Update on the Duaflex IV Part2

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The shutter on the Duaflex stopped working during the night. I perhaps should have left the punch and hammer on the workbench nearby.

I figured it was time for disassembly of the winding mechanism and shutter button by removing the side cover. It always looks simple, just remove two screws and voila! , there it is all neat and pretty, just waiting for you to quietly and slowly begin the examination. NOT! As usual in these things, as soon as the second screw was loosened, parts started shifting and by the time the cover was lifted there were parts all over the workbench. Gratefully, it all went back together with a minimum of fuss and bother, I put a couple of small drops of sewing machine oil on the plastic springs, pivot points, etc and re-assembled. 

At this point it is time for Murphy’s Law to come forth. It did. The shutter would still not work correctly (please remember that at this juncture both lenses and the aperture wheel are gone, and a new pinhole has been cemented in place.), then, out of nowhere an oblong hole near the inside bottom of the camera appeared. I know what you think – it was there all the time – I know better – it manifested itself. Anyways- a small drop of oil on the pivot point inside freed up the shutter instantly. Whether or not the last one drop of oil would have been all that was needed I don’t know. But, it would be a good place to start if you find yourself with a sticky shutter Duaflex IV and, of course, if that oblong hole is already there.

Update on the Duaflex IV Part1

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This camera is a forerunner of the current method of building automobiles on assembly line using robots. The parts that are most likely to need adjustment or replacing are mounted first, then everything else is glued, stapled and welded over them.

Short version- using pliers, tin snips and screwdrivers- I removed the entire lower lens assembly except for the shutter. Suddenly, it started working. The pin punch and 20 ounce ball peen hammer I was about to use must have intimidated it.

So, it will be a pinhole sprocket hole camera (perhaps a new name is needed here – perhaps “2HPS” Camera) ?

I do have a possible tip/suggestion for pinhole cameras. This is untried and certainly there are people who have scientific ‘proof’ that it will not work without even trying it. To prevent tiny pieces of dust from getting in the pinhole, I am going to glue a ’slip cover’ over the pinhole. A slip cover in this context is a piece of very thin glass normally used to cover specimens on microscope slides. If this works, it would also help stop the supposed introduction of dust into DSLR cameras when the mirror operates when using a pinhole cap – something I have reservations about. I personally feel the dust in DSLR’s when using pinhole caps is introduced via that two inch hole that is open to the world when lenses and body caps are removed and replaced. Or, is that silly, thinking that more dust will come in via a two inch hole than through a .3mm hole when the mirror moves ?

I feel the massive influx of dust in DSLR’s when using a pinhole body cap is more probably dust that was already on the sensor. Dust on the sensor is very hard to notice in normal usage with optical lenses and the opposite is true with pinhole lenses. Each and every piece of dust on the sensor is visible when looking at an enlarged digital image from a pinhole camera. The dust is the most in focus part of the picture. It is then very easy to look for some devious method of dust introduction upon one’s sensor than admitting one’s sensor was already dirty.

Use that old 620/616 camera

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In my constant quest for the different, I ran across this item at an auction site. It is an adapter to let you use 35mm film in the old 620 and 616 format cameras and also available for the 120 format. It costs $10USD! Finally, someone who knows how to merchandise! Instead of selling it for $49.99 and not getting any takers, it is priced in the LOMO style – cheap and fun. 

The images show the sprocket wheel holes as the entire width of the film is exposed and the format is panoramic. There are pictures on their Flickr site, the addy is on their website.

See the website below for information. Now I have to CLA the Kodak Duaflex IV that is in the drawer, the shutter is very sticky.

I had a hard time deciding whether to place this post  here or on my other blog where I have information using unmodified equipment, as this is not an invasive modification. Since the idea of sprocket holes appearing as an integral part of an image is more in keeping with this blog- well, here it will be.

Sprocket Information

Update: I received the package from the website. It is simply a pair of wooden dowels modified to be press fit on the 35mm canister and then placed into the camera. I figure it would take me a couple of hours of fiddling around to copy it, so the price is reasonable. Now, if I could only find the package – hope it didn’t drop in the trash can. Further Update – It is March 2009 and the package is still missing – I’ll probably have to re-order.