Luddite Frank
Well-known
Up-date on my "leaky" Super-Ikonta 530/2...
I was getting some strange "corner fogging" on 6/8 of my test roll... it seemed to be from light-leakage around the 6x9 counter window (near the end of the camera). This camera is a "zweiformat" ( two format), and also has a 645 window near the center.
Several knowledgeable folks here suggested I check the light-seals around the counter windows.
I removed the pressure-plate and found a square of pile flocking around each counter aperture in the plate. The pile around the 6x9 window was mashed-down pretty flat. It was then that I remembered that when the camera arrived, it had a dent in the back, right on the "edge" where it bends around the supply spool. Not thinking too much about it, I eased the dent out from the inside with some thumb pressure, and feeling pretty pleased that you had to look really hard to tell it had ever been injured.
Well, apparently that dent had been there a LONG time, and had compressed the pressure plate at that end of the camera ,and squashed the flocking around the 6x9 window. When I removed the dent, the pile from the flocking did not spring back, and I had some issues with light leaking in and fogging the corner of my test roll: Kodak Portra 400 VC.
So, I was planning on getting some deep pile flocking from Edmund Scientific ( or fuzzy part of Velocro ) and replacing the counter-flocks.
I happened to be at my local crafts store (Michael's) last week, looking for snaps and rivets to repair some 35mm cases, and I noticed their selection of felting... I found an 8.5 x 11 sheet of black, self-stick felt, and decided to try that for sealing-up the Super-Ikonta.
I traced the outline and counter holes of the pressure plate onto the paper backing of the self-stick, then cut a rectangle about 1/4" larger on each edge. I then laid this inside the camera back, checking that it wouldn't foul when closing the camera, then marked the counter hole locations.
I cut-out the two counter holes, then laid the pressure plate on-top, lining up the holes, then marked where I needed to cut slits in the felt for the pressure-plate spring to come through.
When I was satisified with the fitment of this piece of felt, I scored the backing in several places, then eased it into the camera back, peeling the backing in sections, so I could have better control of the "stick-down".
When it was all smoothed-out, the felt lapped onto the ends of the back, where it "curves" around the spool, about 1/8" past the "reveal" line of the back.
I took one of the "circles" from the counter window cutting and stuck that in the 645 window.
I then took my original pile counter flocking, took the best of the two, and glued it to the pressure plate around the 6x9 window, placing the other one around the 645 window. I cut two more similar sized squares of felt (about 3/4" square), and placed them in the corners of the pressure plate opposite the counter-flocks, to help "balance" the plate.
I reassembled it all, and it looks and feels pretty good. I don't have to force the back to get it latched, and I am hoping that the counter window is now sealed against light leakage... and if not, hopefully the nappy-felt applied to the back will minimize relflection.
Now to to shoot another roll....
Sorry for the verbosity... pictures are worth thousands of words, but I don't have a digi-cam !
Thanks to all for the suggestions regarding this little problem !
Luddite Frank
I was getting some strange "corner fogging" on 6/8 of my test roll... it seemed to be from light-leakage around the 6x9 counter window (near the end of the camera). This camera is a "zweiformat" ( two format), and also has a 645 window near the center.
Several knowledgeable folks here suggested I check the light-seals around the counter windows.
I removed the pressure-plate and found a square of pile flocking around each counter aperture in the plate. The pile around the 6x9 window was mashed-down pretty flat. It was then that I remembered that when the camera arrived, it had a dent in the back, right on the "edge" where it bends around the supply spool. Not thinking too much about it, I eased the dent out from the inside with some thumb pressure, and feeling pretty pleased that you had to look really hard to tell it had ever been injured.
Well, apparently that dent had been there a LONG time, and had compressed the pressure plate at that end of the camera ,and squashed the flocking around the 6x9 window. When I removed the dent, the pile from the flocking did not spring back, and I had some issues with light leaking in and fogging the corner of my test roll: Kodak Portra 400 VC.
So, I was planning on getting some deep pile flocking from Edmund Scientific ( or fuzzy part of Velocro ) and replacing the counter-flocks.
I happened to be at my local crafts store (Michael's) last week, looking for snaps and rivets to repair some 35mm cases, and I noticed their selection of felting... I found an 8.5 x 11 sheet of black, self-stick felt, and decided to try that for sealing-up the Super-Ikonta.
I traced the outline and counter holes of the pressure plate onto the paper backing of the self-stick, then cut a rectangle about 1/4" larger on each edge. I then laid this inside the camera back, checking that it wouldn't foul when closing the camera, then marked the counter hole locations.
I cut-out the two counter holes, then laid the pressure plate on-top, lining up the holes, then marked where I needed to cut slits in the felt for the pressure-plate spring to come through.
When I was satisified with the fitment of this piece of felt, I scored the backing in several places, then eased it into the camera back, peeling the backing in sections, so I could have better control of the "stick-down".
When it was all smoothed-out, the felt lapped onto the ends of the back, where it "curves" around the spool, about 1/8" past the "reveal" line of the back.
I took one of the "circles" from the counter window cutting and stuck that in the 645 window.
I then took my original pile counter flocking, took the best of the two, and glued it to the pressure plate around the 6x9 window, placing the other one around the 645 window. I cut two more similar sized squares of felt (about 3/4" square), and placed them in the corners of the pressure plate opposite the counter-flocks, to help "balance" the plate.
I reassembled it all, and it looks and feels pretty good. I don't have to force the back to get it latched, and I am hoping that the counter window is now sealed against light leakage... and if not, hopefully the nappy-felt applied to the back will minimize relflection.
Now to to shoot another roll....
Sorry for the verbosity... pictures are worth thousands of words, but I don't have a digi-cam !
Thanks to all for the suggestions regarding this little problem !
Luddite Frank
