bvandrasik
Member
What are your opinions on the best way to store a 120 folder to maximize the life of the bellows ? Opened or closed ? I anticipate using mine rarely, maybe monthly or so, and am storing them opened in an unused refrigerator (light tight, dust free).
Windscale
Well-known
half opened.
Gumby
Veteran
Half-closed. 
Gumby
Veteran
Seriously, though... I store mine closed when not using it. They were designed to be stored closed, I think.
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chippy
foo was here
the larger the bellows the quicker they will droop or deform if stored extended, LF bellows if left on display can start to sag in the middle after just days or a few weeks, no one with LF would consider storing the camera open. so if for display then support is needed. with 120 folders generally they tend to hold their shape much better and much longer (obviously 6x6 is better than bigger 6x9 bellows), any sagging may not be noticed even after a year or so unless you look closely (but it is there just a little)..but it does start sooner or later depending on the quality of the bellows and the size.
so IMO for optimal care they should be stored closed (thats how they are stored when made new and packaged). if you want to display for periods then just go ahead, better than not seeing them at all.
keeping them supple on occasion with an appropriate care product without over doing it can be ok...too much or too often and you risk them not holding their shape...some people dont like the idea of storing them closed because some of them left closed for decades (usually cheap kodaks but some others as well--some from early 1900's) become dry and brittle all these years later (more so in hot dry environment) and opening them can cause them to crack or break, but an appropriate maintaining care product (or just regular opening) would have solved or helped that in the first place.
just wondering? if keeping the cameras in a closed enviroment with no air circulation, may or may not be a good place to keep them at all-depends on the moisture content inside of the fridge and if any micro mould can grow in there i suppose-sound a bit iffy to me?
so IMO for optimal care they should be stored closed (thats how they are stored when made new and packaged). if you want to display for periods then just go ahead, better than not seeing them at all.
keeping them supple on occasion with an appropriate care product without over doing it can be ok...too much or too often and you risk them not holding their shape...some people dont like the idea of storing them closed because some of them left closed for decades (usually cheap kodaks but some others as well--some from early 1900's) become dry and brittle all these years later (more so in hot dry environment) and opening them can cause them to crack or break, but an appropriate maintaining care product (or just regular opening) would have solved or helped that in the first place.
just wondering? if keeping the cameras in a closed enviroment with no air circulation, may or may not be a good place to keep them at all-depends on the moisture content inside of the fridge and if any micro mould can grow in there i suppose-sound a bit iffy to me?
Kent
Finally at home...
Storing it closed also means that the lens does not get any light, no fresh air (ventilation) and will perhaps be in humid surroundings. All this is the reason for fungus.
So half closed, if possible , in a well-lit, dry place might be the optimum.
But the best would be not to store but to use it.
So half closed, if possible , in a well-lit, dry place might be the optimum.
But the best would be not to store but to use it.
Windscale
Well-known
Half opened. Or half closed. Same thing. When fully opened, the bellows are fully stretched and subjected to maximum tension. When fully closed, the bellows are subjected to maximum pressure. Both tension and pressure are not good. So, .......
Pablito
coco frío
Storing cameras in an unused refrigerator is a VERY bad idea. You are asking for fungus and mold. Light prevents mold, so does air flow. Much easier to remove a little dust than to remove fungus and mold.