Prevent Magazines From Falling Off

The ACL has a known fault which is that the magazines tend to fall off of the camera when it be being carried from the top handle.  This seems like a laughable problem, however magazines tend to become unreliable after hitting the concrete, the mag covers fall off and parts go out of alignment.

There are four solutions to this problem which all work equally well:

Clothespin Wedge

Solution #1: Wedge a Clothespin into the Latch

The easiest way to make certain that the magazine is secure, whether you have an ACL 1 (lock is a slide beneath release latch) or ACL II (cover flips over top of release latch), is to place a tiny wooden wedge between the release latch and the top of the magazine. In this way, nothing can depress the release early.

A suitable wedge can easily be made from part of a wooden clothes-pin.  Add an “ACL” logo to make it look official.  This is the preferred method of securing magazines by most ACL owners.  It requires very little effort and cost, zero camera modification and is 100% effective.

Spring Clasp

Solution #2: Add Spring Clasps

Spring clasps are available from Pegasus Racing (www.pegasusautoracing.com) which are normally used to secure bodywork on race cars but also work well for ACL magazines. Their tension is adjustable and they allow for movement.

To install, drill and tap two holes in the top of the magazine (easier than it sounds) and a couple of holes in the face of the camera to secure the L shaped clasp bracket. Once you do that, the cost for two mags is about $20 for parts and the mags are rock solid forever without undue tension or pressure on the mag. This is something that almost anyone can do this, but a machine shop can do it for you if you are not comfortable drilling into metal.

Solution #3: Drill and Tap a Hole through the Latch

This solution only works for ACL 1.5 and II models which have the top latch.  (The ACL I has a sliding latch on the side)

It is possible to drill and tap a hole through the latch itself and insert a thumb-screw which can be tightened until it touches the magazine.  With the screw tightened, the latch is positively locked into place and cannot move up and down.  The magazine thus cannot become unlatched and fall.

Solution #4: Separate the Handle/Release Latch Block

Modified Handle/Latch Block

Stock Handle/Latch Block

The carrying handle mount is internally attached to the magazine release latch block.  When lifting the camera by the handle, it causes a slight movement which may be the cause of the magazine to un-latch from the body.  An experimental solution is to cut the block to separate these two functions.  This is obviously a more radical camera modification and would probably only be done by a tech or someone comfortable taking apart and re-assembling their camera.

Handle Support Modification

After dis-assembling the camera, the release latch block can be physically separated from the handle mount using a hack-saw.  After cutting the block, as insurance it would probably be a good idea to tap threads into the body where indicated below in red, to add 2 additional screws for added handle support.