Mamiya Press 23, film fogging

[chris_waller]

I have a Mamiya Press 23 of considerable vintage which has spent the

last few years sitting doing nothing. I ran a roll of film through it

and there is fogging evident on all frames. The fogging is more dense

at the top of the frame. This suggests that the light seals have gone

although there is no obvious sign of degradation. Has anyone else had

this problem? I'm trying to get a handle on the probable source of

the leakage before going to the repair technician.

[roger krueger]

The light seals on these are infamous--it's a given that seals over about a decade old are goners. As of a couple of years ago at least, Mamiya America would still sell you a seal kit for a few bucks (all it is is a few strips of foam), all you have to do is scrape out the remains of the old seals and glue the new ones in. It took me a little over half an hour to do it; someone of average intelligence should be able to do it in twenty minutes.

 

But if the light seals really do appear to be good, check that the back is seating all the way onto the camera, and that the door on the back is closing securely.

[david_gwynne]

If you are new to the Press system you may have overlooked the seals in the slim channel where the door closes on the back itself. The back to body seals are fairly obvious.

[david_gwynne]

Oh, and don't forget that the image records inverted. That is if the fogging is on the top of the image, the leaks are from the bottom of the camera. As a suggestion, if you are sure of the body to back seals, try a second back of known sound condition.