Graflex.org

[brooklynrocket]

I think I've got my film loaded properly, but there seems to be a metal plate between the lens and the film canister, and of course it doesn't lift when I release the shutter, since the shutter is in the lens.

Am I exposing the film? What am I doing wrong, if anything.

[Henry]

If you're using a roll film holder, you have to pull the dark slide! The end of the dark slide protrudes from the right side of the holder, and is a metal band fastnened to that edge of the dark slide, and is made of a contrasting material (metal) and color (usually silver or yellow) to that of the dark slide itself, which is typically some kind of black-colored plastic. Pull the slide all the way out of its slot, take the picture, put the slide back in its slot, advance the film, and so on through the roll.

[brooklynrocket]

I think I see what you mean but I can't seem to pull it out. Grr.

EDIT: I also see two little things I can push up labled LOCK in the front of the camera, I pushed them up, but it didn't seem to make a difference.

EDIT 2: I figured it out, the part of the card that sticks out had been broken off. I had to open up the film holder, push out the card with my hand, and then push it back in with enough still sticking out to use next time.

[Henry]

If you need a dark slide, one from a 2x3 cut film holder will work fine.