View Full Version : Vintage film cameras
I got the DSB bacl together but the focus off so it will have to come apart again. The Halina 35x that came in the job lot has a working shutter but the lens will need some attention, I think I have another lens set for it somewhere from another one I took apart. The Rex has a badly scrated rear lens element and the bellows while decent looking are full of pin holes. The Korell is a junker, front lens element is missing, front platebis dented and shutter and its mechanisms are borked. Oddly enough, it seems the lowly Halina might be the only salvageable camera. Looks like fun there Admin. Also, my Canon EOS 5 seems to gave a cloudy viewfinder, no idea where to start with fixing it.
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Not sure it was fun. Put it back together and found i only had 18-135 range
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Oh dear, something in the wrong place? No idea how to sort the focus out on the DSB. I've seen so many photo ops on the way home from work but not been able to stop. Would be perfect in black and white with the snow and mist today.
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Oh dear, something in the wrong place? No idea how to sort the focus out on the DSB. I've seen so many photo ops on the way home from work but not been able to stop. Would be perfect in black and white with the snow and mist today.
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I guess it was. I just stripped it again and started from scratch. I then checked it for extension at every stage of the rebuild. It was all working well until I realised that AF was on even though the switch was set to MF. I'd forgotten to engage the mechanical lever with the external switch.
Guess you have had better luck than me.
Guess you have had better luck than me.
A lot of luck as I have no idea what I'm doing. The lens was with written off by the repair agent as water damaged. I couldn't see any. If you want to learn, you might well practise on a broken item
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johnnyrod
03-03-18, 08:38 PM
Well I didn't get much further with the Automatica. It's nicely made, shame it's not a rangefinder! The shutter needs to click three times when cokked (this was the problem it turned out), I need to look at this when it goes back together to make sure it cokks fully. I worked out the auto exposure, it's both innovative and crude. Crude in that you set the film speed, but this only equates to the aperture - a bit like setting an auto flash; the auto then times the shutter. You can use it in manual mode, it's a normal Prontor shutter. In auto mode you set it to 1/300 (max speed) so the escapement is essentially inactive. The cokking shaft is attached to a piston in the meter by a lever. The meter response (needle sweep) determines how fast air is admitted to the piston chamber. When the shutter is fired, the piston falls, at a speed dependant on the meter reading and hence air flow, and until it reaches the end of its travel, acts as a brake on the cokking shaft and so slows it between shutter opening and closing. God knows how close the real timing is to the time readings of the needle on the top plate. I expect in auto mode it is very quiet, as the escapement isn't used, so doesn't whirr, and the braked action will be quieter than the usual fast-as-possible action. Very clever (unique in fact), pity it isn't linked to the aperture/ISO ring, and no RF. All the light seals fell to bits so I'll need to put something in there as well! Dated from the lens as 1960.
johnnyrod
03-03-18, 08:46 PM
Piston attached to silver lever. The black toothed shaft is the cokking shaft drive, it engages with the cokking shaft on the shutter, and is driven by a toothed rack as you wind on.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4799/26725733378_8c5842d12c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/GHEnqw)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/GHEnqw) by John Rodriguez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeguruuk/), on Flickr
Wow, thats some serious engineering for the time. Can't understand why they had to make it so complicated. I got the DSB back together at last, the lenses are clean and the aperture isn't covered in oil but I had some trouble with the front ring. I've had to space it slightly as something has moved inside and if I tighten it all the way it blocks infinity focus. It will do for a keep but I have learnt not to mess with the focus if I don't have to.
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Got this as the minimum value at the antiques centre was a tenner, I only wanted an point and shoot camera as it had a rapid cartridge inside. Houghton Butcher May Fair 120 6x9 from 1930.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180304/8c7e22d2b8e52ac6154dcba827d24911.jpg
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I've turned my attention to the EOS 5 I picked up last year. I have a lens for it now but the damn thing is acting up. Its getting power but at the point when you half press the shutter release it cuts the power. Its got a new battery but its showing empty. I've cleaned the battery and battery door contacts and its sitting idle at the moment. Any thoughts? Edit, OK its holding power but the battery grip is getting warm.
I've turned my attention to the EOS 5 I picked up last year. I have a lens for it now but the damn thing is acting up. Its getting power but at the point when you half press the shutter release it cuts the power. Its got a new battery but its showing empty. I've cleaned the battery and battery door contacts and its sitting idle at the moment. Any thoughts? Edit, OK its holding power but the battery grip is getting warm.
