Something a bit different for a change...and please tell me if I have got anything wrong!
IMG_2891 by
dralowid, on Flickr
In the foreground is a Pentina M. This is a leaf shutter interchangeable lens SLR. In the background a Pentaflex 8 from roughly the same period. Though obviously different colours they both share the same body covering. The Pentaflex is a highly spec'd, fully featured, very heavy 8mm camera with what I am told is an Altissa mount?? (no idea how or about register).
The internet tells me that the reason for the existence of a leaf shutter SLR was to achieve higher speed flash sync for the electronic flashes that were then becoming more reasonably priced. I know not.
The Pentina is somewhat fiendish within. The shutter is just behind the lens and therefore must be open for viewing. The sequence of events when the shutter is depressed is, I think, as follows.
When looking through the viewfinder, the shutter is open, the automatic aperture is open, the mirror is down and a light baffle is in front of the film.
Press the button and...as far as I can tell...in no particular order
The shutter closes
The aperture closes
The mirror goes up
The baffle goes up
A baffle goes up inside the viewfinder (to stop any stray light)
And then the shutter fires.
Wind on and...
The baffle comes down
The mirror comes down
The viewfinder baffle goes down
The aperture opens
The shutter opens
Well, that is what I think happens. Please correct me if I am wrong.
At the moment the thing is very stiff, we shall see if I can improve it...hmm.