Got up early this morning to take some 5x4 shots, walked about 1.5 miles to get to my location, got all setup with my Camera. I decided its time I tried out my Grafmatic Back that I got, I loaded it with 6 sheets of Formapan 100, all focused up, inserted the grafflock back pulled out the dark slide, went to shove it back in and it had Jammed open.
I tried to unjam it on the camera but could not do it. So I thought ok I am going to loose this one sheet so I took the back off the camera to try to unjam it.
In doing so I dont know what I did, or how I did it, but while trying to unjam the back the back opened and all the five septums fired out just like when a magician does the card trick.
I just looked in horror at my six sheets on the floor. I did not have any other sheets or backs with me to carry on, so off back to my car cussing and swearing..
When I got home I used the old sheets again to test it out after reloading it, I then thought I had not turned the dial to number one at the start of the loading. I did this and sure enough it jammed on the first sheet again and would not go back. Also when I tried it with just three septums it worked to a fashion but not without wriggling the septums, also I noticed the counter was not moving on after each shot was fired. I stripped it down completely cleaned and re lubricated all the gears and moving parts.
Anyway after some testing and doing some investigating I found where the back slide out in the back it was quite loose, so I managed to tighten the two guides in the slot and then checked the light seals while I was there.
The light seals where loose in there positions as the double sided tape holding them to the back base has persished so I replaced the tape and made them all secure. I then re-watched a few YT video's on how to use and load the backs to get it imprinted in my head.
Then I loaded it back up and ran the same six septums through it viola it works, I did it half a dozen times and it worked great all the time.
I have now reloaded it with new sheet film and will try again, but also this time I am going to load some of my double sheet backs this time and take them as a backup just incase.
The joys of large format lol.
I tried to unjam it on the camera but could not do it. So I thought ok I am going to loose this one sheet so I took the back off the camera to try to unjam it.
In doing so I dont know what I did, or how I did it, but while trying to unjam the back the back opened and all the five septums fired out just like when a magician does the card trick.
I just looked in horror at my six sheets on the floor. I did not have any other sheets or backs with me to carry on, so off back to my car cussing and swearing..
When I got home I used the old sheets again to test it out after reloading it, I then thought I had not turned the dial to number one at the start of the loading. I did this and sure enough it jammed on the first sheet again and would not go back. Also when I tried it with just three septums it worked to a fashion but not without wriggling the septums, also I noticed the counter was not moving on after each shot was fired. I stripped it down completely cleaned and re lubricated all the gears and moving parts.
Anyway after some testing and doing some investigating I found where the back slide out in the back it was quite loose, so I managed to tighten the two guides in the slot and then checked the light seals while I was there.
The light seals where loose in there positions as the double sided tape holding them to the back base has persished so I replaced the tape and made them all secure. I then re-watched a few YT video's on how to use and load the backs to get it imprinted in my head.
Then I loaded it back up and ran the same six septums through it viola it works, I did it half a dozen times and it worked great all the time.
I have now reloaded it with new sheet film and will try again, but also this time I am going to load some of my double sheet backs this time and take them as a backup just incase.
The joys of large format lol.
