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Subject: Stereo Folders in freezing temps?
Date: 2014-02-17 18:05:24
From: jinglis26
Hello
I have a Lumiere Sterelux Model 1 stereo camera with 85mm lenses that worked fine in 40 degree F temps, but when used somewhere in the teens fahrenheit, while one image is close to where it should be exposure wise, the other is way underexposed. Both were set around 1/50th of a second. Does anyone have experience with folders in freezing temps? 
John
Subject: Re: Stereo Folders in freezing temps?
Date: 2014-02-17 19:24:08
From: John Thurston
On 2/17/2014 2:50 PM, jinglis1@udayton.edu wrote:
> Hello I have a Lumiere Sterelux Model 1 stereo camera with 85mm lenses that worked fine in 40 degree F temps, but when used somewhere in the teens fahrenheit, while one image is close to where it should be exposure wise, the other is way underexposed. Both were set around 1/50th of a second. Does anyone have experience with folders in freezing temps?
> John

Am I correct that this has mechanically-linked apertures (each lens has
its own iris, but the two share one control) and two leaf shutters with
a single timer?

If so, my hypothesis is that the apertures are fine, the shutter timer
is fine, but one shutter is not opening fully. I suspect there is some
oil on it which is gumming it up as it gets cold.

If you'd like to test this, unload the camera, and open the apertures.
Then put it into your refrigerator for an hour. When it is chilled, pull
it out, open the back, look through the lenses and trip the shutter. Is
one noticeably shorter than the other? If so, you have two choices, use
it as a warm weather camera or clean the shutters.

--
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska
Subject: Re: Stereo Folders in freezing temps?
Date: 2014-02-17 20:36:53
From: jinglis26
I will try this! Thanks much!
The shutters are timed and linked in some sense. The button to take the photo both cocks and releases for the photo to be taken.
John
Subject: Re: Stereo Folders in freezing temps?
Date: 2014-02-18 01:43:02
From: JR
Either the shutters or the irises can cause differential exposures.  Many of these folding cameras had shutters and irises that were made up from sets of very thin steel blades.  Any oil film can slow these down.  If there is any rust on the blades or the pivots (the pins that hold the blades), this will "trap" any gook that is slowing them down.  This can be seen as a brownish discoloring of the normally black or blue-black blades.  If you use a solvent, make sure that it does not have any water in it.  Some rubbing alcohols are actually a mixture of solvent and water, and this can rust steel blades.  Also, be sure that all of the solvent has evaporated before actuating the blades.   And, be very, very careful not to put any pressure on the blades.  They are very easily bent, and almost impossible to straighten once bent.  The slightest bend will cause them to rub or even jam.  Normally a very thin film of light oil will keep them operating smoothly and prevent rusting in normal temperatures.   They can be operated for short periods of time without any oil in extremely cold temperatures, but they should be re-coated with the protective oil film when returning to normal temperature use.  There is a very light machine oil, called "camera oil" intended for this purpose.  It is sold to camera repair shops.  Some modern synthetic oils will have a wider temperature range than older "natural" oils.  If you are not absolutely sure that you can do a safe CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) yourself, you may be better to have an experienced camera repair shop do it.  There are several that specialize in older cameras which often have sticky shutters.  They can also check the timing on your shutters, and adjust them if they are off by very much from the labeled speeds.  Be sure to tell them that you plan on cold weather operation, and they will use a lighter oil.  Some will recommend that you use the thinner or lighter weight oil for cold weather operation, and then have a CLA to a normal weight when returning to warm weather, just like with a car.  

JR


On Mon, Feb 17, 2014 at 5:24 PM, John Thurston <juneau3d@thurstons.us> wrote:
 

On 2/17/2014 2:50 PM, jinglis1@udayton.edu wrote:
> Hello I have a Lumiere Sterelux Model 1 stereo camera with 85mm lenses that worked fine in 40 degree F temps, but when used somewhere in the teens fahrenheit, while one image is close to where it should be exposure wise, the other is way underexposed. Both were set around 1/50th of a second. Does anyone have experience with folders in freezing temps?
> John

Am I correct that this has mechanically-linked apertures (each lens has
its own iris, but the two share one control) and two leaf shutters with
a single timer?

If so, my hypothesis is that the apertures are fine, the shutter timer
is fine, but one shutter is not opening fully. I suspect there is some
oil on it which is gumming it up as it gets cold.

If you'd like to test this, unload the camera, and open the apertures.
Then put it into your refrigerator for an hour. When it is chilled, pull
it out, open the back, look through the lenses and trip the shutter. Is
one noticeably shorter than the other? If so, you have two choices, use
it as a warm weather camera or clean the shutters.

--
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska




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Subject: Re: Stereo Folders in freezing temps?
Date: 2014-02-19 16:20:49
From: jinglis26
Thanks much JR,
and especially for the very helpful detail on the different possibilities!
And no I am not qualified or brave enough myself to take this on!
I do not see stereo with my eyes, since one is a lazy eye which does not travel with the other eye, but with stereo images I can see stereo, at least mostly, so this is very very interesting!
What a group you have here.
John

Subject: Re: Stereo Folders in freezing temps?
Date: 2014-02-19 17:25:47
From: JR
That is very interesting about your stereoscopic vision.  You might want to check with an ophthalmologist to see if this can be corrected.  And, check with more than one.   There are some new treatments that some doctors may not be aware of.  Interestingly, some of these treatments and therapy involve eye training and eye muscle exercise using stereoscopic images.  There are people who have had their vision corrected for amblyopia and/or strabismus who told me that they wished that they had these problems corrected long ago; that it opened up a whole new visual world for them that they did not realize existed.  

JR
stereoscope3d@gmail.com


On Wed, Feb 19, 2014 at 2:20 PM, <jinglis1@udayton.edu> wrote:
 

Thanks much JR,

and especially for the very helpful detail on the different possibilities!
And no I am not qualified or brave enough myself to take this on!
I do not see stereo with my eyes, since one is a lazy eye which does not travel with the other eye, but with stereo images I can see stereo, at least mostly, so this is very very interesting!
What a group you have here.
John




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