Camera check card · Free · No account
Test a film camera before you buy it, then plan its first roll.
The at-purchase card lists 14 checks, from shutter and light seals to lens haze, each with boxes for Pass, Concern or Not tested. Type a marked and a measured shutter time to get the difference in stops. The test roll plan gives each frame a job. Download both as a free PDF.
- A4 and US Letter
- Prints at actual size
- Goes with The Vintage Camera & Lens Register
- Choose the cardPick the at-purchase checks or the first test roll plan, and type the camera and lens if you want them printed.
- Add a shutter readingOptionally type a marked speed such as 1/125 and the time your tester measured, such as 0.010 seconds.
- Print and mark itDownload the PDF on A4 or US Letter and tick Pass, Concern or Not tested for each check by hand.
Make your card
The page beside the form changes as you type. The PDF is made in your browser and is sized for A4 or US Letter.
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File details
- What it works out
- It calculates the difference between a marked and a measured shutter time in stops.
- Using the result
- Mark each check from your own inspection. Compare shutter readings with the camera’s specifications.
- Calculation
- Stops are log2 of measured time over marked time.
- A guide
- The card is a guide to what to look at; your own inspection decides.
Questions
How is the shutter difference worked out?
It is log2 of the measured time divided by the marked time. A 0.010 s reading at 1/125 s is +0.32 stops: longer than marked, so more light.
Is the stops figure exact?
No. The difference is rounded to 0.01 stops, and its accuracy depends on the tester and measurement method.
Does the card say whether the camera is good?
No. Mark each check from your inspection. The shutter result shows the difference in stops between the measured and marked times.
What does the test roll plan cover?
Shutter speeds and apertures at equal exposure, focus at three distances, the meter at one stop either side and light leaks, plus flash on 24- and 36-frame rolls.
Should I print at actual size?
Yes. Choose 100% or Actual size so the tick boxes and lines print at the size drawn. Each card fits one page.
Related Due Form edition
DF.031 The Vintage Camera & Lens Register
In production
A collection record for tracing a vintage camera or lens through acquisition, condition checks, service, use and transfer.
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