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Box Image Troubleshooting (Public)
Box Image Troubleshooting (Public)
Box Image Troubleshooting (Public)
Love's Guide to
Box/Spectra Troubleshooting
How to, and How Not to...
Read this guide in entirety before you begin testing
One key difference from Folding Cameras...
VIEWFINDER
LIGHT MIRROR
FILM
Nearly all (Macros are exceptions) Box and Spectra cameras are Viewfinder Cameras. This means the
lens/image taking and viewing systems are SEPARATE.
01: Don't Waste Your Film
If you have a camera that doesn't appear to
be working and there's a pack with film
inside it - take it out before you try anything
with the camera.
Refer here for tips on how holding onto dark
slides and empty film packs helps in
troubleshooting and prevents wasted film.
Blades will start closed, open for exposure, then close once finished.
If blades are; stuck closed or open, do not fully close, or seem slow Counter
to move, assume defective.
05: Look and Listen (Spectra)
Spectra cameras have an added complex of
switches on the back.
When testing these, be sure to check the
switches. If switch isn't immediately responsive,
toggle back and forth quickly many times for a
few seconds, this 'cleans' the contacts. Then
test. Main points to look for... Sound on/off
Autofocus on/off Light/Darken
1. Flash switch and lights work and correctly.
2. Self timer counts down and fires. (only
ejects frame on turning timer back off) Counter
3. VF is clear when camera is open.
4. Shutter blades actually OPEN, not just
'cycle' when firing. Shutter consistently
firing is a COMMON problem on these.
For more info, here's a link to all the 'Dr. Love' Blog
posts.
As always, keep your rollers clean,
-f