Filmwasters

Which Board? => Main Forum => Topic started by: Sandeha Lynch on May 30, 2016, 02:38:33 PM

Title: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on May 30, 2016, 02:38:33 PM
I'm always amused that the "I just picked up ..." thread is such a stayer, but it is something of a reflection on how Filmwasters operate.  What's missing seems to be an "I've just fixed ... " thread, though while what we make or break is interesting it perhaps doesn't happen as frequently.

Anyway, here's something I made earlier.  I'd been looking at 'blender' and multiple exposure pinholes and figured I might as well have a piece of that.  Two days of ferreting and manipulating has yielded up a tri-pin 120 camera and a roll I shot this morning seems to show promise.  With a bit of luck I'll be able to get some colour into it next Sunday at the Cardiff Bike Ride - always a highpoint on my calendar.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/multiple_pinholes/IMGP7544a.jpg)

Parts came from the base of an angle poise lamp, two sizes of tubular card packaging, leftover silk from a bellows job, some plywood from Ikea's junk pile, ex-camera film winders, and assorted nuts, bolts, etc.  The focal length of each pinhole is just under 30mm. 

Five shots to a roll if you want separation between them.  The weaker shots tend to be muddy or over exposed, but these three seem to be OK.  The shot in the garden is a double exposure from two positions.  I'll have to try some half-turn doubles as well, though deciding where to crop may be tricky !!

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/multiple_pinholes/160530_fp4_04.jpg)


(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/multiple_pinholes/160530_fp4_01.jpg)


(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/multiple_pinholes/160530_fp4_02.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 30, 2016, 02:59:28 PM
Pretty surprising results for a first try.
If you want to set an exposure counter on I can see two ways of doing so.
First would be to use a small tube that would go through the back and on to the center position, a bit like a tunnel.
The other would involve a small mirror at 45° and a small hole in the top cover with a door. But that would involve more complex light sealing.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on May 30, 2016, 03:58:31 PM
A red window is a possibility but I don't think I'll bother with just five frames.  It's 8 turns to start, then 3.5, then 3, then 3, and finally 2.5 turns or until the film clicks off the leader paper.  These have light leaks but I think I've fixed that now.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 30, 2016, 08:56:41 PM
Yeah, light leaks are a pain with some handmade cameras.
My 6x14 curved plane pano has two major leaks on both sides. I did a few mods which I hope will fix that.

I found out that you really need a deep rabbet to block out the light efficiently, something mine doesn't have.

The next ones I build will have at least a ¼ inch rabbets to make sure no light goes in.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on May 30, 2016, 09:58:08 PM
I just fixed a roll of Tri-X.

Sorry, I had to say that  :-[ :P :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 30, 2016, 10:20:42 PM
Very funny  :o
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Jack Johnson on May 31, 2016, 03:24:19 AM
Great thread idea!

Nothing yet to contribute. I may have broken some stuff....
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on May 31, 2016, 05:47:19 AM
I just made an anamorphic pinhole camera out of a 35mm canister. Not really worth taking a picture of, but there you go. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on May 31, 2016, 07:44:17 AM
nice idea! I've filled a equivalent thread in a swedish forum with my tinkering. good place for collecting advice too.

I'll post here when I'll get that pen s sorted :)

In the meanwhile, I've still that rangefinder to loosen up on the agfa folder that I got into shape with new bellows from Sandeha
And I'm struggling a bit with the last screws inside the winder on my bronica C after getting the counter to work again. it's tricky holding the "door" open and getting the screw straight :P
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on May 31, 2016, 08:38:35 PM
That's a good start, Jonas.   :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: astrobeck on May 31, 2016, 08:42:55 PM
I bought another pinhole camera today....not fair I 'spose, but what the heck!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Aksel on May 31, 2016, 09:31:43 PM
Love this sort of topic, great gratification in fixing stuff - keeping it alive and going!
Not sure if it´s really in line with filmwasters but I promise, it´s very analogue! Just overhauled the hydraulics at the rear end of my old Citroën. Picture taken with Olympus trip 35 on some old fuji 400.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 31, 2016, 10:52:01 PM
Old Citroen DS?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Aksel on May 31, 2016, 11:02:06 PM
Actually this is my XM  but I also have a 1969 DS that is next on the list for maintenance, then when that´s done the seitz roundshot 65 el controller unit needs some soldering  ;) That´s the thing, owning old stuff means you never have a lack of things to do  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 01, 2016, 03:20:28 AM
Finally took some shots of my latest fixer-upper, a Rochester Optical Long Focus Premo 8x10 copy camera from 1901.  (Serial number 6.)

