Finding camera leaks

[P3D Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here is a method I read about recently (Pop Photo or rec.photo
perhaps). It worked very well when Joel used it to find the
light leaks in his Sputnik.

-----
  Load your camera with a roll of high speed film (at least 400)
in a dark location. Close back and advance to about the 3rd
frame (this is so that you have unexposed film on the take up
spool).

  Go out in the sunlight or other bright location and hold the
camera in various orientations so that the light strikes all
possible leaking areas.  Take one photo with the camera, but
underexpose by about 2 stops. Do not advance the film.

  Go back to the dark location and rewind your film. Get the
roll processed, specifying "Do Not Cut" . You can get it push
processed, if desired, to help show the light leaks (or do it
yourself if you process your own).

  Place the strip of developed film in the back of the camera,
aligning the underexposed photo with the film gates. You now
know the exact location of any light leaks.
-----

  So if you are willing to waste/invest a roll of film, you can
know where your camera leaks.

Greg E.




------
Greg Erker, Research Engineer at, (but not speaking for)
  TRLabs, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
  



------------------------------