Farkle-Mpls

<p>I heard back from KEH. Interestingly (and impressively), their warranty coverage will also cover servicing if the speeds are off. I've asked them to verify the shutter speeds as well as repair the light meter (and convert it to 1.5v). I offered to pay for the voltage conversion but the rest of the service should be free. </p>

<p>It's not a CLA but if it keeps the camera running for a few years, I can have a full CLA performed at a later date. Will keep you posted and let you all know how the experience goes.</p>

<p>I've not had to do a warranty claim with KEH before but they offer prepaid return postage too. That's a class act!</p>

<p>Patrick -- what I'm looking for is someone who has experience with KEH performing CLAs to tell me it is a "Walmart experience". No one has. And although Ken is excellent, no one has told me that KEH isn't also excellent. AND KEH is a heck of a lot easier to get ahold of then Ken is. I've been trying on and off for a month to get a hold of him and no luck ... I may need another option and this is one.</p>

<p>I have to return a Canon F1n to KEH for a small warranty repair. I know there are many highly-regarded Canon repair folks out there (Ken Oikawa, especially) but as it's already going to be making a trip to KEH, I was considering having a CLA done by KEH at the same time (and converting the light meter to 1.5v). Have any of you had KEH perform a CLA on an F1 for them? Thank you.</p>

<p>Thanks for everyone's comments. Jim -- thinking about it, I should've known better than to imply wind chill was an impact on mechanical gear. Duh. But it sure weighed on MY mind that day! ;^)</p>

<p>I agree with the overall assertion that the camera, properly CLA'd with Canon-specified lubricants (Astro-oil) should've performed. Neither the shutter release nor the shutter mechanism did. I suspect my camera mechanic made some general assumptions about my usage of the camera when he put it back to spec. It will go to Ken O as soon as I can get a hold of him.</p>

<p>The reason I mentioned the CLA was to forestall the inevitable "the lubricants are old, get a CLA" comment. I had considered this into my choice of camera on this cold day (and as you say, Dave, it isn't really <em>that </em>cold, especially for Minnesota). I thought the recent CLA would increase my chances of success.</p>

<p>So ... what happened mechanically to the shutter? As the right side of the photo didn't get any light, I presume the curtains remained together for a brief time at the beginning of the exposure or (the reverse) the first curtain slowed down and the second curtain met up with it at the end of the exposure?</p>

<p>Also, as I have several F1Ns and F1ns, and two are in need of a CLA, I will send them to Ken Oikawa and ask he prep one exclusively for cold weather use, as you suggested Fred (good call -- thanks!)</p>

<p>... So what did I do? I pulled off my glove, took off the half-case, removed the battery door, removed the battery (without dropping it from my numbing hands!), replaced the battery door and tried again. Nope! I figured the battery had simply froze but, no, the camera simply wouldn't work -- even on a fully mechanical shutter.</p>

<p>When I got home, I had the film processed. Looks like the shutter was acting up a few minutes before the camera failed as the last two shots looked like this, with a dark band along the border. I was shooting color negative film (Ektar 100) ... what do you think happened?</p>

<p>(I expect this is not a permanent problem but I'm run a roll thought it to make sure.)</p><div></div>

<p>... As I continued back to the car, I noticed the snowman on the lake and I wanted to shoot the Minneapolis skyline with the snowman in the foreground. Here's the snowman from 20 minutes before when I was walking away from the car -- mediocre shot but you do better with thick gloves on. Notice there is no downtown skyline! When I stopped on my return and was going to re-frame the shot, the shutter wouldn't work! The film had advanced but no response from the fully-depressed (and apparently frozen?!) shutter.</p>

<p>(... the story continues ...)</p><div></div>

<p>(but it thawed out.)</p>

<p>It was cold in Minneapolis today (1 degree F, without windchill) but a rare day of sunshine so I thought I'd bundle up and take the F1N and Tamron 100-300/F4.0 out for a walk around a city lake. The F1N had been CLA'd about 3 years ago but hadn't seen more than a few rolls through it since then -- I thought it would be nice to fire some shots off.</p>

<p>There was a wind coming off the lake which apparently drove the windchill down to around -15F and I realized I hadn't worn insulated jeans so I needed to turn around after about 0.75 miles and head back. I had taken a few shots along the way, including this mysterious walker ...</p>

<p>(We both laughed when I asked her to smile for the photo.)</p>

<p>... the story will continue ...</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Arturo,</p>

<p>Welcome! Sorry about the crazy snowfall last night but "that's Minnesota"! Anyway, you should be able to get some good pictures before it gets too messed up.</p>

<p>I live on the Minneapolis side of the Cities. National Camera, as you mention, does processing but I've not been impressed by their efforts. Maybe you'd have better luck. There is also Fast Foto in Edina (one suburb west of Minneapolis). They do great work -- it's where I take my vacation photos to get processed. Both Fast Foto and National Camera only do C41 in-house -- B&W or E6 would be sent out. </p>

<p>Another option is Linhoff Photo in Edina -- they will take C41 and also accept B&W, which is processed twice a week. Here is their URL:</p>

