Dustyman
26-Dec-2015, 19:01
Greetings.
On an 8x10 Century Master Studio camera I have a large Packard shutter (8x8" with 4-1/2" opening) that has separate timed exposure and instantaneous pistons utilizing two separate air bulbs.
If you are reading this then you probably know that, regardless of which piston you expose with, one must use the timed exposure option to "lock" open the shutter to focus. The problem is that it is way too sensitive, making it very difficult to get the shutter to stay in the open position. It takes quite a few super gentle attempts with the bulb to get the shutter remain open. Then, once it is finally "locked" open, even a very slight vibration of the camera causes it to close again. This is extremely frustrating when doing portraiture.
Usually with these old shutters the opposite is the problem. They would get stuck open or do not smoothly close. In this case, however, it does't want to remain open. It's as if there's not enough friction on the piston tube itself.
I have lots of experience with using Packards. I have several, used them for years. I even have another one, just like this one, mounted on my Deardorff 8x10 Portrait camera. All the others work fine. No problem locking the shutter in the open position. It's just this one, on the Century, that is too sensitive and shuts down too easily.
Suggestions? Anybody experience this same issue? I would love to hear what you might suggest I try.
On an 8x10 Century Master Studio camera I have a large Packard shutter (8x8" with 4-1/2" opening) that has separate timed exposure and instantaneous pistons utilizing two separate air bulbs.
If you are reading this then you probably know that, regardless of which piston you expose with, one must use the timed exposure option to "lock" open the shutter to focus. The problem is that it is way too sensitive, making it very difficult to get the shutter to stay in the open position. It takes quite a few super gentle attempts with the bulb to get the shutter remain open. Then, once it is finally "locked" open, even a very slight vibration of the camera causes it to close again. This is extremely frustrating when doing portraiture.
Usually with these old shutters the opposite is the problem. They would get stuck open or do not smoothly close. In this case, however, it does't want to remain open. It's as if there's not enough friction on the piston tube itself.
I have lots of experience with using Packards. I have several, used them for years. I even have another one, just like this one, mounted on my Deardorff 8x10 Portrait camera. All the others work fine. No problem locking the shutter in the open position. It's just this one, on the Century, that is too sensitive and shuts down too easily.
Suggestions? Anybody experience this same issue? I would love to hear what you might suggest I try.