derekvonessen

Yes thrift stores all over the city are hiding little gems. In the last year I've picked up an Olympus XA, Zenit E [that makes 3 now. sigh.],

Fujica Compact, misc lens, a couple teleconverters...all for cheap, cheap, cheap. I've seen TLR's, folders, Spotmatics, lots of Minolta

SRT's...the list goes on.

I had a similar problem until I realised the release button on mine had to pressed in a

precise spot. Towards the front part of the red pad to be exact...not the middle and not

the back, only the front and it releases every time now. I can only assume it's seen a

lot of action over the years and needs some TLC now.

I have the same model and use it all the time. It's a bit soft so I don't use it for

anything but snapshots and walking down the street. It's dead quiet though and with

zone focusing it's a great shoot-from-the-hip camera. It also synchs nicely with a

variety of cheap flashes so it's a fun one to take to parties.

John W: there was actually a no-return/no exchange policy on Celine. Sorry, must read the

fine print!

John R: Yes, Lens & Shutter is still a few blocks away from me on W Broadway and still has the

cheapest processing for MF film. The staff could do with a few extra smiles though.

Oh Canada :)

Thanks Chuck, but the retaining ring is aligned and the trigger plate does make full contact

with the arm. The shutter just won't move. It's just stuck up top in the cocked position. I used

a cable release too, and though there doesn't seem to be any obstruction it too depresses

fully but no 'click' and release. I've dropped some lighter fluid in there as well and nothing

unhinged. sigh.

I'm not adverse to disassembly but am concerned i may open it and whatever is holding the

tension will suddenly spring out and I'll never put it back. Do you think that may be a

possibility?<div></div>

hi, my 517/16, 6.3 novar, zeiss nettar II which i've run countless rolls thru has suddenly decided to cause

me grief. i cocked the shutter but it won't trip and remains in that position. it pushes the lever all the way

[located below at 7 o'clock], but the shutter still doesn't trip when pressing the top button or manually

pushing that lower lever. it was all cleaned/lubed months ago too. i don't want to force the cocking lever

back to 'uncocked status' but how do i get it back there? do i need to open up the lens elements [again!] to

get at whatever is sticking? any help is appreciated. thanks.

I had the exact same problem:

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00KNaB

I got a bunch of great advice and in the end it was the culmination of ALL of it plus close

to two weeks of soaking in ronsonal, alcohol at times, spray sessions of Liquid Wrench and

the odd nail polish remover. 4-5 times a day at the beginning and 1-2 near the end I

would sit and try to pry them apart. But also, and this is the part I don't believe was

mentioned, I would scrape a needle into the threading and clear out whatever the days

soaking loosened. It was a total drag, my fingers were cut up from slipping [those threads

are sharp on skin!] and I was frustrated beyond belief. But in the end to my utter relief and

amazement it just came apart when I tried unscrewing it about the 100th time. But the

camera was flawless so I really wanted to get it working. However, it has soured me a bit

for buying more folders. I've gone through similar, though less intense issues with at least

6-7 folders I've bought. Good luck with yours.

I have that problem with a couple folders and a few box cameras I use. It's forced my habits

to change a bit. I used to advance the frame after every picture but now stop short 1/2" or so

before the next number appears. Then next shot I have to remember to do that extra turn to

tighten the tention on the roll and put the frame[number] in place. More than few shots have

overlapped in getting accustomed to this but I don't mind those happy accidents.

Shane, don't believe the negative comments...they're just trying to score the deals for

themselves. In the last 6 months I've acquired an Agfa Silette and Super Solina, Braun

Gloriette, Ilford Sportsman [nothin to brag about though], an awesome gem in the Regula

Cita III and a Zorki 5. All for under $20, with decent shipping charges. The Regula has

given me grief with a wonky transport lever but if I'm gentle I'm rewarded with the best

pics. The Zorki, in aqua blue no less, certainly is a conversation piece. The Super Solina is

my new fave...I realised I can see thru the viewfinder with glasses on! Don't even ask me of

the great folding cameras I've picked up. Every now and then I get a dud or a fixer-upper,

but if it's over 20, sometimes $30, I don't buy it. I also picked up a Watameter rangefinder

to fix to my folders, for $12. Deals are out there. Especially at dinner time and 2am when

no one is watching their bids. Good luck.

Thanks much for all the advice. Nothing like learning from trial and error, disassembly and

assembly, and a few choice answers from those you've been there.

Ran my first roll through it this week. Must say, a little disappointed with the outcome

[attached]. It appears the lens is extra soft in the centre, while sharp on the sides. Never

experienced that. It did occur to me that I shot the entire roll at f11 w/o once trying a

frame at f22...not sure what I was thinking -- there's only two settings to choose from!

And to top it, I think all but one frame were set at 3-infinity. Next will be a proper test roll

using all four of the settings offered. But before I use up more film, anyone ever heard of a

box camera that produces a soft centre image?<div></div>

Talk about helpful! Thanks so much Alex. Came off easy with a little pull and I realised the

resistance was from a slight buckle in the body edge that was hanging on the front. Your

advice is thorough and easy to follow so I'll be tackling the cleaning later today.

I've a few box cams [all 6x6 or 6x9] and I love the fact this Tengor has a locking mechanism

on the shutter release. Maybe now I'll stop taking accidental shots of the inside of my bag.

Can't wait to shoot with it. Finally, more than 12 frames off a 120 roll!

Thanks again.

Hi Folks, Has anyone ever taken the front section off the above box camera to clean out the backside of

lens and viewfinders? I unscrewed the 2 side screws and tried to pull it off gently but there was some

springy resistance on the inside. Not wanting to pull apart this fine looking, but dusty, camera and have

the innards spill on my desk, I stopped right there. I can't find anything online about what's on the other

side of this front plate. This is the version with only two aperture settings: 11, 22 and two options for

distance. Any help appreciated. Thx.

Tried most of the above with no results. My fingers are sliced nicely too from the rim of

the front element NOT turning as I grasp it. John, your suggestions surpass my abilities

but maybe they would've worked. I'm going to keep my eye out for another cheap folder

with an Angar lens and hopefully it'll come apart easier as a replacement.

What's aggravating most about all this is I just got a Zeiss Nettar 515/2 that didn't look

like it had a hope in hell, but a 2 hour cleaning and some touch-up paint it's running

nicely. This lens came apart easy! I thought the Viking would take 10 minutes and I'm on

Day 6 [and still soaking].

Hi folks, I'm a newbie but to state briefly, have been using these forums for useful camera reference for so

long and now actually need specific info I can't find anywhere. I've a large assortment of folders, RF's, etc

that I've purchased over the years and about half got to me in less than usable condition. I tinker in true

DIY fashion: with hope that I don't screw it up. So I recently picked up this Ansco Viking 6.3 that is

cosmetically flawless [truly!], like the original owner bought it then tucked it in a drawer for 50 years. The

lens and shutter were stuck rock solid though. After taking off everything up front to get to the shutter

widgets, a squirt of lighter fluid and everything was moving. That is except for the 1st and 2nd lens which

came out in one piece. I've soaked in lighter fluid, alcohol, dribbled some "Deep Lube" penetrating oil, all

of this over 3 days with extensive time soaking in each. I've tried twisting them apart using the hose clamp

trick, wrapping them in rubber bands, applying heat while sitting in fluid and everything short of chucking

it across the room. A foggy film of condensation has accumulated now between them from all this soaking

or I'd just scrap it and put it back in as-is. Anyone with ideas on how to fix this problem? Ideally get them

apart so I can do a proper clean, or for now, magically get rid of the spotty condensation inside. The rest

of this camera is bee-u-tiful.