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matthew_peretz3

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Posts posted by matthew_peretz3

    Cable release diameter problems - Agfa Billy Record II

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    The Compur Rapid shutter has the fitting at more or less the same place, but not standing proud. It's a small threaded port in the side of the shutter, just below the cocking lever.

     

    I'm sorry to report, after careful inspection, that my Compur Rapid has no such fitting anywhere in and around the lens /shutter. It simply doesn’t exist.

     

    I think I read another poster saying the same thing about his Agfa Billy Record II. He was upset because he couldn't use a cable release.

     

    Jurgen told me not to use the self timer as well, because the little knob breaking is the most common reason that he ends up seeing the cameras again.

    Cable release diameter problems - Agfa Billy Record II

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    Hi

    I have a refurbished Agfa Billy Record II. I thought it would be a good idea to use it on a tripod, and I wanted to use a cable release.

    This camera has the Solinar lens and a Compur Rapid shutter (thanks to Jurgen Kreckel).

     

    I recently bought a cable release - because I learned that if you unscrew the top shutter button there are threads underneath it.

    The only problem is that the cable release I bought is too thick or too large in diameter to fit into the threads on the camera body!

     

    I don't know what to buy that will fit, because I don't even know the correct terminology.

     

    Can someone please tell me what is going on with this problem? I'm mystified.

     

    I'm happy to buy another cable release, but I just have no idea what's going wrong.

     

    Thanks in advance for any help

    Cable release troubles...Agfa Billy Record II

    in Extreme, Retro, Instant and More

    Posted

    Hi

    I have a refurbished Agfa Billy Record II. I thought it would be a good idea to use it on a tripod, and I wanted to use a cable release.

    This camera has the Solinar lens and a Compur Rapid shutter (thanks to Jurgen Kreckel).

     

    I recently bought a cable release - because I learned that if you unscrew the top shutter button there are threads underneath it.

    The only problem is that the cable release I bought is too thick or too large in diameter to fit into the threads on the camera body!

     

    I don't know what to buy that will fit, because I don't even know the correct terminology.

     

    Can someone please tell me what is going on with this problem? I'm mystified.

     

    I'm happy to buy another cable release, but I just have no idea what's going wrong.

     

    Thanks in advance for any help.

    New Exakta CLA hobbyist introducing myself from NY

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>Do I need to give up and call it quits on this, my first Exakta Varex IIa CLA? I'm so upset that one screw being stuck could ruin an entire project... there must be some way to get this screw OUT - or maybe I have to leave it in and work around it?<br>

    (I also don't know where to buy mirror damping foam)</p>

    <p>I wrote this question to Miles Upton (who wrote the Ultimate Exakta Repair guide) but I don't know if I'll get an answer anytime soon and I'm really frustrated on this, my first Exakta CLA (of what I hoped would be many):</p>

    <p>"I got to the point on this Varex IIa - my first time disassembling a camera, and I've tried EVERYTHING I could think of - oil, solvents - but I cannot get 1 of the shutter curtain gear SCREWS loose and at this point I've either stripped the head (the slot where you insert the screwdriver) or come very close to having done so. You said they can be notoriously hard to get out... but I'm so depressed and frustrated I'm just thinking of throwing the whole thing away. </p>

     

    I tried some light oil, some heavier oil, and even lacquer thinner (pretty strong) - let them soak in for a good while - but the screw is stuck. It could be rusted stuck. I don't know.

     

    I spent to much time and money and I realized that one thing going wrong (with my lack of knowledge about what is 'possible' to do) can simply stop a project dead."

     

     

     

    If you have a moment to suggest what I should do... I'd really appreciate it.

    EXAKTA CLA problem: Shutter curtain gear SCREW frozen/stuck... ends my CLA on Exakta Varex IIa?

