Which window to use on ADOX Sport 1a?

[DonW]

A buddy has a really sweet ADOX Sport 1a he wants to sell me. I have it for a test drive but for the life of me I can't find any information on which window to use for 6x9 format. The upper left or lower middle. I tried the upper left one and didn't see any numbers but it could be that the FP4 printing is to faint.

Thanks for the help.

Don

 

[reddesert]

6x9 format numbers are always off towards an edge - the upper edge if you are winding from left to right - so it should be the upper left window. 6x6 numbers are in the center, so the center window is for 6x6 if you have a 6x6 mask installed in the film gate. I don't have personal experience with this model of camera, but that generally should be the same as other cameras that use red windows.

I like to save a few rolls of backing paper after developing, to test winding through cameras and check myself on this kind of question.

 

[Donald Qualls]

The center window is for 6x6; the one in the corner (that corner) is for 6x9. If you don't have the 6x6 mask (likely lost before you ever saw the camera), use the corner window -- you might even want to do something on the inside of the door to block the center window from opening.

 

[DonW]

Thanks guys.

 

[gone]

Looks like a previous owner did just that Donald. There's a small screw in the slot of the center window slider to prevent it from being opened.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Problem solved, then!

 

[MattKing]

Problem solved, then!

Other than the fact that the OP can't see the numbers with FP4+.

 

[Donald Qualls]

@MattKing Well, that's an FP4 problem (failure to maintain compatibility), not a problem with the camera. The 6x6 numbers would be of limited utility without the mask anyway.

And is it known to be a problem with this camera model? The 6x9 windows vary some in distance from the film edge.

 

[MattKing]

@MattKing Well, that's an FP4 problem (failure to maintain compatibility), not a problem with the camera.

If the problem is only with visibility, it may have nothing to do with the placement of the window.
It might be due to a combination of how dark the window is, along with how lightly printed the numbers are.
I'm tempted to suggest that we ask Wayne for a solution, but that would be churlish.

 

[DonW]

Who's Wayne?

BTW I even shone a flashlight at the window and still was bearly able to read the numbers.

Does anyone know if Kodak prints the numbers darker than Ilford?

 

[MattKing]

Who's Wayne?

Sorry - that is a reference to Photrio member Wayne and his relatively recent thread expressing his unhappiness (and dare I say it, anger) at the fact that since the most recent round of changes, the Kodak numbers are now so (relatively) faint.
It may be that the window on this particular camera has darkened.
I use a focused LED flashlight with my rear window cameras.

 

[DonW]

Well another one of my problems was both windows were open to light and I couldn't close the bottom window. The slider just would not budge.

Well eureka!! When I was messing around with the camera prior to loading the film I noticed a lever under the pressure plate. Well is seems this lever has three positions. I found this out in the darkroom, in the dark! Must come with over 50 years experience working in a darkroom lol. Anyway this lever controls which window will open. One position for each window that allows that window to open and close but locking the other closed. The third position locked both windows closed. Some how I had both windows open when I closed the back and this jammed them both open. Now it works as it should. Pretty cool.

Still can't see the darn numbers though. I will try again tomorrow in the sunlight. I have tried Matt's focused LED flashlight trick but to no avail.

I hope I can get this camera working for me because as I said, it's really sweet. I have seen an 11x14 B&W print made from a negative made using this camera and it was tack sharp with really good tonality in both highlights and shadows.

 

[Donald Qualls]

My solution to being able to see the numbers is simple -- I use .EDU Ultra. Numbers are black on white, easily visible in any red window.

Older rolls had white on black, similarly easy to read.

 

[DonW]

Good suggestion Don! I have used Ilford exclusively since Agfa APX 100 disappeared. Maybe time to explore alternatives. When using MF film in my Blad or Rollei seeing the numbers has never even entered my mind.