How to file Film Gate Notches

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De_Corday

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I think it was Tom A who had a good post on this a while back, but can anyone give a step-by-step on how to file notches into a film gate for the purposes of matching negatives to the body that took 'em?

My specific questions:

-how does one keep filings from contaminating the camera?
-How much of a notch does there need to be, how much of a notch is too much? e.g. how deep of a notch will intrude on a neighboring frame (35mm for me, but I imagine its a consideration for all roll film)
-should the notch be touched up with black paint?
-are there places where the notch shouldn't go?
 
On a lot of older cameras, you can remove the film gate by undoing a few screws. I would put the notches on the top or bottom of the frame, not on the sides; I'd think that two or three millimetres would be deep enough. You probably want to black them, to avoid reflections. If you get the film gate off, you should be able to see anything delicate around it.
 
It is actually quite easy. Put the camera on B or T . Remove the lens and hold the camera flat in your hand - lens mount facing up. Use a small jewellers file - either the triangular version or the half round one. I tend to do my markings on the short edge of the film gate. Now insert the file and drag it downward in a smooth movement. This makes the "swarf" - the filings fall out of the camera body rather than into it. You don't need to deep a cut - about 1 to1,5 mm is enough. Once you have the desired cut - use a black permanent marker to fill in the silvery metal in the cut.
On the M you don't have the T setting (which means that the shutter stays open until you advance). With the B setting only - use a cable release with a lock on it to ensure that the curtain doesn't suddenly springs to life and hits the file!
 
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This is a case of excessive "notching". Ex Chicago Herald Tribune camera - one owner before I got it. Sufficient film through to even wear the black coating of the inside finsih.
 
Cool thread. I only Just saw this. I had an F3 with notches done by the PO. He was a local wedding/art photog and did some work for the local news paper.
 
My personal opinion on this is that it's unnecessary vandalism.
You damage the camera's film gate for no useful gain.
Risk of damage from filings is present. Consider that cameras such as the Nikon F3 and Leica M7 with electronic shutters use electromagnets for shutter release.
Finally, you degrade whatever resale value the film camera has left.
 
I think this is neat - a unique fingerprint for your camera. Certainly helpful for those with multiple cameras or when questions of ownership can arise.
 
For question of ownership, ask to see the original negative or slide. That should settle it.
If you want to know which camera took the picture, why not take a selfie of yourself in the mirror?
 
Take a picture of yourself every sixth frame? You'd have to do that if you intend cutting the film for filing.
Filing notches is a very sensible thing to do if you need to identify which camera took a particular photo. As for devaluing it, most people would not notice.
 
Obviously you wouldn't do this to a collector piece, you would do it to a user.

It's easy to forget that cameras are tools, not decorations or investments. If it makes the tool more useful, do it. If not, don't.

For my part, I'm probably going to notch my M3's film gate, because it's already well beyond collector shape and I don't intend ever to sell it unless I'm destitute.

As for taking notes on paper: have you ever lost a piece of paper? Have you ever lost just the edge of a negative?
 
This was done by photo journalists so that the developing staff and photo desk staff could identify the photographer by the notch pattern if images got separated from their info.

All suggestions above on taking selfies or jotting down notes are useless when a single shooter needs to be identified from a number of colleagues. And I wouldn't for the likes of me know why I (or anyone) would want to keep track which camera took the shot, that's a strange kind of gear fetish. The image exists and a camera took it, that should be enough I suppose?
 
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