Bellows extension... air pressure?

[Arbitrarium]

I noticed something weird whilst tweaking the rangefinder on my Super Baldax. I'd got used to the bellows popping open a little bit slowly, but I ended up opening them when the film door was open and they flew open incredibly quickly like I imagine they're supposed to.

I can see nothing that would physically cause the film door to slow down the bellows door. They're nowhere near touching each other anywhere. So is the only answer that it's the air pressure in the film chamber/bellows that's slowing it down?

(If so, that makes my light leaks even more frustrating...)

 

[Ranchu]

Sorry about your light leaks, I read somewhere it's best to wind on after you open the camera, rather than after a shot, because of this.

 

[tunalegs]

The lens board on most folding cameras contains baffled apertures to let air into the bellows when the camera is unfolded. Even so, there will be a slight vacuum acting on the film while the bellows unfold. In some cameras this can be strong enough to pull the film into the gate (like on the el-cheapo Foldex cameras, which seem to have been designed with the shutter itself intended as the vent).

 

[oftheherd]

I have not had the problem myself, but I have read many others who have had.