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Thread: My camera caught fire.

  1. #1
    jp's Avatar
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    May 2009
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    Maine
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    My camera caught fire.

    pretty much my favorite camera.. Trusty, reliable, simple. the Preanniversary 4x5 speed graphic I've been using for years to make soft focus photos that please me.

    I was at the Owls Head Transportation Museum Sunday morning photographing a B17 before the place opened and crowds showed up. At around 8am, I was done with that and was asked to go for a flight in a B25 for some photos, which got me kinda excited and distracted. I forgot to unwind the shutter back to (o)pen. I lugged the camera into shade under cover. Apparently the lens was not in the shade because within 30 seconds, smoke was pouring out of it. I did the equivalent of "stop drop and roll" and released the shutter back from 3/4 to O to smother the fire. The fire was out, but the damage was done. The smoke was very metallic smelling mixed with tire-burnout smell. (I had other cameras with wider lenses for shooting within the b25)

    A belt and suspenders approach in the future would be to not simply set the shutter curtain to open when not taking a photo, but to remove the lens. If it's heavy lens like a AE or my Gundlach Hyperion, I always remove it because of the weight and value. I had a 7.25 verito on it which is pretty light and not a risk of physical damage from the weight... But it can burn things pretty well.

    If anyone has experience fixing this, I'd be glad to hire someone to fix it. I can use it without the 3/4 speed ranges, but it's now full of ashes and the 3/4 inch shutter speeds are very useful. I have a nos shutter curtain that probably goes to RB-D or Super-D slr but not sure if that's compatible. I could tinker with it, but if someone is skilled in this, I'd rather have it work nicely as I'd like the camera to be reliable.


    IMG_20170808_083642 by Jason Philbrook, on Flickr

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 2003
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    La Luz del Oeste, Albuquerque NM
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    538

    Re: My camera caught fire.

    All I can say is "wow." Now forewarned.
    Peter Collins

    On the intent of the First Amendment: The press was to serve the governed, not the governors --Opinion, Hugo Black, Judge, Supreme Court, 1971 re the "Pentagon Papers."

  3. #3

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    Feb 2015
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    Re: My camera caught fire.

    And I thought this only happened to cameras with lithium-ion batteries.

  4. #4
    Hack Pawlowski6132's Avatar
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    Sep 2009
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    Re: My camera caught fire.

    So, I don't understand what the source of the heat was.

  5. #5

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    Feb 2015
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    Eastern Sierra
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    Re: My camera caught fire.

    I had the same thing happen with a big projection lens on my Speed...after that I made a cardboard lens cap and try to remember to use it. The hole in my shutter was about an inch in diameter. I was able to repair this with sticky back black nylon repair tape designed for tents and sleeping bags. I put a piece with rounded corners on both sides of the shutter and so far this has held up. Quite a surprise to have smoke coming out of a camera!

  6. #6

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    Dec 2005
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    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
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    Re: My camera caught fire.

    That is very dramatic. Hope you get it repaired soon. So was the B-25 ride cancelled?

  7. #7
    Tracy Storer's Avatar
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    Nov 2001
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    Re: My camera caught fire.

    The lens focused the sun on the shutter curtain.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pawlowski6132 View Post
    So, I don't understand what the source of the heat was.
    Tracy Storer
    Mammoth Camera Company tm
    www.mammothcamera.com

  8. #8

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    Jan 2013
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    Madisonville, LA
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    Re: My camera caught fire.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pawlowski6132 View Post
    So, I don't understand what the source of the heat was.
    So take a magnifying glass and put it over a piece of paper (or your hand if you like pain) in the sun and focus it on a small point and you'll quickly figure out the source of the heat was.....

  9. #9
    Foamer
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
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    South Dakota
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    Re: My camera caught fire.

    Leicas are famous for doing this, on a smaller scale.


    Kent in SD
    In contento ed allegria
    Notte e di vogliam passar!

  10. #10

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Norwalk Ca.
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    696

    Re: My camera caught fire.

    Flying on in a B17 with a full load of bombs and fuel, who would ever think a Speeder would start a fire.

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