<p>http://linhoff.com/film-processing.html</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>Photo.Net has proven to be a good marketing tool for Mr. Blunt. I watched the video -- really enjoyed the video and his "sound" -- went to iTunes, listened to clips of 5-6 of his other songs (album Moon Landing) and ended up buying the album! So ... while I never owned an AE-1, I'll think of my first FTb and subsequent F1Ns when I listen to his music!</p>

<p>Thanks for posting James Turner.</p>

<p>Aki,</p>

<p>I've lived in Minneapolis for 25+ years so it was nice to see it mentioned in your post. I have five F1Ns (a long story) and have gotten very competent servicing done for around $130 from a local guy who still provides servicing in his retirement. Send me an eMail if you'd like his contact info. I assume you don't live around here any more but he does a lot of his business through the US Mail. He provides a warranty for his work, as well. </p>

<p>I hope you get the camera serviced. You don't need me to tell you what fantastic cameras the F1s are. I'm thinking of taking one of mine on vacation with me in February and leaving all my digital bodies at home. I miss shooting and traveling with my F1s: we logged many thousands of miles together in the 1980s and 1990s.</p>

<p>I've tried several times since April 2013 and have had no luck with eMail (he has a couple of my lenses in for service). I need to call him as I assumed after a point that my eMail was going into his JUNK mail box (which would be odd considering we've exchanged eMail before so I should be whitelisted ...) ANYWAY ... I'm going to stay close to this thread and see what's up. Gus is a good guy and has been active on PNet since my last successful communication with him so I just assume there is a breakdown in communications somewhere. </p>

<p>GUS ... where are you?</p>

<p>I applied (Sept 2012) for a Visa directly to the Vietnamese embassy in DC (I live in the USA). I needed to provide an Express Mail return envelope with the package I sent to them. Sent it in on a Monday, had it in the mail returned to me and ready for my travels the following Monday. Easy peasy.</p>

<p>Didier -- your comment reminded me of an important understanding. Yes, you are right. The "L" insignia <strong>should</strong> (heavy emphasis on SHOULD) be only placed there by a licensed/certified/trained/blessed/ordained Leica repair person. If that has been done, then I agree the value of the camera should reflect that extra care and attention.</p>

<p>But ... as Gus helpfully pointed out, how do you know any prior repairs were done by the appropriately-trained repair person ...? That's the quandary. </p>

<p>Didier,</p>

<p>Don't be too enamored with the "L" seal. When I had my Leica professionally CLA'd by a certified/trained Leica tech, he replaced the wax seal with an identical "L" insignia after the service was complete. It's a novelty, nothing more, and basically meaningless.</p>

<p>Dirk -- congrats on your decision. I've tried Canon FD lenses on my M9 and, of course, with no EVF+FC I'm stuck to zone or hyper-focusing with wide angle lenses (my widest FD is 17/F4). The pics turned out great though. I envy your ability to pick up the M -- keep us posted so we know when you receive it. Now that you've made your decision, you face the next hardest part: waiting for it. (Acknowledging the FIRST hardest part is paying for it.)</p>

<p>Peter -- did you try a second battery, just in case the new one is flat or nearly so? Also, when you remove the battery, how does the shutter behave? If memory serves, you should get mechanical speeds 1/90s and faster.</p>

<p>The lens is quite sharp considering it's age (according to PK, the lens is a Type I lens, manufactured prior to 1961). Here is a crop at full size.</p>

<p>Thanks for the comments! With Jim's positive experience, I (bravely!) attached the lens to my M7, then M9 and on the M9 took this picture. It's an overcast day so this is just a snap from my front door.</p><div></div>

<p>I finally got a Canon LTM 25mm/F3.5 for my screw mount Canons but I'd like to use it on my modern Leica Ms (M7, M9) too. I'm concerned about the depth the of the lens -- it intrudes quite a bit into the body. Has anyone mounted this lens (with appropriate LTM adapter, of course) on their modern Ms? Any issues? Thanks!</p>

<p>Don,<br>

My thoughts are this: Don't think twice next time. You did nothing wrong. Why change your behavior? If the guy wanted to be incognito, he can stay in his house and parade around wearing his cameras where no one can see him. Or hide his camera from view in public only sneaking it out when he wants to grab a shot. He has good taste in cameras and so do you. It's only natural that we enthusiasts recognize and acknowledge each other -- and sometimes that happens publicly.</p>

<p>Mark,</p>

<p>I use a NEX-7 with focus peaking for my FD and Leica lenses. I know other similar cameras have the same feature but I wouldn't consider buying a camera and using adapted lenses without that capability. Good luck!</p>

<p>As an FYI, I've shot Canon rangefinders -- I have several -- for years. My Dad bought one new in Korea in 1952 and gave me his about 10 years ago. I had Gerry @ Kindermann do a complete CLA on it and it came back working like new. My Dad was so pleased that I had taken the time, effort and money to refresh his camera! (It was one of his first big purchases, after he went to Korea.)</p>

<p>I had a chance to go to Vietnam last fall so took it with. I took period Canon lenses as well and Rollei Retro 80S B&W film. The camera performed flawlessly. I thought it was a cool thing to take it back to Asia one last time.</p><div></div>

<p>Last one. Same set up but at F1.2.</p><div></div>

<p>For more fun, I'm going to include full resolution attachment because, honestly, I was amazed what the FD 85/F1.2L can do. Mine was made in Feb 1988 and performs beautifully.</p><div></div>