Flexaret VII: problems with loading the film.

<p>I have placed 120mm film it in the film compartment by the rules how to do it from the Flexaret VII manual (<a href="http://www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/flexaret_vii.pdf" rel="nofollow">www.cameramanuals.org/pdf_files/flexaret_vii.pdf</a>). Actually, that manual for me was quite unclear and hard to understand. <br /><br />And now something seems to be wrong, when I started to shoot my first, and then tried the second film.<br /><br />The first time the shooting looked ok (from the outside, because I still have not developed the negative), but the camera was still shooting after the 12 frames, and quite for a long time, that I even got suspicious. I made like to 16 or 18 frames and it was still shooting. Then I decided that the film has already ended, although the camera is still shooting, and went to the dark place to take the film out (just to be sure). When I put my hand inside, the films was still not finished!! About 3 or 4 frames were left, as I thought rolling the film in.<br /><br />Then I decided to study more thoroughly the putting in of the film, when doing it for the second time. And I really tried to do everything right - like to stop the arrows which appear on the film on the concrete stop place in the camera (it was written in the manual). One thing was left unclear - the manual wrote that "If the transmission has been set correctly, the measuring sprocket (10), must be easily rotable in either direction." it is on the beginning of page 4 in the manual. <br /><br />Now, without the manual, it is quite hard to put in my own words what and where that measuring sprocket is :) It is just the very next to the place where you put the new film in, the next thing that goes after the film placing hole in the direction of the lenses hole. It is the thing that turns and it is in the connection with the outside, with the numbers 60 and 45. This is a small lever outside the camera, on the same side where the big film/frames turning knob is, just on the the very under. I have put the measurement on 60, because I read in the manual that this is for the 120mm roll film. The problem and unclearity here is that that "sprocket" does not move freely in either direction. Its true, that it moves in both directions, but only on a very little length. So, I don't know if the manual meant that, or it meant infinitive rotation to both directions? Because if it means that, the problem is already here , and maybe it was this, that affected the shooting.<br /><br />The manual states, that if the sprocket does not move, I should "turn it back, till the strong resistance dissapears". The question here is - how strong can I turn it? The manual already states that it is strong resistance, but does this mean the power like almost of the pliers? I don't want to make the damage to the camera or to break the sprocket..<br /><br />So I loaded the second film, and now the shooting was different. Actually, it felt like no shooting at all. :) The big film/frame turning knob turned the same as in the first shooting (with stops and the resistance, like telling that you have made from one to the other frame), and the frame counter also showed changing numbers (1,2,3,4.. etc...), but the difference was that when pushing the picture taking button, this time it made only a little sound, almost no sound, and it did the sound always the same, no matter what exposure was. I guess it should be the difference in sound when you do the 1/30 and 1/500.. Just in the shortness of it. <br /><br />So I am not sure if the film is turning, and the pictures are taken, on the contrary, I am almost sure that this time the pictures are not taken.<br /><br />So I wanted to ask for help. <br /><br />Maybe there are other Flexaret VII owners here that had such problem - with shooting and rolling of the film?<br /><br />Thank you, it would be very helpful. </p>

<p>I think you have it set for 6x4.5 cm? That would fit with the 16 exposures you made.</p>

<p>Loading a Flexaret should be a pretty straightforward thing to do, just put the film in, with the back open wind till the arrows on the backing paper match the "dot", close the back and wind till number 1 appears on the counter. Either your Flexaret is set on 6x4.5 or it's in need for an overhaul which needs to be done by a professional who knows how to work on a Flexaret. I would suggest Cupog (search him on Ebay), he is reliable and fixes old Czech camera's. He is located in Slovakia however and it might be just cheaper to buy a refurbished camera from him rather than send the old one in.</p>

<p>Be careful. I sent CUPOG / Geyza Dunay a Praktisix IIa for repair in the beginning of August 2016 and then he stopped answering my emails. Its November now and there are still no answers and still no camera. Think twice before sending to him.</p>