(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/22/42065622.28515161.640.jpg) (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065622)
Premo 8x10 1 (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065622) par Terry B (http://www.ipernity.com/home/434637), on ipernity

(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/24/42065624.2e14341b.640.jpg) (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065624)
Premo 8x10 2 (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065624) par Terry B (http://www.ipernity.com/home/434637), on ipernity

(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/28/42065628.d3f741e2.640.jpg) (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065628)
Premo 8x10 3 (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065628) par Terry B (http://www.ipernity.com/home/434637), on ipernity

Here's what it looked like right after I'd finished scraping off the rotten leather.  I did some brass fabrication (the support struts for the end boards and some other small brass parts) and sanded, re-stained and varnished the interior mahogany surfaces, then covered it again with thin leather. 

(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/30/42065630.61f05a20.500.jpg) (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065630)
000 0072 (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42065630) par Terry B (http://www.ipernity.com/home/434637), on ipernity

The bellows extension is 1 meter--shorter than the original, but who wants to get that close anyway?

Here's a test shot with the Caltar (Rodenstock) 215mm lens:

(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/77/36/41717736.041883cb.640.jpg) (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/41717736)
red flowers (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/41717736) par Terry B (http://www.ipernity.com/home/434637), on ipernity
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Domingo A. Siliceo on June 01, 2016, 08:18:59 AM
[...]
(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/30/42065630.61f05a20.500.jpg)

(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/56/22/42065622.28515161.640.jpg)
[...]

outstanding result, Terry. I sincerely admire your dedication and work.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Aksel on June 01, 2016, 09:09:00 AM
Terry

that´s impressive! Now it´s good for another hundred years  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 01, 2016, 02:11:45 PM
Definitely!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 01, 2016, 04:12:06 PM
It's a bit heavy (still lighter than my Kodak 2D 8x10) but it's a lot of fun to shoot with.  The biggest  problem is that the ground glass is so far away from the lens that pulling focus takes a lot of time!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 01, 2016, 09:18:45 PM
I don't think they were designed for frequent focus changes... It probably was one of those set it and forget it setups that they were made for.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 01, 2016, 09:30:33 PM
You're right of course, Francois; it was designed as a copy camera and probably used by someone who had an assistant to pull focus.  It can get really close to something but, of course, the trade-off is loss of DoF.  Also not problematic in copying work.  Still, it's a lot of fun to play with--the rear standard does all the usual tilt and swing moves, so I can play around with the focal plane.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 01, 2016, 09:33:38 PM
That could only mean one thing: you need to hire an assistant ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 02, 2016, 12:38:02 AM
Right again!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 02, 2016, 02:29:15 PM
 ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Ezzie on June 03, 2016, 05:51:43 AM
Good idea for a thread Sandeha. I think one reason the need for one has not identified itself is that people, me included, have started dedicated threads for their builds.

Very nice restoration Terry. Those Ponys are very attractive cameras.


I won't recant any of my previous builds and hacks here, but thought I would post s small teaser for my R.O.C View type 4, 5x7 project. Already restored, more or less, and if I remember correctly with a new bellows from Sandeha, it is rather nice looking. But I may redo the lacquering, I need to make a 5x7 to 4x5 reduction back, and I need to source, or manufacture, a locking thumb wheel for the front rise and fall. It alos lacks lens boards, which I will need to make up.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on June 03, 2016, 07:24:30 AM
Eirik, is that the one Jonny sent to me?  I think we need a picture.   ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Roycross on June 03, 2016, 09:52:25 AM
Great job, Terry! Looking forward to seeing a contact print soon.

Roy
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Ezzie on June 03, 2016, 05:25:59 PM
Eirik, is that the one Jonny sent to me?  I think we need a picture.   ;)

Yepp, one and the same. I will post something when it's finished. Hopefully not long to go.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Ezzie on June 07, 2016, 09:14:07 PM
The aforementioned R.O.C View 5x7 variation 4 camera. Done up by an acquiantance of mine here in Norway, who had Sandeha do the bellows. I have made up a lens board to mount Topcon lenses for the VH series, and a reduction back for 4x5. Would ideally have tried to find a cherry or mahogany back for it, and not the black metal Sinar. But I think it still looks quite nice. Not bad for a 100+ year old camera.

