Industar 50 3.5 into the sun

[robbiechad]

Hi Guys , I thought I might point my Industar 50 3.5 straight into the sun to see what I got, low winter very bright sun here in the UK, I was surprised with the result . Agfa APX 400.The second image is when I dont point it at the sun!

[Blake Werts]

As a relatively new user of these wonderful Russian rangefinders I have to ask: does aiming the camera directly at the sun damage shutter curtains in any way? For some reason I've convinced myself that this isn't a good thing to do...

??? Thanks!

[xayraa33]

As a relatively new user of these wonderful Russian rangefinders I have to ask: does aiming the camera directly at the sun damage shutter curtains in any way? For some reason I've convinced myself that this isn't a good thing to do...

??? Thanks!

with cloth shutter curtains there is the risk of burning holes in them.

[Blake Werts]

with cloth shutter curtains there is the risk of burning holes in them.

Ahhh.. so is this a likely cause of an occasional "light orbs" I've gotten on occasion in very heavy light? Almost like a little pixie or two floating in the midst of my image... ?

[xayraa33]

Ahhh.. so is this a likely cause of an occasional "light orbs" I've gotten on occasion in very heavy light? Almost like a little pixie or two floating in the midst of my image... ?

most likely, or those pesky UFOs :)

[Highway 61]

Robbie, you should avoid taking pictures while not pointing that Industar directly into the sun, unless your goal is to get some gore pictures of a stranger riveted onto a metallic cross.

[payasam]

Impressive pictures, Robbie.

Blake, a camera with lens but no cap should not be left aimed at the sun for any length of time. A hole in a shutter curtain is a permanent thing, not intermittent.

[oscroft]

Ahhh.. so is this a likely cause of an occasional "light orbs" I've gotten on occasion in very heavy light? Almost like a little pixie or two floating in the midst of my image... ?
That's more likely to be out-of-focus dust particles illuminated by the bright light.

[robbiechad]

I know about the dangers of leaving a cloth shutter without lens cap in the sun , this was just a second to point in the right direction and fire the shutter, more a test of how the lens handled extreme flare. it is a very sharp lens I would say equal to an Elmar.

[Blake Werts]

Impressive pictures, Robbie.
Blake, a camera with lens but no cap should not be left aimed at the sun for any length of time. A hole in a shutter curtain is a permanent thing, not intermittent.

Last night in a relatively dark room, I took this particular camera and shined a bright flashlight through the front of the body and examined the curtains as I slowly cocked the shutter. On occasion I can see the smallest pinprick of light in one of the curtains as it is passing by. It doesn't open up each time, however, maybe once every 4 or 5 trips across the film plane....

Is this easily repairable?

[ray*j*gun]

Small holes can be repaired. I have read about various methods but I have personally used a small dot of black liquid electrical tape to seal the whole. I have seen cameras with cloth patches on the curtains but I have not ever done such a repair.

Ray

[wolves3012]

As a relatively new user of these wonderful Russian rangefinders I have to ask: does aiming the camera directly at the sun damage shutter curtains in any way? For some reason I've convinced myself that this isn't a good thing to do...

??? Thanks!
It isn't a good thing to do, you're right. The risk comes from holding it steadily aimed at the sun, however, rather that aim-and-take. Burns are certainly possible but I think it's probably quite difficult to hand-hold a steady image of the sun in one spot for long enough. Saying that, it's just best avoided, in case.