Weird New Rollei Leak/Flare

NortheastPhotographic · Apr 12, 2018

Recently I've been getting this streak on certain frames of film in my 2.8E. I've been inspecting the camera closely and I can't seem to find the culprit. It almost looks like a flare from internal reflection, but I can't find any surface in the back that isn't matte, or would be otherwise shiny. I've generally been shooting with a hood and a newer B+W 2 stop ND filter, and a Fotodiox filter adapter. Has anyone seen this before?

bdial · Apr 12, 2018

There was a long thread in here years ago about a Rollei light leak that turned out to be one of the rollers next to the film gate (as I recall), it only happened in specific lighting situations.

dpurdy · Apr 12, 2018

The roller reflection always shows up along the bottom of an image, it can't be in the middle. That has to be a leak in the bellows. A lot of people don 't even know that a Rollei has an internal bellows but it does and it is not uncommon for an old camera to have a leak there.

NortheastPhotographic · Apr 12, 2018

Sounds....extremely challenging to fix without disassembly...

Dan Daniel · Apr 12, 2018

I commented over on RFF. Put the film in the camera, including position before and after exposure. The location of the leak will become clear. Look for missing screws such as on the spool knobs. Be methodical. Patient. Through. And remember, light is sneaky!!

Does the 2.8E have a bellows? I know the 2.8C and the Tele-Rollei do, but I thought that was it.

NortheastPhotographic · Apr 12, 2018

Dan Daniel said:
I commented over on RFF. Put the film in the camera, including position before and after exposure. The location of the leak will become clear. Look for missing screws such as on the spool knobs. Be methodical. Patient. Through. And remember, light is sneaky!!

Does the 2.8E have a bellows? I know the 2.8C and the Tele-Rollei do, but I thought that was it.

Yes, I can see some bellows pretty deep in there. THey would be nearly impossible to access without significant work...

Generally my lens needs internal cleaning too. Ugh I've put a lot of work into this 2.8E over the last year. It almost makes me want to find a certified replacement of either an E2 or F... My lens has some hairline scratches on the front element and numerous dust particles internally.

shutterfinger · Apr 12, 2018

You can download the service manual at http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/repairmanuals.html
No bellows in a 2.8E
Once you remove the leather on the front cover there are 4 or 6 screws holding the front cover to the cover frame. There may be shims between the front cover and cover frame, their position and thickness are important. Next there are 6 screws holding the cover frame to the focusing arms and an arm from the view screen that attaches to the front cover and has to be adjusted for correct focus. The lens are mounted on the cover frame. There is nothing complicated at this point but beyond it gets complicated.

The suggestions in post 5 should be followed before attempting any disassembly. Check that the visible screws are tight. In total darkness with the back open or removed, focus set to closest focus distance, shine a bright light into the image chamber while looking at the outside of the camera, anything other than totally black is a light leak.

ic-racer · Apr 12, 2018

Can you post what the negative looks like?

dpurdy · Apr 12, 2018

Regarding bellows, I just looked inside my 2.8F and 2.8FX with the lens cranked all the way out and can see there is some sort of non metal material being used to stop light. I can't see much of it and it might be a liner inside a metal tube but I can't see enough to know. Actually it looks like it might be black foam. I also looked all the way through an original 2.8F repair manual with photos and it does not ever mention bellows or metal tube. I assumed the material is bellows but perhaps not. Still if it is there to block light it might be damageable and so let light through.

Hatchetman · Apr 12, 2018

can you see it on the negative when you hold it up to the light?

Dan Daniel · Apr 12, 2018

dpurdy said:
Regarding bellows, I just looked inside my 2.8F and 2.8FX with the lens cranked all the way out and can see there is some sort of non metal material being used to stop light. I can't see much of it and it might be a liner inside a metal tube but I can't see enough to know. Actually it looks like it might be black foam. I also looked all the way through an original 2.8F repair manual with photos and it does not ever mention bellows or metal tube. I assumed the material is bellows but perhaps not. Still if it is there to block light it might be damageable and so let light through.

