I recently acquired a Toyo 45AX field camera. My first sheets of film, though, are light-struck. I went into my darkroom and tested the bellows with a flashlight and found no leaks. I then inserted a film holder and stuck a flashlight into the bellows. I saw a small point of light around one corner of the holder. I was a longtime wooden Wista DX user (until it was stolen in April) and never had a problem with light leaks. I’m still getting used to the Toyo and am wondering if I’m improperly inserting the holders (a mix of Riteway and Fidelity). With the Wista I knew when the holder was properly seated because I wouldn’t be able to remove it without lifting the back. With the Toyo, even when I insert the holder all the way, I can still remove it without lifting the back. Is that normal with this camera? At this point, I feel that it must be operator error on my part. With the Toyo, I lift the back and then slide the holder in until it stops. That means it’s properly seated, right?
Bookmarks