Still need to get hold of a thumbwheel for the front rise and fall, but all in due time.


Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Chalky on June 07, 2016, 09:44:53 PM
That looks great!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 07, 2016, 10:58:23 PM
Eirik, can you shoot a closeup of the rise/fall fittings?  I probably have a thumbwheel that'll work
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on June 08, 2016, 06:08:16 AM
Pulled my 4x5 shutter apart to do a CLA and the shutter blades fell out, requiring further disassembly. I had to come back to it for 3 days, but the shutter is working great now.

(http://www.machsystems.net/fw/graphic%20shutter.jpg)

Also had to pull apart my Pakon F-335 to clean it because it wouldn't scan in black and white mode. Yay!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 08, 2016, 02:47:54 PM
Got to have a steady hand for shutter work--well done!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Ezzie on June 08, 2016, 07:34:50 PM
@Terry

The screw is most likely a #4-40 or #4-48 thread. It measures just over 2.81mm diameter/across the threads. I imagine it may have looked something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Brass-Thumb-Screw-Knurled-Threads/dp/B00DD4X1BA (http://www.amazon.com/Brass-Thumb-Screw-Knurled-Threads/dp/B00DD4X1BA) though the knurling is somewhat different (not important)

Thanks
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 08, 2016, 08:19:58 PM
I looked up your camera on the piercevaubel site and the rise/fall fitting  looks the same as that on the Eastman 33A.  I have a parts 33A I've been plundering but the rise/fall is still there.  I'll pull the whole mechanism and send it to you. 

Here's what it looks like

(http://cdn.ipernity.com/200/50/86/42145086.60b9d80c.500.jpg) (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42145086)
000 0098 (http://www.ipernity.com/doc/434637/42145086) par Terry B (http://www.ipernity.com/home/434637), on ipernity
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Ezzie on June 08, 2016, 09:39:05 PM
Very much like mine, yes. If you were to let me try it out, I would be utmost grateful.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on June 09, 2016, 06:22:59 AM
Got to have a steady hand for shutter work--well done!

Thanks, it was frustrating for sure. I wish I had thought to take a picture of it disassembled.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on June 09, 2016, 03:37:50 PM
Just finished restoring this 1938 IIIa with 1937 Summar. The kit came to me in a sorry state: vulcanite half gone, everything dirty and stiff, Summar filthy and scratched all to hell. There's still a few bumps and scratches in the body from a drop at some point in its life, but I gave it a CLA (curtains were still good), cleaned and hand polished the Summar, put on a new body covering from Hugo Studio, and it's good to go.

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7768/27462786392_6c2056fc47_c.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 09, 2016, 03:56:28 PM
Very nice work Andrej.  I'm especially impressed with the finish on the lens--guessing it's uncoated!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Aksel on June 09, 2016, 03:57:44 PM
That´s a great job you have done there with the old Barnack!
What did you use to polish up the glass? I`w been keen on trying it out on a cupel of old uncoated lenses but newer got around to do it yet =)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on June 09, 2016, 04:08:48 PM
Thanks, guys. The lens was coated at one point in its life, but there was no option but to sacrifice what little was left - the front element looked like it had gone ten rounds with a sandblaster and lost. Most Summars are uncoated, and I'm not opposed to uncoated lenses at all, so it wasn't a problem to my mind. There is still some roughness around the periphery, but I made the tactical decision to leave it rather than risk screwing with the optical correctness of the lens any more than necessary.

I polished it with cerium oxide. It's the standard material for polishing glass. It comes as a power, which you mix with water. Ideally, you'd use a form that matches the shape of the glass you're polishing, but lacking such a thing, I did it freehand, very gently, over many hours. I would periodically test it on my Fuji X-E1 to see how it was going and to make sure I wasn't developing any sort of distortion. Perfect it's not, but it's a usable lens now, and from f/4 it's quite good (like most Summars, apparently - some consider f/2 and f/2.8 to be "emergency" settings).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on June 09, 2016, 04:19:16 PM
Great job O2Pilot, did you take a "before" picture?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on June 09, 2016, 04:26:14 PM
Another anamorphic pinhole. This one from an old 35mm bulk roll can. I might devise a fancier shutter if it produces good results. This will make up to a 35x310 anamorphic image or a 70x70 regular flat image.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on June 09, 2016, 04:34:21 PM
Great job O2Pilot, did you take a "before" picture?