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>Do I need to give up and call it quits on this, my first Exakta Varex IIa CLA? I'm so upset that one screw being stuck could ruin an entire project... there must be some way to get this screw OUT - or maybe I have to leave it in and work around it?</p>

    <p>I wrote this question to Miles Upton (who wrote the Ultimate Exakta Repair guide) but I don't know if I'll get an answer anytime soon and I'm really frustrated on this, my first Exakta CLA (of what I hoped would be many):</p>

    <p>"I got to the point on this Varex IIa - my first time disassembling a camera, and I've tried EVERYTHING I could think of - oil, solvents - but I cannot get 1 of the shutter curtain gear SCREWS loose and at this point I've either stripped the head (the slot where you insert the screwdriver) or come very close to having done so. You said they can be notoriously hard to get out... but I'm so depressed and frustrated I'm just thinking of throwing the whole thing away. </p>

     

    I tried some light oil, some heavier oil, and even lacquer thinner (pretty strong) - let them soak in for a good while - but the screw is stuck. It could be rusted stuck. I don't know.

     

    I spent to much time and money and I realized that one thing going wrong (with my lack of knowledge about what is 'possible' to do) can simply stop a project dead."

     

     

     

    If you have a moment to suggest what I should do... I'd really appreciate it.

    Exakta Vx iia

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>I wrote this question to Miles Upton but I don't know if I'll get an answer anytime soon and I'm really frustrated on this, my first Exakta CLA (of what I hoped would be many):<br>

    I got to the point on this Varex IIa - my first time disassembling a camera, and I've tried EVERYTHING I could think of - oil, solvents - but I cannot get 1 of the shutter curtain gear SCREWS loose and at this point I've either stripped the head (the slot where you insert the screwdriver) or come very close to having done so. You said they can be notoriously hard to get out... but I'm so depressed and frustrated I'm just thinking of throwing the whole thing away. </p>

     

    I tried some light oil, some heavier oil, and even lacquer thinner (pretty strong) - let them soak in for a good while - but the screw is stuck. It could be rusted stuck. I don't know.

     

    I spent to much time and money and I realized that one thing going wrong (with my lack of knowledge about what is 'possible' to do) can simply stop a project dead.

     

    If you have a moment to suggest what I should do... I'd really appreciate it.

    New Exakta CLA hobbyist introducing myself from NY

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>August,<br>

    I appreciate what you are saying about getting the Vivitar T4 adapter... but I kind of had in mind being a traditionalist on this camera and only using German lenses no a German camera.<br>

    I don't really want to start using Japanese optics - as good as they may be - and I've owned just about every F series Nikon body and a bunch of great lenses but I'm doing this hobby for the 'retro' thing. I have a very expensive DSLR with excellent Japanese optics that my friend was kind enough to give me as a gift - but I only use it for eBay auction images.</p>

    <p>Before I got into this Exakta thing... and who knows how that's going to work out, I was VERY happy with my Leica IIIf RD with 5cm collapsible Summicron and (speaking of Japanese) a brand new 25mm Voigtlander lens I got from Cameraquest.</p>

    <p>I also have an Agfa Record III, which is a 1950's German MF folding camera CLA'd by Jurgen Kreckel - I just got back my first test roll and haven't even scanned them in. At 6x9, you don't get many exposures per roll! I think 8. </p>

    <p>So I really have no desire to get that adapter and start using all sorts of Japanese optics. I'm not getting back into that "lens test" rat race I once succumbed to - there are a lot of great lenses and I've had some of them - Contax, Leica/Leitz, Nikkor, etc. I'm not looking for perfection anymore and so many of the so-called great lenses are greatly expensive and way, way out of my price range.<br>

    I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do with my 6x9 Afga Record III - which is an uncoupled rangefinder where every single thing on the camera is manual and I mean every single thing. <br>

    If I could afford it, and somehow it seemed practical, I'd LOVE to have a Speed Graphic one day - but since there is no time in the foreseeable future that I can even begin to develop my own films I don't think 4x5 is in the works for me. It's a shame, because I'd even like to learn the 'basics' of perspective adjustments - you know - tilting the lens or whatever one does. Sounds fund but it ain't going to happen.</p>

