rolleiflex light leak- tripod socket

[Dan Daniel]

And not what you might think, given all the talk about how weak the back of a Rolleiflex can be when mounted on a tripod!

First, a sample of the leak: right near the bottom, flares coming in from both edges. And a bit below and above center, more flares. The leak is visible in the edges of the film, so it isn't coming from the front of the lens box. If you place the film back in the camera, both flares match the 'back side' of two silver rollers- one right near turn to the film gate, and the 'Automat' mechanism roller. This points to the leak happening from somewhere towards the front of the camera in the supply film spool area, light coming in and bouncing off/around the silver rollers and fogging the film.

The camera is a Rolleiflex 2.8 Tessar, often called a 2.8A although the A was never a Rollei designation. The back is the earlier design without the light trap wall to the inside of the body lip. It had yarn around the edge as a light seal. I replaced this with foam. But after a series of attempts to seal the back, the leak kept happening.

The source: the tripod socket. Someone obviously ran a long screw into the hole and cracked open the top of the aluminum tripod mount (NO, not me! I've had the camera a short time and have never mounted it on a tripod). Here are some photos:

I thought I'd put this out there in case anyone has troubles tracking down a light leak on older Rolleis.

Any suggestions for sealing this? It's not a tight fit with serious interference concerns. I was thinking wiping some JB Weld epoxy into the crack and then black paint or vinyl tape on both sides as a security light killer.

Edit: In poking around to apply an epoxy seal, the cap section simply let go and fell away. I have glued in a cap of brass sheet stock to seal the hole.

 

[hanskerensky]

Very interesting images and story Dan. Thanks for sharing !

 

[thompsonks]

It might be easier to find another back for the camera than to fix it. I'm guessing the A had a regular Automat back? Krikor might have one.

Kirk

 

[Dan Daniel]

It's fixed. For my purposes, at least. The top section you see breaking away in the photos, it broke off completely. I put a sheet of brass over the opening, oversized. Epoxy to hold in place, black paint on both sides to kill any possible leaks.

If you saw this camera, well, you'd know why this doesn't worry me! I was given it by someone who, about 30 years ago as a teenager had been given the camera when a neighbor died. The teenager removed the focus hood assembly and never found it again. The leather was hopeless, only pieces of the mirror assembly.

It became my 'learner Rollei' for tearing one down. It's now back together. With a Yahsica-Mat focus hood assembly held in place with tape. Skateboard anti-slip tape for grip surfaces. A 'lens cap' made from hand-cut styrene and a three-level bayonet assemblage. A fotodiox lens shade that has been dremeled within a millimeter of its life since the A's Bay II mount is rotated 180 degrees from the standard mount used later on Es and Fs.

With all of this, and with the reputation of the 2.8 Tessar being a dog made worse by manufacturing mistakes, the lens is fine, focus is fine, shutter is cruising along. My knapsack/what the heck camera. I doubt it will ever see a tripod, even, so simply capping the hole is fine. Some day if someone wants to restore a somewhat rare Rolleiflex, I haven't modified the existing elements, only scabbed around them.

 

[Steve M.]

I had the same problem on a 2.8 Rollei. Fixed mine w/ a little piece of black electrical tape and glued it down. End of leaks. Glad you got yours fixed. It's probably a common problem, especially when you see how thin the metal is on that piece.

 

[MCTuomey]

Resolved: use a QR plate on my newly acquired autocord ... and screw it on carefully.

 

[thompsonks]

I'm glad I saw this thread. When I use a tripod (not too often), I've been mounting the camera on a Manfrotto plate. The socket & only 2 of the 4 feet support the camera.

I'd better find a Rollei tripod adapter instead!

Kirk

 

[Dan Daniel]

To be clear, the way this piece broke off was from someone screwing in too long a bolt. This has NOTHING to do with the Rollei tripod adapter part and the over-all flexibility issue it addresses. If the Rollei tripod adapter had a bolt too long, it would do exactly the same thing.

You can't see it in my photo, but this back does NOT have the slot in the base piece for the Rolleifix. I think this is what people mean when they say tripod adapter, the Rolleifix?

 

[MaxElmar]

Yep, you want to add a Rolleifix mount, if you can get one. I think at one time parts were available to convert old Rolleis to use one, but at this point you may need a new back cover from a parts camera. (And you'd still need to add the mounting points on the front.)

 

[Gumby]

Good information and good warning. This shows the importance of the Rolleifix.

 

[PMCC]

This shows the importance of the Rolleifix.

Either use Rolleifix up front, or get Rollei fixed later.

BTW, it's usually cheaper to cannibalize a pistol grip for the included Rolleifix than it is to buy the Rolleifix on its own. A mystery.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Ok, last time I will say this: the problem I had HAS NOTHING To DO with a ROLLEIFIX!!!!

It happened because of a bolt being too long. That is it. Nothing else.

A Rolleifix addresses NOTHING that caused the problem I posted. NOT A THING. Well, let's hope that its bolt is short enough to not do this, but most tripod and mounting bolts are short enough, also.

Please, stop saying that my post proves anything about the need for a Rolleifix. Please? It simply isn't true. Using a Rolleifix is a good idea. It addresses a real problem. But driving the end cap off of the tripod mounting hole and causing a light leak IS NOT the problem a Rolleifix addresses.

Ok, that's it. No more comments about this from me. If nineteen more people want to post about how this shows that you need a Rolleifix, go ahead, knock yourselves out! 🙂

 

[PMCC]

The general point made in subsequent comments, which is a good one, is that using a Rolleifix will avoid this kind of damage to camera models that will accept them. Seems clear to me. A Rolleifix avoids the risk of a bolt that breaks through the tripod bush bottom because it uses a clamp and guide pins, not a bolt, to attach to the camera back.

Use of a Rolleifix was not an option for your model. That's clear too. That's what made it prone to damage, and that's why (among other reasons) that it was good that Rollei added a slot to the tripod mount and produced the Rolleifix for later models.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

....
The camera is a Rolleiflex 2.8 Tessar, often called a 2.8A although the A was never a Rollei designation. The back is the earlier design without the light trap wall to the inside of the body lip. It had yarn around the edge as a light seal. I replaced this with foam. But after a series of attempts to seal the back, the leak kept happening...

Dan, I've noticed some backs with the yarn around the end near the catch but wondered if previous owners had done a bodge; I'd never paid close enough attention. Another useful tidbit of info to file away.
Regards,
Brett

 

[Gumby]

The general point made in subsequent comments, which is a good one, is that using a Rolleifix will avoid this kind of damage to camera models that will accept them. Seems clear to me. A Rolleifix avoids the risk of a bolt that breaks through the tripod bush bottom because it uses a clamp and guide pins, not a bolt, to attach to the camera back.

Use of a Rolleifix was not an option for your model. That's clear too. That's what made it prone to damage, and that's why (among other reasons) that it was good that Rollei added a slot to the tripod mount and produced the Rolleifix for later models.

X2.

Calm down Dan. Generalizing from your camera's very specfiic failure provides additional knowledge to the community.

BTW, using a (insert name of ummentionalble Rollei accessory) when that is an option also helps avoid bending the back, which is not uncommon if using a screwed-in tripod mount even if the screw is the correct length.