Graflex.org

[gwscheil]

Although I always insert the darkslide, advance the film, then pull the darkslide, is it really necessary to insert the slide each time before advancing the film? I am not using the ground glass for focusing here, just the rangefinder. I can see that accidental lifting of the holder might occur under the spring clips.

[Henry]

I don't trust the rollholder to be light-tight against the back of the camera body when advancing the film with the thumb lever, which is why I always re-insert the dark slide before advancing. Just a bit of extra insurance, small effort for potential reward of not having to go back and reshoot (sometimes that's not even possible, for various reasons).

Now the knob advance rollholder is a different story. Very little torque and stress if it's in proper working order; same should apply to lever advance but occasionally for some unfathomable reason mine wants to be stubborn.

[David A. Goldfarb]

If I'm shooting in bright sun, I might insert the darkslide between shots to prevent light leaks, but I don't particularly insert it when I'm advancing the film.

[Dan Fromm]