wolves3012
Veteran
There's a fair difference between a sunset/sunrise and "normal daytime" in terms of the power of the sun. At those times the sun's rays pass obliquely through thick atmosphere. In addition, as I pointed out, focussing at infinity will focus the image at the film plane, not on the curtains. Sunrise/sunset also tend not to be taken with a lens set at large aperture. "Normal daytime" shots are also unlikely to be at large apertures.
Jockos
Well-known
Using a collapsible lens collapsed should prevent burning right? Since the focal plane is adjusted.
Sparrow
Veteran
Ah ... so what you're saying is it doesn't happen in the real world, unless one does it on purpose? ... as an experiment
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
But who would be taking pictures in bright sunlight at f/2 bearing in mind that a lot of people on this forum swear by films that we all know are 400ASA?
Anyway, I'm pleased to see that some of us have bothered to check things.
As for Barnack, I'm glad he wasn't a proper engineer; if he was then he'd know it wouldn't be possible and would never have started work on his camera. And look who invented colour film in the USA: two musicians.
Anyway, I still see the Contax as over designed; in my little world simplicity is the hallmark of good engineering.
OK. Rant over. I'll take a tablet and lie down for a while...
Regards, David
But who would be taking pictures in bright sunlight at f/2 bearing in mind that a lot of people on this forum swear by films that we all know are 400ASA?
Anyway, I'm pleased to see that some of us have bothered to check things.
As for Barnack, I'm glad he wasn't a proper engineer; if he was then he'd know it wouldn't be possible and would never have started work on his camera. And look who invented colour film in the USA: two musicians.
Anyway, I still see the Contax as over designed; in my little world simplicity is the hallmark of good engineering.
OK. Rant over. I'll take a tablet and lie down for a while...
Regards, David
awilder
Alan Wilder
I made the mistake once of doing a flare test comparison between my 50 Summicron and Summilux at around f/2 with the sun within the edge of the frame. It was about 2 hours past sunrise at 8:30 AM on a clear day. Because The sun was in the same position for each lens for about 10 seconds, there was a small hole burned in the cloth shutter. Moral is that exposure to a clear sun in any part of the frame will burn a hole in a relatively short time especially if you are shooting at a large aperture. If you don't use a cap, leaving the aperture set to f/8 or f/11 will certainly help protect the shutter from burns.
ferider
Veteran
It's not a myth. One of my M3 bodies earlier last year:
Still not sure when it happened, and easily fixed. But it happens. When I looked at the curtains, there were several burn marks all over the place, and one burned through.
That's the thing: the curtains is way in front of the film plane. So it won't happen when the lens is at infinity, but at closer focus.
Clancycoop
Established
I did a test with a 50mm Summicron wide open. I held the lens in front of my hand and towards the sun and burned my palm.
I believe it now. The lens acted just like a magnifying glass.
I believe it now. The lens acted just like a magnifying glass.
Matus
Well-known
wolves3012
Veteran
Not quite - I said it doesn't happen unless the circumstances are there. Deliberately or either by carelessness, bad luck or both.
wolves3012
Veteran
Using a collapsible lens collapsed, tends to lead to very blurred pictures. Presumably you meant leaving a collapsible lens collapsed when not in use. The anwer is yes, the image is far too de-focussed when the lens is collapsed.
Richard G
Veteran
In primary school with a prescription of +4 or +5 I cold set fire to paper, leaves or wood within a few seconds with my glasses. The one instance I know of the Leica shutter being holed was when the camera sat in my colleague's lap at an outdoor function. Instead of being flat on a table it fluked an angle straight at the sun. Whether the Leica fondler was fiddling with the aperture or not I do not know. This risk to cloth shutters is not a myth, but if you never knew of it or considered it a myth you are likely to get away with it.
2WK
Rangefinder User
I think it might vary from lens to lens. I have experimented with my VC 35 1.4 where I took the lens off, and in bright mid-day sun I tried to make a hotspot on my hand. I found that the distance the curtain would be from the lens, it was impossible. But when I pulled my hand back further away, it was very easy to be burnt. So, I think this lens is on the safe side. Plus, I once was driving into the bright sun, and my camera was slung around the passenger seat set at 1.4 for a while before I realized. No damage. Even still, I always try to set it at f16, just to be sure...
seanbonner
Established
Not to revive an old topic, but this just happened to me. I'm not exactly sure when as I was shooting the same roll all week, but somewhere after about shot 8 a hole appeared in the shutter and ruined the rest of the roll and the one I shot just after it.
I had a collapsable 'cron on it, uncollapsed, and possibly sitting on my coffee table or on a table outside. So yeah, it's real and can happen on accident. Sucks.
I had a collapsable 'cron on it, uncollapsed, and possibly sitting on my coffee table or on a table outside. So yeah, it's real and can happen on accident. Sucks.
paradoxbox
Well-known
fortunately sun-burned pinholes are easy fixes in photoshop using the clone stamp or spot healing tools. don't get too worked up about it.
repairing the holes is a pretty easy affair as well, though when you do your next cla you'll probably want to replace the curtains for good measure/peace of mind
repairing the holes is a pretty easy affair as well, though when you do your next cla you'll probably want to replace the curtains for good measure/peace of mind
dave lackey
Veteran
Well, I took my Summarit 1.5 out on the patio a couple of months ago...smoked an ant's arse in seconds! Distance from the back of the lens was not recorded but it sure happened fast in February sun.
Ken Ford
Refuses to suffer fools
I wish somewone would figure out a way of retrofitting metallic curtains to the Leica shutter. Nikon and Canon did it.
swoop
Well-known
I never use lens caps and I never heard about the curtain burning thing until like 2 years ago and all it did was terrify me all the time. I just lived in constant fear.
What I hear is that having the lens wide open and having it focused at infinity is like a sure thing to burn a hole right through your curtain, film, the camera and you.
The only thing that let me sleep at night was selling my M7. But then anxiety, fear and paranoia just gave way to depression. You can't win.
What I hear is that having the lens wide open and having it focused at infinity is like a sure thing to burn a hole right through your curtain, film, the camera and you.
The only thing that let me sleep at night was selling my M7. But then anxiety, fear and paranoia just gave way to depression. You can't win.
loquax ludens
Well-known
So how do you repair a burnt curtain without replacing the whole thing?