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M4 Shutter problem/delay


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Is the M4 shutter sensitive to cold weather? I just have developed a Tri-X b/w film, and some frames taken outdoors a bright snowy day, using my Super Angulon 21 mm f3.4 lens, and shutter speed 1/1000 at f8 or f11, the developed negatives show a fairly large part that is definitely darker on the left side of the image. 


Is the shutter curtain lagging? Logically to me, a shutter curtain that is “decelerating” and is lagging towards one side due to cold weather and lack of lubrication, would result in a brighter part of the image...not darker! Do I think wrongly? The results that I have got, a darker negative part would indicate to me that the shutter is accelerating substantially towards the end position. Right?

To further illustrate the problem I enclose a scanned negative, a film scanner Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III and VueScan software. Other images taken another day in warmer weather and/or slower shutter speeds resulted in problem-free images.

Has anyone experienced this? My M4 is from 1975, in a very good condition otherwise.

You help and advice would be highly appreciated!

/B

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This is usually called shutter capping.

The first curtain lags a bit at some point towards the end, and because the slit is very narrow at top speed, the second curtains catches it and for a part of the frame they're stuck moving together. Cold weather exacerbates it, but shutter capping can happen in normal weather as well, especially in old cameras. Usually it means it's time for a shutter CLA, mostly cleaning up old gunk, replacing the lubrication and adjusting the tension.

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Ah that explains why my knees are freezing up in the cold then :D 

PS. Hej Börje, kul att se en till svensk här :) 

On 3/3/2021 at 8:52 PM, madNbad said:

It's the forty five year old lubricants that are affected by the cold. 

 

On 3/3/2021 at 7:41 PM, Börje Norhager said:

Is the M4 shutter sensitive to cold weather? I just have developed a Tri-X b/w film, and some frames taken outdoors a bright snowy day, using my Super Angulon 21 mm f3.4 lens, and shutter speed 1/1000 at f8 or f11, the developed negatives show a fairly large part that is definitely darker on the left side of the image. 


Is the shutter curtain lagging? Logically to me, a shutter curtain that is “decelerating” and is lagging towards one side due to cold weather and lack of lubrication, would result in a brighter part of the image...not darker! Do I think wrongly? The results that I have got, a darker negative part would indicate to me that the shutter is accelerating substantially towards the end position. Right?

To further illustrate the problem I enclose a scanned negative, a film scanner Minolta Dimage Dual Scan III and VueScan software. Other images taken another day in warmer weather and/or slower shutter speeds resulted in problem-free images.

Has anyone experienced this? My M4 is from 1975, in a very good condition otherwise.

You help and advice would be highly appreciated!

/B

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Ah that explains why my knees are starting freeze up in the gold then :D 

PS. Hej Börje, kul att se en till svensk här :) 

 

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  • 3 months later...
Am 5.3.2021 um 14:28 schrieb philipus:

Ah that explains why my knees are freezing up in the cold then :D 

PS. Hej Börje, kul att se en till svensk här :) 

 

Ah that explains why my knees are starting freeze up in the gold then :D 

PS. Hej Börje, kul att se en till svensk här :) 

 

Så hur gör man då ett oljebyte? På de snart 50-åriga smörjmedlen i kameran?

Ha det bra!!

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