Ok, my new VT is very cool, but the hole in the 2nd curtain isn't...Advice?

[StuartR]

I just posted this at another forum, but I figure I will hedge my bets and post it here too. I was wondering if you guys could offer some advice. I recently (yesterday)purchased a Canon VT and after exposing my first roll (trix in diafine), I noticed there is a hole in the second curtain. Now this isn't a huge problem, as now that I know it is in the second curtain, I can advance as quickly as possible and limit any effect on the picture, but it is still a rather annoying problem. It is only a tiny hole, barely visible when looking at the curtain, but it of course wreaks havoc on the image if I take my time composing the next image without advancing from the last one. Are there any DIY tricks that could solve this problem, how much would a repair cost (I am guessing a lot), or should I just advance very quickly?

In any case, I like the camera and the great lenses that it came with (35/1.8
and 100/3.5). Here are example shots where the phenomenon is apparent. Nothing interesting yet, as I was stuck at home.

[Nikon Bob]

I have heard of people using liquid electrical tape on cloth shutters. Followed by the usual disclaimer that I have no personal experience using this product for that purpose.

Bob

[back alley]

i think it was essex camera repair that has a price list on line and i think they list this repair.

joe

just looked - 7 REPL SHUTTER CURTAIN 160.00
that's for the canon 7, but they might also do older canons.

[jlw]

I think the fabric-paint trick only works on pinholes. This looks to be somewhat bigger than a pinhole.

I have heard that you can patch them by cutting a piece of rubberized cloth slightly larger than the hole (you can get the cloth by cutting up a darkroom item called a changing bag; the neatest way to cut it is with a circular punch) and cementing it over the hole with Pliobond or some other type of contact cement that stays flexible when dried. If I were doing it, I'd probably patch both sides.

Sooner or later you'll want to have it fixed, though, because otherwise you'll always be worrying about the patches coming off.

[kabkos]

The darkroom cloth from a changing bag is too thick and heavy for use in shutter curtains. If you want, send me your address and I will give you a piece of shutter curtain material (free, I will cover the postage costs). I agree with the recommendation to put a small piece of shutter curtain material (hole punch size) on with pliobond (most hobby stores carry pliobond). I do not agree with putting the patch on both sides of the curtain though. I would put pliobond on the patch and apply it to the shutter curtain (be sure to having something on the backside of the curtain so that you don't cause any additional wrinkling, maybe a small block of wood in the film gate?), let the pliobond dry for 24 hours and then see how it works.

karl

[wierdcollector]

I've used liquid electrical tape for a repair on a larger (1/8 inch square roughly 3mm) hole/thin spot on a Fed 3 shutter curtain. The main two things I found were to use a couple of very thin coats to avoid lumps and most importantly, allow at LEAST 24 hours to dry as I used 12 hours as a guide and the curtain wanted to remain rolled up after cocking the shutter.

[StuartR]

Thanks for the advice guys. The hole is actually very small, but since I was using ISO 1250 film and taking my time before advancing, the hole shows up bigger than it is. It is actually the size of a pinprick, with other tiny tiny weak areas right next to it. I think the liquid electric tape or fabric paint tricks sound like they would work. I will try to find them in person to see if they work. Thanks again for all the suggestions. If you have any more, please share them.

[Doug]

One more suggestion... Use a lens cap when in sunlight and not actively shooting!

[VictorM.]

Fabric paint works really well on bellows. I've used "Liquitex Acrylic Artist Color Mars Black" on a couple of folders with large pinholes in the bellows. The fix is light tight and almost invisible.