    <p>So - I'll try to learn how to CLA these Exaktas and then put modestly priced lenses on them - a 50, a wide, and a telephoto or portrait length. But I'm not spending hundreds of dollars on lenses. Right now I'm more interested in seeing if I am capable of taking these cameras apart properly and doing the CLA from Miles Upton's book. I'm most terrified of the shutter replacement if I have to 'make' shutters myself. Next, I'm anxious about being about to RE-assemble the whole thing once it's in a million pieces. <br>

    I'll let you know how well I think Miles' book 'worked' once I get further along. As I said, I hope he continues to give detailed guidance about how to clean what with what. <br>

    I bought a shutter tester from this guy in Romania that comes with detailed instructions and uses the computer and a freeware program and this guy's cable to test shutter accuracy. That's a whole other project!</p>

    <p>I think I have my work cut out for me and hopefully I can remain patient, thoughtful, and organized enough to get through Miles book -which will mean I have done a complete CLA.</p>

    New Exakta CLA hobbyist introducing myself from NY

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>There is a man called Roy Bachenheimer roymond@verizon.net who actually sells sets of replacement shutter curtains for these cameras (for $25 a pair?) He doesn't seem to have a Web site but was referenced in the Miles Upton repair manual and I contacted him. I might buy one set just to see what a properly done set looks like. I already bought the shutter curtain material - I just don't know the width of the 'tape' that I need to get. I figured I would figured that out when I open up my first one - which will be a Varex IIa (since of the 3 of my bodies it has the problem of the mirror not coming into place when cocking the shutter). Unfortunately it's my favorite 'looking' one of the three so I hope I don't mess it up! But it's covered in Miles Upton's book.</p>

    <p>I was kind of hoping to find a place on photo.net where I could ask a 'regional' question like - is there anybody else out there from Westchester County, NY who would possibly like to join me either in repairing vintage cameras (as a hobby at first) - or even someone who would like to join me in maybe processing our own film? </p>

    <p>I don't know where to ask a regionally/geographically related question like that, if anywhere. It would be nice to make a new friend 'in person' in addition to all of you nice people from all over the world!</p>

    <p>Photo.net has seemed to 'survive' and thrive more than any other major photography forum I have ever come across. It is an incredible resource. Very vast.</p>

    New Exakta CLA hobbyist introducing myself from NY

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>I only have one real lens right now, a CZJ 50 3.5 which seems "ok" but amazingly light and cheaply designed compared to my 5cm screwmount collapsible Summicron for my Leica IIIf RD.<br>

    I have already spent a small fortune (considering that I've been unemployed for 3 years and am going back to school in the Fall at age 47) getting the 3 bodies I have - Varex IIa, VX IIa, and Varex IIb. That was the 'cheap part.' Then, I had to get a toolbox full of tools that Miles Upton (whose book cost $55 as well) recommended in order to follow his instructions in his book. I got most of it from Micro-Tools.com, plus a $90 damping grease kit, plus an array of solvents (which hopefully Miles will tell me which one to use when). It's like I have a whole workshop set up! </p>

    <p>Well - the 'good' news is that I just finished following section one of his book and disassembled my Varex IIa with little problem. Hopefully I was organized enough to be able to put all of the tiny screws and parts BACK together but I think I'll be OK.</p>

    <p>(correction: what I did was called 'separating the chassis from the body shell' - disassembly comes NEXT :-)</p>

    <p>I was procrastinating going to Home Depot to buy more stain to keep on working on finishing my front porch, so I ended up taking the whole camera apart (step-by-step according to his excellent instruction). </p>

    <p>Well - I'm still proud that I was able to get that far with no problems.<br>

    Obviously I still have an entire CLA to do now... but I was happy that everything went smoothly during disassembly. </p>

    <p>I just hope Miles is as clear about what to do next as he was about disassembly. </p>

    <p>I wish I could afford another lens - actually I have this probably crappy 135mm lens that came on one body - it says Tele-Lentar 135/3.5. It's probably not even worth $10, right?</p>

