Does anyone have a source for the black, "felt" used in cameras, cut film holders, etc, to block out light??? Thanks, DP

-- David Phillips (dlphil@cox-internet.com), November 30, 2001

Answers

Not quite a direct answer - but I have had excellent repairs to the light seals on a Canon Ftb (and, some time ago) on a Nikon FM by Clay Cross Cameras, who advertise in Amateur Photographer.

-- David Hart (dhart@beeb.net), December 01, 2001.

For foam light baffling material, www.micro-tools.com. This should work for what you want to do.

For black flocking used inside lenses and such, www.scientificsonline.com (Edmund Scientific, which sells the stuff mostly for amateur telescope builders).

-- David Goldfarb (dgoldfarb@barnard.edu), December 05, 2001.

This is going to sound really weird, but I have refelted several old cameras using a fuzzy rib off of black cordaroy material. It works great! Have done this to 3 cameras thus far ... all three showed signs of leaking light ... all 3 are working great now. Good luck.

-- Michael Winkler (msgwinkler@yahoo.com), December 18, 2001.

From what I heard, some Walmarts carry those black sponge material in 'craft' sections. Some of them have self-adhesive on one side which makes the job a whole lot easier. It sounds like an easy but messy job. Search for "favorite classics" website where they offer all kinds of hints about fixing old cameras.

-- pil (gjoo@po-box.mcgill.ca), December 18, 2001.

I needed to replace some on my old F-1 once and ran by a big camera shop. I offered to pay for it but they kindly put more than twice the length I needed in an envelope and handed it to me for free. It apparently does not cost too much.

-- Lincoln (hotrodls@ix.netcom.com), January 01, 2002.

In a local chain drug store (Long's drugs) crafts section, I found sheet neoprene, 2mm x 9" x 12" for approximately $3.00. I bought some 5 minute contact cement and a sharp knife, cut the neoprene to fit, coated one side with contact cement, placed the neoprene in the felt channels, closed the camera for 10 minutes, and was done.

Total cost, about $5.00 and 10 minutes of time.

2mm may be a little thick for some cameras, but it was the perfect thickness to replace Canonet light seals.

-- Kurt Weiske (maildrop@kataan.org), June 08, 2002.