Schneider 300mm Copal 3 flash sync problem

**franklphoto** · 8-May-2009, 20:00

I recently did a shoot on my 8x10 with a 300mm schneider copal 3 at f 32.5 1/60 hooked up to a broncolor mobil kit. About a 1/4 of the botton of the film was blacked out. Can anyone tell me where i went wrong? Thanks

**benrains** · 8-May-2009, 20:03

Were the bellows on your camera sagging down noticeably?

**franklphoto** · 8-May-2009, 20:05

yes maybe!!! how do i fix that

**Gene McCluney** · 8-May-2009, 20:18

Originally Posted by franklphoto

yes maybe!!! how do i fix that

You stuff a small sofa pillow under the bellows to hold them up.

**franklphoto** · 8-May-2009, 20:24

is it worth getting replaced?

**Gene McCluney** · 8-May-2009, 20:30

Originally Posted by franklphoto

is it worth getting replaced?

You don't need to get your bellows replaced. ALL bellows will sag under
certain extensions and conditions. We all have to be aware of it, and
take measures to ensure the bellows doesn't block part of the image
of the lens. Some bellows are made with hooks on tabs so you can
compress them by hooking various parts of them onto the front standard
thus effectively shortening the length, and allowing them to sag less, and
some cameras come with a bellows support that is adjustable to hold the
bellows up, but a pillow or folded up towel works just fine also. It is just
a factor of larger bellows-type cameras.

**benrains** · 8-May-2009, 20:37

Whatever way you can hold or prop them up that won't damage the bellows! If there's nothing built onto your camera for doing that, and the bellows are rigid enough, something like a small cardboard box placed between the bellows and camera bed will hold them up just fine.

You should be able to see whether this is actually your problem or not by checking the ground glass with the bellows extended the same amount as they were during your shoot. It should be easy to see if they're getting in the way by examining that upper 1/4 of the glass. You may want to setup the camera outside or in a brightly lit space so it's easier to check.

**franklphoto** · 8-May-2009, 20:59

thanks guys i think this is def it. i this was the first real shoot with my 8x10 and i also placed the radio sync on top of the bellows which i am sure didn't help at all.