Exa 1 light leak

[truls]

Hello,
I have an Exa 1.


There are two holes on both sides of the camera, just below the chrome upper part. May be some old strap lug screws? I need to add som material to seal the light leaks caused by those holes. traditional light seals may not be not sufficient, can someone suggest which material to attach? Gaffer tape? Thanks!

Best Regards
Truls

[mickeyobe]

Welcome Truls,

I would suggest some Plasticine, preferably black. It is completely opaque.
It is available in almost any art supply store or children's toy store.

It is easy to work and would be almost invisible.

Failing that some chewing gum should do the job. Any flavour will work but you will want to blacken it with a felt marker. You could have a great rarity - the only spearmint Exa . 1 in existence.

Mickey

[Stephen]

The two holes were for chrome finish lugs that took split rings, I was not aware they went through into the body and would case a light leak if missing. The holes could be filled neatly with domed split paper clips, the clip filed filed slightly to fit, and then a dab of glue to hold. they are made in metal with a chrome finish, as are decorative brass chromed studs for leather goods, again the back may drop in the hole or file to fit.

The lug spares would be somewhat difficult, although anybody with a lathe could duplicate in stainless steel quite easily.

Apart for plasticine, a dab of children's black wax crayon would work, and leave it open to repair properly later on. Also black self adhesive tape to get it up and running.

If there is a local camera repair shop they may have parts that suit from stock or from old bodies to suit

[Stephen]

Looking at images of the Exa 1 on the net, most if not all, seem to have the lugs in the chrome area above the holes you have, so if you are not desperate to add lugs, then use araldite or epoxy glue to fill the hole, stuff it with a tiny plug made from a wooden match to block and seal with the epoxy and paint black. To neaten the inside put a small black self adhesive patch over the hole.

Variants abound in Exakta models and the position of the lugs must have varied. maybe they were added by the first owner.

Also if the body casting is thin enough at that point, the decorative leather studs from clothes often have a screw that goes inside and may reach through to attach the stud. If this is used make sure the screw head does not foul the cassette or the film path. The studs are usually tapped 2mm and longer screws might fit if the original does not reach.
Stephen

[Berndt]

If all light leaks could be detected as easy as this one

[Rachel]

Hi Truls, I have an EXA 1 but it has no strap lugs or holes for them. Perhaps a DIY (Do It Yourself) effort by a previous owner?

[truls]

Thanks everyone for several great advice. I will in time carefully get my Exa 1 repaired properly. I love to shoot with those old cameras.

I have temporarily repaired the camera the lazy mans way and added some black self adhesive thick tape to seal the Exa1 inside and outside. It worked OK. This is a test picture from today, it was a horrible weather, so the picture is for the light seal test only:



(Fomapan 400, 1/125 @f5.6)

[hansz]

Bad weather has its virtues also...
It's good to see the Exa back to work again!