ZalmanYanowsky
Dear all,
One of my much-loved Isoletten has recently started letting light through two tiny pinprick-sized holes in the bellows. I’ve already bought some black liquid latex, but before I start, I’d like to ask for your advice:
Should I apply it on the outside or the inside?
Multiple coats?
Should I try to repair it using only this latex, or apply suitable ‘patches’? What should these be made of?
And anything else you can think of.
Many thanks in advance,
Zalman Yanowsky
onlinetinte
I once had a faulty bellows on my Fujica GS645 Pro.
In the end, I replaced the bellows because there was practically a hole in every corner.
I’ve read about using silicone or oil pan sealant too. If you only have two holes, that’s probably the best solution for now.
But I think you’ll need to reapply the sealant every now and then. I’d apply it from the outside.
Back then, as a temporary fix, I removed the bellows and flattened it out. Then I stuck adhesive tape/insulation tape over the edges
. So, a total of four strips of tape from the lens towards the camera body, one strip for each edge of the bellows.
After that, you can fold the bellows back up and shape the edges, which are now reinforced with tape. It’s very easy, as everything is already pre-folded.
The tape I used back then was OK, but it’s quite thick and might not stick in all the corners. I think it’s better and neater to stick on thin fabric or film etc. using contact adhesive.
ZalmanYanowsky
Thanks for your advice!
Unfortunately, I’m not exactly handy, so taking the bellows apart isn’t an option for me. Is it possible to apply the adhesive tape to the folds of the bellows without flattening them first?
Black film with pressure-sensitive adhesive sounds good too. Could you recommend a product (by trade name – I’m not a fan of this criminal copyright-enforcement industry)? Given the need for complete light-tightness, I wouldn’t hesitate to stick on two small pieces of standard aluminium foil either.
Best regards!
Zal
onlinetinte
Hi, the bit about the film or fabric was just an idea – I don’t have a specific brand in mind. Light-blocking fabric is always very thick.
I remember there are a few old forums where people discuss bellows fabric and sometimes mention brands and manufacturers. They also cover things like making your own bellows, etc. Often in English.
You should have a look and see if you can find anything there.
Perhaps you could use the Isoband and stick it down with contact adhesive so that it holds better and doesn’t come loose at the corners.
I just picked up the smooth black Tesa tape from the adhesives section at the chemist’s. You can also find it as fabric tape at the DIY store.
But without the bellows structure, I imagine it would be tricky to stick it down.
So to make it easy, I’d just seal up the holes and that’s that.
ZalmanYanowsky
Thanks, I’ll think about it a bit more and then make up my mind.
It’s a good thing we have these incredibly bright LED torches these days. Without one, I wouldn’t have found those little holes at all.
Best regards,
Zalman