Something is drawing power of its getting warm. Sounds like partial short cct. Is this since you put the new lens on?
Something is drawing power of its getting warm. Sounds like partial short cct. Is this since you put the new lens on?No, it had this issue before. Maybe that's why it was sold.
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johnnyrod
07-03-18, 12:14 PM
Kenzie, plenty of lighter fluid tins in my local Poundland. Paaaaaaand
I managed to find some in the end. Such a pain to find. I still cannot separate the lenses for the Super Sillette, it may be joing the spares pile if I can't spilt them.
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A rare beast 192470331875
yokohama
08-03-18, 07:47 PM
Nice! That would be an investment and worth paying to have serviced.
If I wasn't wasting so much money on other things this month, I'd be tempted. Wonder how much it will go for?
£200 I reckon, never seen one on eBay before. So what have you been splurging on?
yokohama
08-03-18, 08:15 PM
Bikes unfortunately; not cameras. Can't stand the cramped legs on the SV any longer.
So how are you fixing that? I've been thinking about a riser kit for the front end to take pressure off my wrists. Got my mot in a couple of weeks. Also, car boot season is kicking off.
yokohama
08-03-18, 08:42 PM
I already got a naked SV with a slightly more upright riding position and raised bars. It's fine up top but I'm 6'3 with long legs and it's too small for me. The knee angles are just getting too much. I put a deposit down on a Yamaha XSR900.
Bu**er, I just saw this too. Can never have too much of a good thing. https://www.gumtree.com/p/non-digital-cameras/nikon-fm-slr-camera-with-nikon-50mm-f2-lens/1289931977
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4791/25841516627_58d84f9214_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FnwwA8)
yokohama
09-03-18, 07:33 PM
£210 with lens isn't too bad as OM1s can go for up to £150. Your initial guess was pretty good.
What's with the Seagull?
Slight hesitation in the shutter if it is left sitting. Trying a flush before I send it to the repairer!
johnnyrod
09-03-18, 09:34 PM
I was just saying to Mrs Rod I need to get on with the Durst, it's in bits still. I need to clean the dust out and make new light seals, also re-solder the flash wire. I think I'll sell it when I'm done, shame the cell is clapped. I'll have a go with shutter timings, I'm curious about that, how well the piston works. Waiting for my pics from Peak, been ages since I got some done! Quite a few experimental ones, hopefully not too many duffers.
I think you will still get some money on the Durst, they seem to be pretty rare. I got the Seagull back together, speeds seem good with no hesitation so far. Quite a bit of crud came out onto the blades from inside the shutter, just need to run a film through it now.
yokohama
10-03-18, 06:43 PM
Well done on fixing the Seagull.
It was raining today and I was bored so went over to Scarborough and picked up the Nikon FM. Now I have 2 but this one has a split screen and is much easier to focus.
Nice one, wish I could find a decent working Nikon like that. I have the EM but I want something like you just scored.
yokohama
10-03-18, 09:06 PM
I was just lucky to get that I think. Not as many good deals around on Gumtree as there were a couple of years ago.
I want to try them both out and see how they do. If I let one go, you can have it for cost.
johnnyrod
10-03-18, 10:05 PM
Got some pics back today. Didn't seem to take anything interesting with the Contessa, the Kiev yielded a number of good ones (the swing pics all came out), and half way through the roll I swapped for the Zeiss lens on my Contax with a small balsam separation spot, but you can't tell. Not terribly impressed with the ones from the Selfix 820. My scanner isn't very good (see below) but none are crystal clear, my 35mm ones are better, and it varies a bit which makes me wonder about film flatness - I tried to stick to f8 and up if I could. There is a little vignetting as well - I thought the Ross Xpres was a very sharp lens, maybe it's not all that - I held out for something better than a Cooke triplet because of the size of the negatives. It's a pig to use as well, so it's one I'll be selling. It's fully working and it super condition so will see if I can wring some money out of the ebayers! Shame, but I tried.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4776/39839263955_51f3459d3f_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/23GsDci)Mill Dam, Tickhill (https://flic.kr/p/23GsDci) by John Rodriguez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeguruuk/), on Flickr
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4780/25862994967_40e4c91fa2_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/FpqBmk)War Memorial, Tickhill St. Mary's churchyard (https://flic.kr/p/FpqBmk) by John Rodriguez (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bikeguruuk/), on Flickr
Is the second shot the Selfix? I think it looks OK, old timey. I think you prefer sharper photos. I had a rummage at the car boot today and found this battered XD5, got it for £4. Has a nasty crack on the right side but its functional.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4802/38934728110_4f972ffd40_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/22jwEcG)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4771/40702308402_e7f1154c73_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/251HYeY)
I also found a Lowepro Nova AW1 case for £3 and a Polaroid Pogo Zink printer for £3 but it doesn't have a charge so I cannot test it. Heads up on the FM would be cool Yoko, I reckon you will get on better with the split screen focusing.
