Vintage film cameras

[johnnyrod]

It'll work or not, you can always stick it back in if you're lucky

[johnnyrod]

Got home tonight, looked in the box. Um... going to need some patience! Will look at the Contina first as it should be one that quickly resolves itself into good or bad. There is a little fungus on the lenses but I'll be careful this time! The Vito is interesting as to how the shutter comes off, maybe it's all done from the front. On many of the Zeiss ones, and MF ones, you can detach the entire assembly from the camera by going into the film chamber, but it doesn't look like it on this.

[Kenzie]

Sent from my Xperia T

[Kenzie]

The Vito B inner lens is held in place by the curved plates to the focus ring which then screws into the camera. Once focus is set you tighten the three screws. The front element is the screwed in and the rest of the trim put on. Didn't realise the Contina had fungus, is it salvageable? If not, no worries. I know what you mean about how the Vito comes apart. I have a Kodak Retinette and you can pop the whole lot off after unscrewing the retaining ring.

[johnnyrod]

Thanks.. It's not too bad, you could probably get away with using it, but it'll only spread.

[Kenzie]

Fixed it yet?

[johnnyrod]

Nah been down the pub and loaded up with crispy duck. Oh yeah, work etc.

[Kenzie]

Originally Posted by johnnyrod

Nah been down the pub and loaded up with crispy duck. Oh yeah, work etc.

Only kidding! Mmmmm, crispy duck.

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[johnnyrod]

Well, my curiosity got the better of me and I had a look at the Contina. The escapement was sticking a bit, it's all pretty gungy in there, also the self-timer selector seems to get stuck at V due to the flash contacts inside. I haven't figured out a way round that yet other than blocking off the V option, as it seems to be doing what it should. A couple of the followers on the escapement were mangled, I broke one off in the end, someone's probably strongarmed the shutter speed dial. It basically works now, but there is a screw missing off the shutter blade housing, the VXM switch sticks at V if you try, the main front plate is missing so I can't reassemble it, a small spring fell out from God knows where (I seem to remember seeing it, I don't think it's a problem, unless it's somehow related to the VXM selector), and there's a lens missing from the viewfinder so it's pretty useless. Does some of this sound familiar? Is it worth trying to finish? The speeds sound okay, not sure if you found the pin for the shutter co-cking shaft?

[Kenzie]

I knew the viewfinder lens was missing. Will check my desk for the plate but if it's borked then you may as well bin it or keep it for spares. I knew it may not have been salvagable.

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