    <p>I really hope he tells me which solvents to use where, because I now have: Naptha (lighter fluid), Methanol (wood alcohol), glass cleaner, Lacquer Thinner, and 99% Isopropyl Alcohol.<br>

    I'm going to be 'stuck' not knowing what to use unless he's specific but he just gave a huge list according to strengths (some not available in USA and probably carcinogenic).</p>

    <p>I can't afford to do buy anymore except that if I have to 'make' new shutter curtains (as opposed to buying them pre-made from that guy) I still need to buy the appropriate width tape, which I don't have. But I'll get to that when I get to that part of the book, which is the last part. I even bought a shutter tester (a cheap one) from a guy in Bucharest that you use with your computer. </p>

    <p>Maybe if I get good at this I can be a 'seller' of CLA'd Exaktas at some point - but for now it's just supposed to be a therapeutic hobby while the rest of my life is in turmoil. </p>

    <p>I live in Croton on Hudson - if you want to talk about things more locally. I'm free most of the time, until this Fall when I will start to take classes (hopefully) in Computer Security & Forensics. </p>

     

    New Exakta CLA hobbyist introducing myself from NY

    in New User Introductions

    Posted

    <p>As I explain in my post below, I'm introducing myself and in the end ask some questions about some lenses.<br />One guy on eBay is selling a lens that he describes as: Meyer-Optik Gorllitz Telemegor 180mm f5.5 V in Exakta mount<br />He says there is a little bit of oil on one blade (which you can actually see in one photograph) - I don't know how much this matters or if it could deteriorate and become a problem. The seller really doesn't know that much.<br>

    Here is my 'introduction' of myself to the group:<br />To make it short, I've been unemployed for 3 years and my therapist could see that my face lit up when I talked about these old German cameras like my Leica IIIf RD, my Agfa Record III, and now my three "need CLA's" Exakta bodies.<br />So I bought ALL of the conceivable tools, the Ultimate Exakta Repair guide by Miles Upton, and I'm ready to go as of today. I don't want to even think about repairing lenses until I get good at repairing/CLA'ing the bodies. I didn't go into this thinking I'd get good enough to sell CLA'd bodies on eBay (even though I have a 100% feedback rating on 1100 transactions). I'm doing this for myself (to begin with) to see if I remain passionate about the cameras even as I have to put a lot of time into working on each one to make it as perfect as possible. The part that makes me most nervous is the shutter replacment - but there is a guy who sells new pairs of shutters if need be.<br>

    I have one 50mm 3.5 Carl Zeiss Jena preset lens that is quite sharp and works fine - but i'd like something either around portrait length or wide angle. Fortunately even though one of my bodies does have wrinkled (slightly) shutter curtains it still works fine so I got a decent test roll with the 50mm. I know it's not the best 50mm out there I'm sure. But it will do for now.<br>

    I'd like to find one more lens for under $100 (well under if possible).<br>

    I also wanted to say hello and introduce myself here - I have been using photo.net in the past for so long I didn't even know there WERE any other active forums.<br>

    Hello from Croton on Hudson, NY 10520<br />Matthew Peretz<br>

    Please contact me if you are doing anything like I am doing, can offer advice, or whatever.<br>

    Thank you.</p>

    New Exakta CLA hobbyist introducing myself from NY

    in Classic Manual Film Cameras

    Posted

    <p>As I explain in my post below, I'm introducing myself and in the end ask some questions about some lenses.<br />One guy on eBay is selling a lens that he describes as: Meyer-Optik Gorllitz Telemegor 180mm f5.5 V in Exakta mount<br />He says there is a little bit of oil on one blade (which you can actually see in one photograph) - I don't know how much this matters or if it could deteriorate and become a problem. The seller really doesn't know that much.<br>

