QL robustness
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 5:12 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
Helo,
I am looking for advice from quickload (QL) users. As some of you know, I am given to travelling with with my Toyo, and I won't let myself be stopped by snow, sand and the such like. I have been using double dark-slides (DDS) and am aware of (i) the dust on the tranny and (ii) the robustness of the DDS. It will survive sand, water - salty or otherwise - and also if one slide breaks, I still have plenty DDS slides to go at (if the QL jams, that's curtains). I can't ignore QL in spite of the cost and the weight/bulk of film (not to be sniffed at when travelling by plane).
So how do you reckon QL fares? What happens when sand gets into its mechanisms? Is it possible to just brush it out quickly before moving on to the next shot, or is a sitting-down-with-it job? (Note: sand is sometimes fine enough to be swept along by wind. The last time, I was finding sand in my trouser pockets for days afterwards. This stuff gets everywhere. BTW I am amazed how robust the shutter mechanisms are: a few crunching wind-ons and then back to normal!) What about salt-water? Are there parts in there which will rust? What about freezing temperatures (-20degC with wind chill)? Will any lubricant seize?
Anyway, that kind of thing - any problems that may limit the use of QL in the field.
Thanks,
Charles
I am looking for advice from quickload (QL) users. As some of you know, I am given to travelling with with my Toyo, and I won't let myself be stopped by snow, sand and the such like. I have been using double dark-slides (DDS) and am aware of (i) the dust on the tranny and (ii) the robustness of the DDS. It will survive sand, water - salty or otherwise - and also if one slide breaks, I still have plenty DDS slides to go at (if the QL jams, that's curtains). I can't ignore QL in spite of the cost and the weight/bulk of film (not to be sniffed at when travelling by plane).
So how do you reckon QL fares? What happens when sand gets into its mechanisms? Is it possible to just brush it out quickly before moving on to the next shot, or is a sitting-down-with-it job? (Note: sand is sometimes fine enough to be swept along by wind. The last time, I was finding sand in my trouser pockets for days afterwards. This stuff gets everywhere. BTW I am amazed how robust the shutter mechanisms are: a few crunching wind-ons and then back to normal!) What about salt-water? Are there parts in there which will rust? What about freezing temperatures (-20degC with wind chill)? Will any lubricant seize?
Anyway, that kind of thing - any problems that may limit the use of QL in the field.
Thanks,
Charles
