Zeiss Nettar 515/2 film choice

<p>I've just bought a Nettar 515/2 camera and wondered what sort of film I can use without covering up the red window in the back of the camera. I haven't got the camera yet but the pictures show that the window has no cover over it (as I've seen in other models). I'm assuming I can't use a colour film without covering the window, but what about fast black and white, such as Ilford HP5 (400ASA)?<br>

Any suggestions about the best way to cover the window?<br>

Thanks,<br />Andy</p>

<p>Piece of tape works fine. Buy a roll of the blue stuff painters use, it's designed to be pulled off without tearing things to shreds. But if your Netter has no sliding metal cover over the window, I'd check it carefully to make sure it hasn't been tampered with.</p>

<p>Find yourself some red filter martial in plastic and use it to cover the window, you will need to see that window to advance you film : good luck</p>

<p>Thanks for your rapid responses. I'll certainly take a close look at the red window when it arrives.</p>

<p>Andrew,<br>

Perhaps I am not understanding the problem. Is there a need to cover the back at all unless you intend to be pointing a torch or face it towards heavy sunlight? 120 film has backing paper. That should be adequate for most situations. I have a Nettar and a Ikonta and have never needed to close the back window. I shoot almost exclusively Velvia 100 through my uncoated Tessar 3.5/Ikonta and any other expired film using the Novar 6.3/Nettar.</p>

<p>400 speed film can be a bit dodgy (edge fog) without covering the red filter, but 160 speed film should be fine. I use black electrical tape to cover the window while not advancing, not very aggressive.<br>

Everyone kept making cameras with red lenses even after panchromatic and color films were available.</p>

 

I have used color slide and b/w film with many folders. Most of them had a cover on the red window but some did not. I never had any serious problems with the red window, even with 400ASA film. You should keep the camera in the bag as long as possible and always put it down with the red window down.

 

Also, to avoid bulging of the film due to air suction when unfolding the camera, I always tried to advance the film after unfolding and just prior to shooting.

<p>BTW I had more problems with light from the red window crawling around the edges of the film. On some coverless cameras I found some black brush or felt material surrounding the red window. I installed rings of black rubber foam (similar to that used for replacing light seals) around the red window, thus blocking light getting in there and being reflected between the pressure plate and the back of the camera.</p>

<p>Yes some cameras have a ring of felt around the inside of the red window to keep light from scattering. Usually though, if the pressure plate is good you won't have a problem anyway.<br>

The only cameras I've had problems with light leaking around the edges of the film were box cameras/toy cameras without pressure plates.</p>

<p>If I understand correctly, you have a camera which has lost the red round glass in the window. You can replace it with a small piece of red plastic, the type that comes in some office folders. Every film in the world can be used after you replace the red plastic. As said above some cameras need a felt ring around the red window, look for traces of it and replace it with black wool or felt if needed.</p>

 

<p>No, I don't believe the camera has lost the red glass window, it's just that it doesn't have a metal cover over. I understand that later Nettar cameras have this metal cover, which can be opened to check the film number. </p>

<p>I have a 1938 Nettar and there is no metal cover nor anything it looks like a cover could be attached to near the window. I also have an older (1935-37) Kodak Junior Six-20 and it <em>does</em> have a metal cover. Strange but true, a lower-end Kodak has a feature that the lower-end Zeiss doesn't. I use a piece of Scotch blue tape with a piece of black electrical tape stuck to it right over the window to black out the window area. It seems to work, there was no light struck area on the negative. Then again, it was Ektar 100, not a faster film. </p>

<p>Hurrah, it's arrived and it looks to be in excellent condition. The red window does look like there has never been a metal cover over it. Perhaps that means its an early version? The serial number on the Compur shutter assembly is 1200746 but I can't seem to find out what year that might be.<br>

Anyway, can't wait for the weekend to run a film through it and see what the lens is like.</p>