Foolishly, no. There were a couple in the FS ad on APUG, but it's been taken down now.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on June 09, 2016, 09:39:16 PM
Another anamorphic pinhole. This one from an old 35mm bulk roll can. I might devise a fancier shutter if it produces good results. This will make up to a 35x310 anamorphic image or a 70x70 regular flat image.
Oooh, a bulk roll can! First I thought you had turned one of those robo-vacuum cleaners into a pinhole camera :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 09, 2016, 10:39:51 PM
Wouldn't that be fun?
You press the button and it does it all, including the vacuuming and proper dusting of the film :)

Whou wouldn't want a whole collection of photos of dust bunnies?  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on June 09, 2016, 11:23:22 PM
And because I'm such a nerd and have nerd friends, I wrote an R script that gives me an exposure table. I give it the size of the pinhole, the radius of the film path, the thickness of the pinhole material, the upper and lower vertical distances of the film from the pinhole, and a list of iso's and it does this.


Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 10, 2016, 02:43:50 PM
You just have to love nerdiness  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Ezzie on June 10, 2016, 03:03:12 PM
And because I'm such a nerd and have nerd friends, I wrote an R script that gives me an exposure table. I give it the size of the pinhole, the radius of the film path, the thickness of the pinhole material, the upper and lower vertical distances of the film from the pinhole, and a list of iso's and it does this.
And reciprocity? 😃😛😃
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on June 10, 2016, 03:41:43 PM
And reciprocity? 😃😛😃
Well, I suppose I could include reciprocity factors for every known emulsion in any light source and factor in age past expiration, but I think I'll leave some of the 'mystery' in the process!  :P
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 15, 2016, 11:21:55 PM
Well, it's not really something I made or fixed... but I'm still pretty darn proud of myself.

I just developed my first roll of 35mm on a stainless reel!  8)

I used a German made reel in a Honneywell-Nikor tank for a single reel.
The reel loaded pretty well, I don't think I jumped any wires. I did try and load it the wrong way around the first time but I figured it out.
The tank does leak a bit, something I'm not used to (it's got a stainless lid).

I can't wait to see if I messed-up or not  :-\
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on June 16, 2016, 12:33:14 AM
I wrap electrical tape around the lid to hold it on so it doesn't pop open by accident and to seal leaks.  It usually still drips out from under the tape a little.  I find loading 120 film onto stainless reels much easier than 35mm.  I did just get a Hewes stainless reel that is supposed to be easier. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 16, 2016, 01:14:31 PM
Good trick for the tape.
I think my reel is a Kinderman. This is just a deduction from the made in Germany punch on it.
I liked the fact that it doesn't use a clip in the center, but rather a slot that you simply put the tip of the film in. Much less fiddling.

And for the results, it worked flawlessly. I just broke one sprocket in the process. Not bad for a first time :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 16, 2016, 02:31:08 PM
I've got a collection of steel tanks and reels, but I have one Paterson tank and it's always set for 35mm...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 16, 2016, 09:02:06 PM
I have one too since the last garage sale haul.
Funny thing is I discovered that they made both 120 and 220 reels in stainless...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 16, 2016, 11:17:48 PM
And 127 reels too!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 19, 2016, 09:05:35 PM
I just made something... well, it's not fully completed but I'm so happy with the progress so far that I'm showing it in its unfinished state... a rare thing.

When I went out with my spinner last week, I picked it up from a drawer only to realize something: it didn't have a home with the other cameras because of its shape. Compared to other cameras, it's anything but practical when it comes to storage. It's not square or rectangular. It won't stay up straight. When you put the lens cap on you have to remove the lens shade but to use the camera, the shade must be on as it serves as a counterweight to make the rotation smooth. There's a spare drive belt that I better not loose. To get the camera apart to change the belt should it break, you need a small phillips jeweler's screwdriver. And I often use it with an orange filter to bring the contrast up.
These are a lot of things to keep track of. So, I decided to make it a custom case. Since I wanted to keep it light, padded and mostly cheap, I opted to use some EVA foam that they sell as a floor mat at the dollar store for a whopping 3$. I made some patterns a bit like those who make costumes for comicon but instead of using contact cement, I opted for cyanoacrylate. This was a bit of a gamble since it glues foam so fast that you just need to press a bit and it's holding forever.