There is a felt light trap doughnut at the lens opening, captured in the body. The shutter (and by default the lens) is held in place by a metal tube that is flanged and threaded at one end. This thread grabs the back of the shutter block and pull the shutter tight to the lens board. Most likely you are seeing the metal tube riding back and forth through the felt (or is it velvet??) doughnut.

NortheastPhotographic · Apr 14, 2018

The guy who runs a Rollei shop on Instagram said that he believes this part my be my problem, and that it may not be repairable.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Hyh8s5YVgjUW542G3

He says the ring is really hard to come by. Frankly, I've also noticed some fungus that definitely wasn't there when I acquired the 2.8E a few years back. And I've noticed my images at 2.8 are a little 'weirder' than they used to be. I get very low contrast, even for the old Planar.

I may be in the market for a new 2.8 Rollei. Time to upgrade to an F? Spring for a GX or FX? Wildcard Fuji GF670? Ugh...too many possibilities for someone who already gets choice paralysis.

Dan Daniel · Apr 14, 2018

THat's interesting. Because the part circled opens into the left side of the body casting and has only one opening to the film chamber. That opening is where the film metering gear (the thin silver fine-toothed gear on the left side of the take-up spool) axle travels through the film chamber. There is a light trap around this opening to handle just this type of possiblity.

But hey, if it's on Instagram.....!! Curious, a link, please?

Anyway, if you taped over the outer edge of that focus knob part, maybe that would help diagnose?

Then again, sounds like you want a new 2.8. So uh.... yeah, uh-huh, that must be it! Time to get a new camera, for certain. Hey, I'll take that junker off your hands, I'll even pay shipping.....

NortheastPhotographic · Apr 14, 2018

Dan Daniel said:
THat's interesting. Because the part circled opens into the left side of the body casting and has only one opening to the film chamber. That opening is where the film metering gear (the thin silver fine-toothed gear on the left side of the take-up spool) axle travels through the film chamber. There is a light trap around this opening to handle just this type of possiblity.

But hey, if it's on Instagram.....!! Curious, a link, please?

Anyway, if you taped over the outer edge of that focus knob part, maybe that would help diagnose?

Then again, sounds like you want a new 2.8. So uh.... yeah, uh-huh, that must be it! Time to get a new camera, for certain. Hey, I'll take that junker off your hands, I'll even pay shipping.....

Haha not so fast. I'd most likely send ol' reliable to Fleenor in CA to see what he can do with it. The guy I spoke with on IG's handle is @rolleimagic. He has some nice ones for sale, but none that can take a prism. Mine is modified to take Hasselblad prisms.

Dan Daniel · Apr 14, 2018

Oh wait, I misread your drawing image. That's the front lens shield. Not sure I've ever seen that type before. THanks for the link to the guy- DE meaning Germany, or Denmark there?

The Hasselblad setup- is it from the guy in Germany, machined aluminum, anodized, that one? I've been playing around with making something for just that.

shutterfinger · Apr 14, 2018

Sitting around and speculating about the cause is not going to identify the leak let alone fix it.
Its far easier to see light coming out from inside a camera than it is to see in getting in. You or a service tech should check it by shinning a bright light into the image chamber while looking at the exterior of the camera then the supply and take up chambers.
The light seal around the lens is velvet unless the material changed in latter years. A pre made seal may not be available but the velvet can be replaced in the existing one.
I'll give you $5 + shipping for it.

Dan Daniel · Apr 14, 2018

Looking at the drawing you posted again, I see that part circled as a bellows unit. Yes, not available as a new old stock part. But easily rebuilt using something like shutter curtain material to make new bellows. I've done it, I know other repair people who do their own, Fleenor makes them when needed, etc.

I must admit, the little edge of a focusing rail that is visible in your image at the right edge looks like a C rail, not an E rail (the C has a few one-off design changes).

I see someone offered you $5 for the junker of a camera. This is getting too rich for my blood....

Weird New Rollei Leak/Flare

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