M3 R/F patch gone then back again...

[KM-25]

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I did not hear anything on this on RFF so I thought I might ask it here:

 

So the weather on New Years Eve in Times Square was very, very juicy, basically a light rain from 7PM onward. Everyone got drenched, most of the media crews had plastic bags over cameras, mikes, HMI lighting and sound equipment. I used paper napkins to blot them dry.

 

In any case by 4 AM, I was saturated. So yesterday morning, I go to clean my gear and the R/F patch in the M3 started fading until it and the 90/135 frame lines simply disappeared. I freaked, I thought it was toast. But after a few hours with the whole thing open, back off, etc, the R/F patch and frame lines came back to life. It is now fully back to pre-drenching levels.

 

I often shoot with my R/F's in inclement weather but have never seen this happen. The R/F patch on this M3 is not the best to begin with, but I can't really afford to have the camera away at CRR at a tech in the U.K. either.

 

But I am a bit nervous as to the reliability of this R/F, any ideas or opinions on this?

 

Happy New Year!

[Xmas]

HiDont put the M3 in a basin of water, buy an umbrella for rain, when you use the camera in cold weather place it a zip lock before bring it indoors to central heating or coffee shop.The M is not water proof or sealed for humidity changes.Otherwise you will need to have the lube replaced at the leastThe patch should be ok in short term....Noel

[marke]

Sorry to hear about the M3, Dan. I don't have much to offer than to possibly just kepp it in a warm, well-ventilated room. Maybe give it a good, easy shake every once in awhile, to get the water moving around and hopefully into areas where it will drain/dry easier.

 

Like I said, I'm no expert at something like this, but I'm guessing it will clear up (no pun intended) in a relatively short time if you can provide an environent condusive to it drying out. I hope you got some good Kodachrome shots. I spent New Years Eve at Dairyland Greyhound Park in Wisconsin. It was Wisconsin's last remaining greyhound track, and New Years Eve was the last day/eve of races forever. I figured it was fitting to record in Kodachrome. I used KL-200, and pushed a roll to 800. I hope I get at least a couple good pictures.

 

Anyway, I'll be checking you blog now for any updates. Take care.

[KM-25]

Hi Mark, Happy New Year!

 

It totally dried out, must have fogged over one of the elements of the R/F when pulled from the bag, I have been shooting with it daily since 01/01/10.

 

I think things are going well here, since the chapter about NY in the book is called, "All the World's a Stage: Life in Times Square", that is where most of my time has been. But in the past couple days, it has been brutally cold with the wind here and I have a cold now, but I must persist. I brought my XPan but the wind is making it hard to use since it has rather slow lenses and is usually tripod mounted. I am taking it to Grand Central Station tomorrow AM, I leave in the evening.

 

I am sending my film to Dwayne's from here, that way I get it this week perhaps. I brought 50 rolls, I am thinking I will go through a total of half that for the week at most.

 

It sure feels different being on the other side of the 2009 / 2010 fence.

[marke]

Hi Mark, Happy New Year!

 

It totally dried out, must have fogged over one of the elements of the R/F when pulled from the bag, I have been shooting with it daily since 01/01/10.

 

That makes sense. Good to hear that it's back in working condition.

 

I think things are going well here, since the chapter about NY in the book is called, "All the World's a Stage: Life in Times Square", that is where most of my time has been. But in the past couple days, it has been brutally cold with the wind here and I have a cold now, but I must persist. I brought my XPan but the wind is making it hard to use since it has rather slow lenses and is usually tripod mounted. I am taking it to Grand Central Station tomorrow AM, I leave in the evening.

 

Oh man, a cold?! That bites. Well, it sounds like the start of the year is proving to be challenging, but certainly not uneventful. I would love an XPan myself to shoot my part of the project, but I just didn't financially plan for that soon enough. Sounds like GCS should be a good location to shoot from though.

 

I am sending my film to Dwayne's from here, that way I get it this week perhaps. I brought 50 rolls, I am thinking I will go through a total of half that for the week at most.

 

It sure feels different being on the other side of the 2009 / 2010 fence.

 

I had sent out 15 rolls on December 22, and got them back yesterday. I would say that's pretty good considering the extra load that the post offices had over the holidays. That must mean that Dwayne's is really getting it out pretty fast, and I'm sure they were getting a lot to process too. I was just talking with my wife about the possibilty of being there on New Years Eve of this year. We might try to fit it in with another trip.

 

Hope you're feeling better soon, and wishing you continued safety on your trip, Dan!

[KM-25]

I actually feel great, froze my heiny off but really cranked out the work today, fully in the zone. I used the XPan tonight in Rockefeller Center and Times Square at dusk, sweet light.

 

Times Square is insane bright, most places in it are between 1/50th to 1/125th at 1.4 depending on what is flashing on screen, just fabulous light.