ralph_lamoureux

<p>Andrew,<br>

Browsing the net about Compur shutters, as several of my cameras are equiped with them, I was pleased to learn some precautions. Among which the ones given in the Speed Graphic Miniature user manual (1940'S) :<br>

"To prevent damage to the shutter, this delayed action mechanism [self timer] must never be used with the highest shutter speed. The following additional precautions should always be observed : Never cock a Compur shutter when it is set for "T" or "B". Never attempt to move from an instantaneous setting [200, 100, 50,etc ...] to "B" or "T" , or change from or to the highest speed while shutter is cocked". <br>

Not sure if these basic precautions regard also your Compur Rapid, but it might...</p>

<p>Black Rollei 35 S, circa 1980 B'Day present from my dad. Beautiful lil sharp, discret, clever camera, strong and attractive. Was stolen after about 15 years of faithful service...<br>

Dad also gave me his Pentax Spotmatic about 10 years later, I remember its second hand title dated 1974. This one attracted no thief, but it is also a genuine good stuff, and still with me.<br>

Both were great tools to try to catch secret chemistry between time, light, film sensitivity, etc...and then to continue the game in the darkroom. Faaaaar away from any computer, it was just about photography.</p>

<p>Hello Gabor,<br>

Well well,...<br>

Please learn that it is <strong><em>after</em></strong> having checked your pictures that I decide to buy my Avus... Now I'm trapped : worse than any Swine Flu virus, the Classic Folding Medium Plate Camera virus...;o)<br>

But it hurts, so I took some drastic decisions:<br>

Stop buying compulsively on E-bay stuff you don't know just because they look sooo cute,<br>

Equip properly the few you have bought, and learn to use them,<br>

My Avus is (only...) a 6x9, and I do not have plate/film holders for it yet, only the ground glass. <br>

But... I discovered yesterday with great pleasure that the Rollex120 of the Enolde 6x9/Corygon Anastigmat1:6.8/135 I bought recently (before I quit buying...) fits the Avus perfectly! Pb is it needs black tape, as first roll I shot showed light-leak at the film-turning handle. Easy fix I guess.<br>

<strong>Back to the Oil/camouflage subject, sorry</strong> : I will give you directly the name of the E-bay pro, which <em>by the way</em> is the same than the one Stephanie (upper in same thread) had same pb with...<br>

I am cleaning the Avus little by little. Manipulating it is doing the job quite well by itself, as my fingers get the gooe ;o) But opening the shutter is the next surgery step I am quite affraid of. I'll first shot this week-end with the (taped) Rollex to see if it works well as is. Then I'll follow the advices already received here, of opening/cleaning excess of oil.<br>

Disgressing again: I have so many questions on what/how to do with these cameras, who/where to go for parts and advises... It is delicious to discover & learn little by little by try/fail/re-do : it's pure fun to me. And I am trapped <em>hundreds</em> of hours (till 3am this morning...) on photo-net to learn all I can from your community. I found the "Secon Sundays Shows" data yesterday, I'll be there on Oct 11! I hope it's much more fun than Ebay...<br>

Tiny closet at night for transferring 120 rolls in tank + bathroom to develop + darkroom association in Lower east side on Tuesdays nights : this new routine gives me such a good mood+big smiles since few weeks! I took pictures at lunch pauses, on week ends, etc... I have to improve everything, and a lot... Far to be satisfied: cool, it's actually the learning process I enjoy. (and the smell! this odor of old steal/leather,etc.., an hypnotizing "je ne sais quoi" , Arghhh!! Have you smelled in an wooden insight E29?).<br>

Wishing the best pictures moments to all of you!<br>

Ralph.<br>

Gosh, such a long post... I'm ashamed.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>The word would be seeping more than leaking perhaps, but fingers definitely oily. as also lots of other parts have been oiled (mobile joint of the hood, sliding parts, etc...).<br>

Horifying is why would you lavishly daub here and there with matt black liquid shoeshine? Handling the camera, my fingers get black gooe, as it absolutely doesn't stick on the item! Also it's clearly visible as the leather is kind of satin-black, the shoeshine totally matt...<br>

My theory is that the seller did not even finish the cheap camouflage/monkey job: he just forgot to hide/clean it, or didn't give any more darn. Strange, though.<br>

Well, thanks Patrick & Richard, I'm cleaning and ...getting real... And will pay extra attention wile shooting. Expecting possible bad surprises... (I first have to find plate/film holders...)<br>

I didn't think I would so rapidly face such bad second-hand-car-dealer methods...<br>

It's a nice camera. I love it and I'm dying to use it. My "scamera" is a keeper.</p>

<p>Thanks to JDM, Randy, Stephanie for confirming my fear.<br>

I will have the joy of opening a shutter to discover how the magic works<br>

and naphta-clean it before it catches all the dirt of the world.<br>

As the rest of the camera looks really good, I am keeping it.<br>

It's the best way to discover how well it works;o)<br>

Ralph.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Hello,<br>

I received a Voigtlander Avus/skopar/compur bought from ebay.<br>

As per previous threads I read on same subject, I should be ...concerned but not horified to see oil on my fingers after checking shutter speed/aperture, Correct ?<br>

It leaks from between speed ring and lens holder.<br>

Lens which was not tighten, I had to turn about 5 turns to tighten it... (?)<br>

But what about black paint/shoeshine..(!? it sticks on my fingers) spread here and there, including on on some chromed metal parts...<br>

As everything seems to work perfectly, is this just showing a cheap cleaning/verification has been done prior shipping ??<br>

But coming from a pro on E-bay, is it "normal" ?</p>

<p>Many thanks for any advice.<br>

Ralph.<br>

NY.</p>