    <strong>Here is my 'introduction' of myself to the group:</strong><br />To make it short, I've been unemployed for 3 years and my therapist could see that my face lit up when I talked about these old German cameras like my Leica IIIf RD, my Agfa Record III, and now my three "need CLA's" Exakta bodies.<br />So I bought ALL of the conceivable tools, the Ultimate Exakta Repair guide by Miles Upton, and I'm ready to go as of today. I don't want to even think about repairing lenses until I get good at repairing/CLA'ing the bodies. I didn't go into this thinking I'd get good enough to sell CLA'd bodies on eBay (even though I have a 100% feedback rating on 1100 transactions). I'm doing this for myself (to begin with) to see if I remain passionate about the cameras even as I have to put a lot of time into working on each one to make it as perfect as possible. The part that makes me most nervous is the shutter replacment - but there is a guy who sells new pairs of shutters if need be.<br>

    I have one 50mm 3.5 Carl Zeiss Jena preset lens that is quite sharp and works fine - but i'd like something either around portrait length or wide angle. Fortunately even though one of my bodies does have wrinkled (slightly) shutter curtains it still works fine so I got a decent test roll with the 50mm. I know it's not the best 50mm out there I'm sure. But it will do for now.<br>

    I'd like to find one more lens for under $100 (well under if possible).<br>

    I also wanted to say hello and introduce myself here - I have been using photo.net in the past for so long I didn't even know there WERE any other active forums.<br>

    Hello from Croton on Hudson, NY 10520<br />Matthew Peretz<br>

    Please contact me if you are doing anything like I am doing, can offer advice, or whatever.<br>

    Thank you.</p>

    Leica IIIf RD with my old Sunpak 555 Auto-Thyristor?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    <p>Mine's OK. Jurgen Kreckel carries several brands and qualities of MF folders and mine was just whatever the best he had that he could put together given my small budget. Some day I'd like to get a 6x7 or even 6x9 folder from him. I'm in no hurry. Mine takes good bxw images and I have a yellow, green, and blue filter (30mm push on) and using that camera forces me to re-learn a lot and slow down and use a tripod and all of that good stuff. So I'm not complaining. I'm happy with it - the very fact that it's hard to use makes it fun and challenging. I don't think it's good for color film though really. My Leica IIIf w. summicron blows it away. </p>

    How often does my IIIf RD need 'maintenance'?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    <p>You guys have fun with this. I notice that nobody responded to that original poster and his or her horrific experience though. People just let that go. Perhaps I should have responded in that particular thread/post - but I made a poor choice of combining my question about service with my reaction to a former post (actually there were more than one negative ones) in a different thread.<br>

    I doubt that any of you have actually interacted with Sherry on the level that I did and spent time in her house, so you have little basis for assessing the accuracy of my judgement. <br>

    Here. I officially recant everything I said about the owner of this business. Erase it all if you like. I don't care. I was trying to perhaps shed light on what I saw as an unstable situation. </p>

    <p>Why don't one of you explain that man's $600-$700 bill from Sherry and the missing equipment though? (or the other complaint which was less specific). The difference is that I CAN explain it because of what I observed. Too complex for this place apparently though and I guess somewhere, sometime, another person will learn the hard way. <br>

    Unfortunately there are not a lot of choices out there for Leica repairs and maintenance, so people will naturally defend what they think they know. I'm sure Sherry is fine... 'most' of the time. </p>

    <p>Feel free to erase my posts or delete whatever you want. Sometimes someone has to have the courage to speak their mind. </p>

     

    How often does my IIIf RD need 'maintenance'?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    <p>The 'poster' in the 'original thread' did not analyze the personality - I did that in response to what I read to offer some insight into what might have happened and what may happen again given what I know. I realized that it would cause debate - to say anything about her - but once again I stand behind my statements. She IS the business - as a one woman operation - and I think that the poster's experience were entirely predictable and unsurprising. So I was just trying to let people know what could easily happen when dealing with this 'business.' (Golden Touch - aka Sherry Krauter). <br>

    I'm sorry if this thread is going to go on and on - I'm done with it though and said what I think needed to be said in response to that post in that original thread and my own query about service. <br>

    I didn't get any other names/ places out of it - but I did learn enough about the necessity for maintenance over time that I'm finished. My camera and lens were CLA'd about 5-7 years ago so don't need it again anytime soon (like another 15 years or more). <br>

    End of story.</p>

     

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