Just found this tucked away, Polaroid 320 kit with flash. Bellows seem light tight and the shutter works. Thankfully a 3V version so will be easier to mod.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4782/40704710262_91f1306789_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/251Whem)
yokohama
11-03-18, 07:37 PM
Nice find on the Minolta. The XD shutter is a lovely thing. Hope it works OK and you can always keep an eye out for an XD5/XD7 donor top plate.
It's ok, it seems to have a slight lag between pressing the shutter button and it tripping the shutter. Apparently this is normal for the XD5. I'll keep an eye out for a top pkate, it needs leather as well.
yokohama
11-03-18, 08:39 PM
I got my blue from Aki Asashi. Ordered for an XD7, which is the same size
johnnyrod
11-03-18, 09:25 PM
Yep both with the Selfix. If you see the prints in the flesh it's much more apparent. The B&W are sharper too than the colour. I was looking again at them all last night, the Tessar lenses aren't bad but the Jupiter 8/Zeiss Sonnar and newer SLR lenses, along with some Japanese RFs with multi-group lenses are much more forgiving and seem to give me consistently better pictures. I have some good ones with Tessars but for them to be really crisp they still need a fair bit of stopping down. Ergonomically though the Contessa/Contessamats are great, and much smaller than the Japanese ones I have (Konica S etc)
Functional MV1 with very retro strap! I replaced the homemade rewind crank with one from an ME Super.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/26904305918_0cd475c1e9_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/GZrAPq)
Got a Kodak Duex in a job lothttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180315/7611667ed34f0eca44b2538a6aa39961.jpg
Functional MV1 with very retro strap! I replaced the homemade rewind crank with one from an ME Super.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/26904305918_0cd475c1e9_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/GZrAPq)
I think I had an MV1 back in the 80's. Is that the model that's purely auto?
Yes, it has m100 and bulb and that's it. I already have one but I wanted the strap. Don't fancy adding it to your collection?
yokohama
15-03-18, 08:25 PM
For a second, I thought you'd bought a Kodak Durex but it looks like an interesting addition to the collection.
The lens barrel rotates out to lock in position when you want to take a shot. Surprisingly it has a glass lens.
Yes, it has m100 and bulb and that's it. I already have one but I wanted the strap. Don't fancy adding it to your collection?
I wouldn't mind. How much do you want for it?
I wouldn't mind. How much do you want for it?You can have it, I only wanted the strap so the camera was a bonus. It has a bit of brassing but appears to be functional. I need to find another ME Super rewind crank to fit my MV though. Do you still have the junk Super I sent you? Maybe you could transfer your crank to it and I can keep this one. PM me your address.
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You can have it, I only wanted the strap so the camera was a bonus. It has a bit of brassing but appears to be functional. I need to find another ME Super rewind crank to fit my MV though. Do you still have the junk Super I sent you? Maybe you could transfer your crank to it and I can keep this one. PM me your address.
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Yep i still have the ME super, it's sitting on the shelf with the others. Pm coming.
I'll send it out with the crank, I can sort something else for it.
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Are you sure?
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Yeah its fine.
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Speaking of old cameras. I went to pick up some picture frames in Shrewsbury market to find a small camera and film processing shop had opened next to it. The owner was a very friendly chap called Will and let my fondle some of his wares. This includes a Pentax 110 and a Leica R8. The lenses on the Pentax were like toys, tiny, and he had the complete kit of extras. The Leica was an ugly brute but the viewfinder was the brightest and clearest I've used. He had all the usual stuff in his cabinets including a lot of canon and Pentax SLRs. He also had a Pentax 645 but I didn't get to play with that.
Clearly collecting cameras is a notifiable desease.
