#camera repair

[alovelydesolation]

Test 6x7 photos on two cameras. Above on a Pentax 6x7 with a broken frame counter, below on an RB67 with freshly-replaced light seals.

All shots on Kentmere 100, developed in Cinestill df96. DSLR scanned with Pentax K-1ii and 100mm WR Macro lens. Pictures of me shot by @beaujagr

The RB67 works great now that I know what I'm doing and that I've replaced all the light seals. It definitely feels designed as a studio or maybe landscape camera, as it is tough to use without a tripod and is slow to operate.

The Pentax 6x7 (non-MLU) is a different beast. Other than being comically big for an SLR, it is quick and easy to operate (though it could use a grip to help it feel secure). The frame counter on mine does not advance, so some trickery is required to get the shutter to fire and as a result frame spacing is a mess.

[foma-creature]

A little creature has joined the collection for seventeen dollars. Damp library half sandwich for scale

Had to do the usual Minox shutter repair and now it seems to be good as new!

[raffaellopalandri]

Curating Purpose: Hobbies as Expressions of Mindfulness and Impermanence

Daily writing promptWhat is your favorite hobby or pastime?View all responses When it comes to discussing my hobbies, it’s essential to first address the concept of “favourites.” I do not have a favourite of anything, as favouring one thing over another would imply attachment, and attachment can lead to a sense of permanence or possessiveness—an idea I do not resonate with. Photo by Kevin…

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[skydarcyedwards]

Mixed Results

Sky Edwards

2024

Testing a badly damaged camera and lens. Another kit rescued from e-waste. After repairs, cleaning, and focus calibration, it works... just... fine...

Olympus OM-40 Program

Olympus Zuiko 28mm f/3.5

Ilford Delta 3200

[celestialmacros]

Dear followers, I need your help.  If you have ever considered leaving me a tip, I need it now.

As you can see from the images above, there is a problem with the shutter on my camera.  A very expensive problem.  Unfortunately the repair will cost $375-$400 (The same in Euros right now), and in the post-pandemic economy I just do not have that kind of money in my budget.  I’m still using the camera, but half expect the shutter to give out all together any day now. And honestly, since the camera was bought used, it might be more realistic to buy another used camera body rather than sink that kind of money into the repair.

I have happily spent my money to keep this blog going over the years.  Macro lenses, memory cards, exterior hard drives, a replacement camera body, but as costs go up in this economy, my fun money has disappeared.  If there is any way anyone out there can afford to send me a tip right now, it would be so appreciated.  This blog has kept me sane through the pandemic, has taught me so much, and gets me outside for exercise.  I love sharing my finds with all of you.

I’ve been stalling on posting this, because I don’t like asking for help, but in that time you can see that the problem is getting worse.  The light leak is longer, brighter, and there is now black in the bottom right corner.  I’ve been trying to keep my subject in the top left corner and hoping that I can crop the image to get an acceptable photo.  Any and all tips will go directly to camera equipment to be used for my blogs.  Thank you so much. - Celeste

[bwwhitney]

Question for someone with a film camera

I had mentioned a while back that I would like to start using my Canon AE-1, but that it leaked light. I’m sorry to say that I have forgotten who it was, but someone replied that they had replaced the foam in their film camera. Doesn’t sound difficult, but where to get the foam?

[fuzzychief]

More time on my hands, and another vintage camera cleaning.

This time my Argus C-44

Found this one last summer on vacation at an antique shop in Salado, Texas.

Best I can tell, this 1956 model camera is in good working order, just a little dust in the rangefinder.

Like the Ciro 35 I just cleaned, the entire back is removed to put film in it.  Unlike most rangefinder cameras, this one has interchangeable lenses.

Had to remove the winding knobs and frame counter in order to remove the top to get to the rangefinder and viewfinder optics.

With the top open, it was fairly straightforward to clean the lenses and mirrors.  A little more complicated under the hood than the Ciro 35, but everything still works the same.  Speaking of which...

Bonus pic and boring technical stuff...

The arrows show the light paths through the rangefinder.  The yellow path is straight through the viewfinder.  The red path is through the rangefinder.

The light in the rangefinder is focused through a lens in this model that shifts through a lever coupled to the main lens.  The light from the rangefinder lens is bounced off a partially silvered mirror in the viewfinder.  If the main lens is out of focus, the image in the viewfinder from the rangefinder will be out of alignment with the rest of the viewfinder.   If the main lens is in focus, the rangefinder image will line up with the rest of the viewfinder.  Something like this...

Main lens not in focus.  Note the double image in the middle of the viewfinder.

...and in focus.

[springfieldcameraclub]

Easy, easy...