A continuation of my post in the processing forum, "Processing Woes."

I've determined that my problem isn't processing but is light leaks on the camera back. The back would not seat tightly into the rear standard so I carefully looked at all four clips on the standard and the eight pins on the 8x10 back. Turns out there was one pin missing from the back, so I replaced it. Another wasn't sitting up high enough to reliably catch so I pulled it up with pliers. Second issue were the clips. The one on the lower right was bent downwards, and allowed the back to rock back and forth. It also wasn't pulling the back tightly against the standard. I unscrewed and removed the clip, carefully and slowly bent it back into position and reinstalled. The clip on the top left was also bent, this time upwards. I removed it and carefully bent it downwards just a bit, reinstalled. Rechecking, this seemed to pull the back up much tighter. There is still some light showing when I stick a bright flashlight inside and shine it directly through the crack, but when I do the same thing with my 5x7 Gundlach Korona it does the same thing but doesn't show any fogging on my film. The other problem is the 8x10 back is slightly warped (checked it by placing on a sheet of glass.) The adjustments to the clips seem to have been enough to pull the back into shape when mounted.

Now for the final issue. I tried three different film holders in the 8x10 back and saw the same thing. They don't seem to cover the opening completely, especially the top corners (with back in portrait/vertical orientation.) No amount of fiddling could totally eliminate this. The two film backs I tried (a modern plastic one and a vintage black Kodak wooden one) both have a ridge/lip along the top to act as a light trap, but they don' go far enough across to completely seal. Today I received a Stenopeika wet plate holder. It has no ridges on the face at all and there is a bit more light leak. Not sure what to think about this. The Chamonix and Lund do have a ridge, but don't accept full cut 8x10. Not sure what to do. If I try the Stenopeika and it doesn't work for me don't know if I can return it used. I have a Lund 4x5 wet plate holder but don't like it--very fiddly and cheap. I have a Chamonix 5x7 wet plate holder and like it as it's very well built but it won't take full size 5x7 (or 8x10 plates). Hopefully the light leak of the Stenopeika won't matter but it clearly doesn't seal up as well as my Chamonix and Lund do in my Chamonix 045n and Gundlach Korona 5x7. It's also very bulky and heavy.

There are a few things I like about the Kodak 2D, mainly the big 6 inch lens boards, but all in all I might have been happier with the more finely finished Gundlach Korona 8x10. I'll see how the 2D works now that I've adjusted the clips. Crossing my fingers! Any suggestions, I'm listening!


Kent in SD