Thats pretty cool, most have been closing. Wish I had something like that near me, Yoko has West Yorkshire cameras but I don't have anything. I think the Auto 110s are great, I actually have three but only because I thought the first one was broken and the third was a tenner with three lenses. I'll get the mv in the post later, got an mot on the SV this afternoon and its snowing! 12c yesterday and now this!
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Yep. Snow here today as well. Fed up with winter.
MV1 is in the post! Got to grab the bike in a bit, its 0c and snowing and windy!
yokohama
17-03-18, 02:57 PM
MV1 is in the post! Got to grab the bike in a bit, its 0c and snowing and windy!
Pretty similar weather here. MOT this time of year is not a good thing. I hate having mine in February. Think I'll keep the heaters on and stay inside today.
MV1 is in the post! Got to grab the bike in a bit, its 0c and snowing and windy!
[emoji106]
All good for another year, should have checked the tyre pressures before riding though. Only 175 miles since last test. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180317/995b6846ade48698f8ecb480c92e4ff5.jpg
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Check out bbc 2 now, camera repair program.
Thanks. Now watching. Don't get to excited, my experience of this program is that it's high on people values and low on detail on the actual repair side.
Yeah, a little disappointed tbh. Would have been good to see more details.
There are a lot of camera repair videos on YouTube that I'm addicted too.
I've watched quite a few of fix old cameras and there is a guy who does quite a few lens repairs.
Been playing with the G1 and a Helios 44M.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180317/26ba34571b62834b5c0698cb1cd7f704.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180317/e80ab621480174bf1ddf1a0e9e5c1332.jpg
Hi Kenzie. The Pentax arrived yesterday whilst at work. Brings back fond memories. Its interesting how they hid the exposure compensation dial under the rewind crank. I know the crank is not original but I don't think it was much different to the one you used. Thanks again.
Glad it arrived ok, not many of the MV range I have seen have the original crank, always broken! Amazon have the Epson V370 scanner on sale at the moment for £99. It wi do slides and 35mm but not sure about 120.
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Glad it arrived ok, not many of the MV range I have seen have the original crank, always broken! Amazon have the Epson V370 scanner on sale at the moment for £99. It wi do slides and 35mm but not sure about 120.
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That's a good price for the scanner. I think that's the same model we use in Jessops on the kiosks. My current scanner doesn't have win 10 drivers.
I was bidding on a Kiev 4 but its hit my max bid. I may try again but I want a working example. So what will you do with the MV? Have you got a lens to shoot with? I have an Epson 2450 and it only had drivers for Vista and with a lot of faffing with compatibilty mode and admin mode I got it to work. Yoko, I messed up with the XD5, I took the mount off to free up the lens lock and I can't figure out how to get the aperture contact spring back in. Its about an inch long and I can see where it hooks one end but not the other.
johnnyrod
21-03-18, 07:50 PM
I'm bidding on a Mess Ikonta 6x9, it's at 9.99 just now, it'd be to sell on unless someone else is interested and wants to bid on it?
I've just got hold of a Mitsuki 28mm for £15. That'll fit fine on the MV. I've put some batteries in it and the led's and metering seem to work okay.
I've only got winXP drivers for my canon scanner but I get around that by running XP as a vitual machine within win10. Clunky but it works.
I'm bidding on a Mess Ikonta 6x9, it's at 9.99 just now, it'd be to sell on unless someone else is interested and wants to bid on it?Item number?
yokohama
21-03-18, 08:21 PM
I though you already had a Kiev which was working. Are you after another?
Not sure about the spring - according to a Minolta service manual, it seeks to hook in at the bottom of the coupling ring and, as you look into the lens cavity, goes off right but I can't see what it connects too. I had a look at an MD mount but that's no help as the spring's hidden.
I do, but the rf is bust. I took the mount off my duff X700 and can see how it fits but the XD5 is different, I can the ring connector but nothing on the body.
yokohama
21-03-18, 08:51 PM
Any good?? https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1158035/Minolta-Xd-11.html?page=27#manual
Looks like the spring clip has fallen into the camera or on the floor, will have to have a hunt.
johnnyrod
21-03-18, 10:09 PM
Item number?
122992906778
Novar not Tessar (which are rare) but still worth a few bob. Despite my whining about the Ensign 6x9, I've used my 6x6 Mess ikonta a number of times without much trouble, and the Novar on that gives good pictures. Needs new bellows though!
