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Miranda D shutter problems


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<p>So I got this off of ebay. I really just wanted the lens, but that the body attached to it was an early model D with the polygonal body was neat too.<br>

<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6121/5985608227_d505246bdc_z.jpg" alt="" /><br>

It obviously had a very rough life and had some issues. Most noticeable, the wind lever and shaft were bent.<br>

Took off the top plate and straightened them out. Cleaned off some of the old grease on the advance gears while I was at it.</p>

<p>The problem is this: the shutter fires fine on the slow speeds. But none of the fast speeds work. Whatever speed is selected the shutter fires the same, and caps (actually it looks more like the curtains are being released together). On top of that the mirror only sometimes lifts when the fast speeds are tripped.</p>

<p>I know absolutely nothing about how focal plane shutters work. I know the slow speed escapement is in the bottom of the camera - how are the fast speeds timed, and where is the mechanism that times them?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any help!</p>

<p>PS: the lens is fine, using it on my other D tomorrow.</p>

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<p><strong>Dave G</strong>, Hi! From the picture it appears that your camera has the old style pin and slotted wheel shutter timer. The pin must have broken off and is probably stuck in one of the slots in the timer wheel. So when you lift and turn the timer knob the pin will be in the same position, regardless of the dial's position you set.<br>

If the above is the case, then you can open up the dial and pin mechanism and have the pin brazed again to the selector knob [if the pin is in good shape, still]. It is a delicate welding job, but can be done easily with a miniature jet gas welder. If you do not like to try welding/brazing then you could try fixing it with expoxy [like Araldite or a similar two tube mixture that would set overnight. fast quick fixing epoxies will not be strong enough].<br>

If the pin is broken then you may have to fashion a new one and go through the same process. This is a common thing in old cameras of this type and any good repairman can do the job.<br>

Best, sp.</p>

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<p>Luckily that was not the case. If I had been able to find a diagram I probably could have solved this pretty quickly. But is seems this pawl which holds curtains wasn't engaging with the pin on the bottom of the selector cog. I thought maybe the return spring was weak because the shutter would fire properly when I returned the pawl manually, but it wasn't returning/engaging the pin for another reason....</p><div>00Z6oE-384303584.jpg.d47d3fe8f443a07d415feb27b48eabb5.jpg</div>
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<p>This long "L" shaped lever communicates with the mirror on one end, and with the pawl on the other. It obviously has something to do with the timing of the instant mirror return, although it doesn't seem to be connected to anything else but the pawl and mirror.<br>

In any event, it wasn't moving. I tried getting a drop of oil on the pivot point but that didn't help. So I had to use brute force and bend it a tad on the mirror end (bent it towards the shutter button in the photo) so it would move freely. After that the shutter cycled fine!</p><div>00Z6oJ-384307584.jpg.203ff70729b39d60bb4809afc01657c4.jpg</div>

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<p>Dave - Nice write-up and pictures. Hopefully I'll never have to see the inside of any Mirandas, but I'm going to Bookmark your post, just in case. What is the lens? Looks to be an f2.8, maybe preset aperture? An early wide angle? I've yet to find a good site on Miranda lenses, so I'm rather uninformed on them. Help my education, please!</p>

<p>Len</p>

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<p>The lens is a Soligor Miranda 5cm f2.8 preset. This was the lens that came on the budget S model and was optional for the D in place of the f1.9 lens with the auto-diaphragm. Unlike most "official" Miranda lenses, it has a screw mount instead of the bayonet mount.<br>

I believe it is a five element design. It also allows for closer focussing than the 1.9 by a few inches, and I wanted one "just because" haha, but also because I wanted to see if it will give a different look than the 1.9. </p>

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<p>Dave - Thanks for the information on the lens. I knew there was a less expensive "normal" lens for the D, but didn't know what it looked like. I found a Miranda D ad in the January 1962 "Popular Photography" magazine. The price shown for the D with f1.9 lens was "Less than $160." Or "With f2.8 preset Lens, less than $120." Seems quite a price difference between the two lenses. It will be interesting to see if there is any detectable difference when shooting with the two. I suspect by f5.6 or smaller, there won't be much difference.<br>

I bought my DR new a couple of years later, and don't recall the f2.8 being offered. However, that was nearly 50 years ago, so maybe I opted for the more expensive lens, and don't remember. I looked at a couple of DR ads online, and don't see mention of the preset lens option.<br>

Len</p>

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<p>I think by 1962 the f2.8 had probably already gone the way of the dodo. I don't think I've ever seen one mounted on a later round-bodied model D. It was probably old stock/discontinued by that point. But I'm not an expert on these lenses so maybe somebody else knows better.<br>

Here it appears on the 1961 price list. $119 for the D with the f2.8, $159 for the D with the f1.9</p><div>00Z762-384569584.thumb.jpg.a63d76789538daa9dd41e231426bbdf2.jpg</div>

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<p>I have a cop od that price list or one very similar.<br>

My D not DR was $105.00 f/1.9) with case in 1961<br>

Peerrles -willobys. nyc.<br>

I bought a second D later and my brother-in-law bought it and has no idea what became of it.<br>

Later I got the35 & 135 external auto lenses<br>

and finders. Eventually, since I now have other slr's I should sell it.<br>

I also have a preset 135 f/3.5.</p>

 

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Good work resolving the problem. Probably got bent in the same accident. I , too would've followed the brazing idea. Surprised how a little brute force actually worked in this (your) case. With me I would've broken the lever irreparably even if it was the right repair. That's just the way things go with me! Glad it worked out. Check out Wikipedia on SLRs it helped me grasp the concept of the second curtain release in sync with the first for all the fast times.. thats why the Leica and others required so much more time to develop and include a timing device for the slow speeds.
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