16, 2007

Jim Jones said:
The ultimate shutter tester is a oscilloscope. It can measure flash sync timing and shutter efficiency. It can detect problems like shutter bounce. Learning to use an oscilloscope is certainly easier than learning to use most cameras well.

That's why I didn't build it. I already have an oscilloscope.

Steve.

Greg_E · Apr 16, 2007

I'll look around and see if I can find the links. I know there are several link buried in the Yahoo group "camera fix"

Greg_E · Apr 16, 2007

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=shutter+tester&btnG=Google+Search

Looks like it turns up a few.

This is a good one http://www.willegal.net/photo/repair/shuttertester.htm

There is nothing special about mine. It is a grid of super bright LEDs with load resistors to make sure they don't pop. A simple detector diode (I forget the exact part number) and a power supply and Oscope. The diode is reverse biased because it operates better that way, though you may be able to use it in photovoltaic mode (I never tried it). Keep an eye on the proper voltages from your detector, that is important for the speed of the device. The one I used is something like 10 volts DC for optimum speed. That makes it a little hard on the scope that I have since I can't offset that much DC, so I run it in AC mode which is why the picture looks like it does. This is also what you will see on a sound card, but with the sound card you can not use 10 volts!

The data sheet for the detector showed exactly how I needed to connect the power for this to work, there are VERY few components in this and almost any should be able to build it. If you want to get really tricky, use IR LEDs for this detector to get the largest voltage change. The trick is determining if the LEDs are actually turned on, which is why I went with the white LEDs. Cost me about $25 in parts, and I had to buy more than I needed to beat the service charge.

Denis P. · Apr 16, 2007

wclavey said:
Do you happen to remember any of the link addresses? I, too, have searched for a schematic on Google and not found one. Thanks.

Westley, I have some rudimentary instructions on my site:
http://hrtranslations.com/photo/Shutter.html

It's the soundcard variant, using a cheap phototransistor.

HTH,

Denis

wclavey · Apr 16, 2007

Greg & Denis, thanks for the links. It is so strange! I typed "photo shutter speed measure" into google and got pages about lasers and optical lab equipment and never got the entries you did!

I think I'm headed out to radio shack tonight to get the parts. Thanks.

petesk · Jun 12, 2007

I can verify Denis's cheap and simple device worked for me... It's worth it's weight in platinum... well, almost!
pete

wclavey · Jun 12, 2007

I followed Denis' link, constructed a tester and have tested every shutter I own, MF and LF... all in the past 10 days. As a result I have sent 1 shutter to Carol Miller, with another ready to go when the first returns. I have also decided that my MF TLR lenses are all fine, within 1/3 stop. Thanks to Denis for the advice and link!

Greg_E · Jun 12, 2007

Next step.... Servicing those shutters yourself. Lots to learn doing this, but you might find it fun. Start with something nice like a Rolleicord, they are easier to work on than a Yashica.

David H. Bebbington · Jun 13, 2007

The most analog (and traditional DIY) way was to photograph a rotating phonograph turntable with a marker on it.

Jim Jones · Jun 13, 2007

David H. Bebbington said:
The most analog (and traditional DIY) way was to photograph a rotating phonograph turntable with a marker on it.

Great for between-the-lens shutters, but unpredictable for slow moving focal plane shutters. This method probably upset a few Speed Graphic users.

Another way to check moderate speeds is to photograph a neon or mercury vapor lamp while moving the camera to spread the image out during exposure. These lamps flash 120 times a second. For focal plane shutters, move the camera at a right angle to shutter movement.

Viewing a TV screen through the shutter is a quick way of testing speeds from about 1/30 second to high speeds.

Chan Tran · Jun 13, 2007

I use a pair of photo emitter and receiver from Banner Engineering. It uses modulated red light with the 1mm diameter fiber optics. The response time is 50microsecond so it's at least good for shutter speed of 1/1000. I simply observe the sensor output on an oscillocope.

Shutter Tester

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