I'll pop a bid on if that's OK Johnny?
johnnyrod
22-03-18, 09:50 AM
just checked and I've put £22 on it as long as that's okay with you! I didn't really think about putting it on here first
I'll keep an eye on it, popping to the car boot sale on Sunday so it depends on what turns up. Mostly lens hunting for the G1. Tempted to get s Pentax Auto 110 to m43 adapter.
johnnyrod
22-03-18, 08:27 PM
Let me know what you decide, if you're going to give it a miss I might go a bit higher if no one else sniffs. I never go above about half of what I think it could go for, but often they get away from me anyway.
Need to have a look again at the Minolta, the RF contrast is poor and it stops moving under about 5ft. I need to take the top off though and that means taking the film out to be able to lock and unscrew the rewind crank. Bggr.
Can't you scale focus it until you finish the film?
The highest bidder retracted their bid on the Kiev, so I am winning again. I'll have to see what happens before I decide on the Zeiss.
johnnyrod
23-03-18, 12:07 PM
Can't you scale focus it until you finish the film?
HAHHAHHAHAAAAAAAA
no
HAHHAHHAHAAAAAAAA
no
I thought that would be the response! :D
johnnyrod
23-03-18, 09:05 PM
Grrr. Investigated the Minolta, the RF wasn't fully moving because a part of the arm that holds the moving mirror was fetching up against the inside of the top cover. I fixed that, but while trying to improve the RF patch contrast, have ruined it. The half-silvered mirror was tarnished hence the poor contrast, but not I've ruined the silvering altogether. They're notoriously difficult to replace, so if someone wants this to use as a scale-focus camera then let me know. It's fully working, Minolta AL, focus is accurate, speeds are fine, meter is accurate and working well, comes with a lens cap but no case, and a roll of Poundland Agfa is still in there (only took one shot). At least it was cheap, and as it turns out, not really worth much more than I paid for it anyway, so I judged that side of it wrong!
How about a bit of car mirror repair mirror? Or would that out the focus off?
johnnyrod
23-03-18, 09:19 PM
It's the half-silvered one so it has to both reflect the RF patch and allow the VF light to shine through it, so I don't think so. Do you want it? I'm not after any money for it
Well if nobody else is interested then yeah. Yoko is the Minolta guy.
yokohama
23-03-18, 09:44 PM
Nooooo, I have enough Kenzie, you go for it.
Did you manage to fix the XD5?
There are lots of links to resilvering on the web using silver nitrate. How about plastic film that gets used on car windows, some of that is semi silver, stick it on the original glass?
johnnyrod
23-03-18, 10:39 PM
Hmm ,not looked to be honest, will check it out, ta!
No joy Yoko, can't find the hook.
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The 28mm Mitsuki turned up today. The aperture doesn't work. Checked the eBay listing, the seller did mention that but in my hurry I missed it.
So stripped it down and found that the aperture blades were gummed up. Gave them a good clean and they're working fine.... Mostly.
I lost the ball bearing for the aperture ring detents but found it by vacuuming the carpet with the little hoover. It was great to hear it clattering in the bag even though it was too small to see.
It's good to practice on something cheap.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180324/64281f4e2f8d0a5a6fbaef149d825cc5.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180324/536dbc572cd9f3f4405eb67a51035120.jpg
I have heard that if you stretch a tight over the end of the nozzle it makes it easier to find. Are those blades pre-clean? They look oily. Can't wait to see the results.
The blades had just been taken out of a bath of isopropyl. I gave them a wipe after I took this shot. I tried to lube them with shaver oil but even that was too heavy.
Quick turnaround in the repair. Yoko, how are you getting on with the FM?
Johnny, I have a spare rangefinder much somewhere. Maybe the mirror may be of use?
johnnyrod
24-03-18, 08:33 PM
I'm going to look into the silvering thing first, but thanks. I'm not sure if silver itself was originally used - it is the most highly reflective, but tarnishes with light, mirrors are normally coated with aluminium as it is about 90% reflective but much more durable, even as a front coating (domestic mirrors are coated on the back to prevent damage). I had a though about re-silvering and putting a layer of tape over it, will have to have a trawl of t'internet as I can get the chemicals from work.
yokohama
24-03-18, 08:35 PM
Quick turnaround in the repair. Yoko, how are you getting on with the FM?
As you probably guessed, I haven't used it yet. It needs a good clean around the mount as the aperture ring is sticking and affecting the metering.
I'm off work for the next couple of weeks (perfectly timed for lousy weather) so will try to shoot off some film.
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