But anyway, here's the project as it stands right now
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on June 20, 2016, 04:40:20 AM
I just made something... well, it's not fully completed but I'm so happy with the progress so far that I'm showing it in its unfinished state... a rare thing.

<snip>

But anyway, here's the project as it stands right now

That's pretty cool Francois. I wish I would think of the Dollar Store as a DIY resource center. I always end up at the Home Depot. Anyway, the only thing that might make it cooler is if the lid were flush. So the sides of the lid would fit down inside the box (snugly) and the top would overhang just enough to be flush with the sides of the box. Does that make sense?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 20, 2016, 02:36:35 PM
I know, I thought about it but I wanted to make it more camera bag like at the beginning. Though now I'm not so sure.
But it does make the whole thing very solid and protective.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on June 21, 2016, 05:35:43 AM
I disassembled and cleaned a 50mm f/1.4 Pentax SMC lens that had some haze. I picked it up with a 28mm f/2.8 and a generic zoom lens and P30N body for $30. The lens looks pretty good now, but it's not perfect.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Domingo A. Siliceo on June 21, 2016, 10:03:07 AM
A tiny game if compared with all your restorations, inventions et al, but the lenses of my Retina needed to be cleaned and with a spanner wrench an about ten minutes... voilà!

(http://i68.tinypic.com/smpyck.jpg)

(http://i64.tinypic.com/aonekh.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 22, 2016, 11:10:37 PM
Good work, Domingo!  That's a sweet looking Retina you've got.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on June 23, 2016, 07:31:31 PM
All this work by so many filmwasters clearly needed a thread of its own !!

Just a little something I stitched together over the week.  The shutter on this camera is (presumably) a picket fence shutter, so rather than name it simply Rotunda Lite (it's 35mm, not 120) perhaps it should be a Picket Pinhole.  About ten 3-pin panoramas on a 36 shot roll of 135, with the option for single shots as well.  I've just dev'd the first roll so will put something in the weekend thread, at the weekend.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/multiple_pinholes/IMGP7564b.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 23, 2016, 09:36:49 PM
Nice tongue depressors ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on June 23, 2016, 09:45:45 PM
Nice tongue depressors ;)

Hmm, you got me thinking I could have used some of my old saxophone reeds.   :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 23, 2016, 11:55:54 PM
I like the results you got with that thing!!!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on June 24, 2016, 05:34:11 AM
Cleaned these lenses and lubricated the shutter on the left (I'm afraid to disassemble the one on the right).

On the right is a Compound shutter with a Zeiss Doppel Amatar 1:6.8 210mm lens.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Ezzie on June 25, 2016, 05:35:40 PM
Terry sent me the thumb screw from an old Kodak view camera he has scrounged for parts. And behold, it fits! Thank you Terry, very glad for your help.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 25, 2016, 06:54:47 PM
You're very welcome Eirik!  It looks like it found a good home.

Chad, here's the inside view of your shutter.
http://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/photographic_inter-lens_shutters-1.pdf (http://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/photographic_inter-lens_shutters-1.pdf)

I would encourage you to open it up; these old pump-retard shutters are simpler than the many-tiny-gears-that-spin-and-whiz designs.  I just cleaned and repaired an old Koilos and it was a lot of fun to work on.  And it hits the exposure times rather closely.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on June 26, 2016, 04:11:50 AM

Chad, here's the inside view of your shutter.
http://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/photographic_inter-lens_shutters-1.pdf (http://www.cameramanuals.org/prof_pdf/photographic_inter-lens_shutters-1.pdf)

I would encourage you to open it up; these old pump-retard shutters are simpler than the many-tiny-gears-that-spin-and-whiz designs.  I just cleaned and repaired an old Koilos and it was a lot of fun to work on.  And it hits the exposure times rather closely.

Great, thanks for the link, Terry!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Domingo A. Siliceo on June 26, 2016, 06:43:23 AM
Extraordinary pieces of centenarian engineering.

[...]
I would encourage you to open it up; these old pump-retard shutters are simpler than the many-tiny-gears-that-spin-and-whiz designs.
[...]

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on June 26, 2016, 07:24:27 PM
Agreed.  And the optics too--I think we often overrate our own accomplishments.  (Written while listening to Underworld on vinyl...)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on June 27, 2016, 12:14:16 PM
anyone tried removing the shutter housing and operating it off a SX-70/SX-70 Sonar camera?
any ideas if it even can be done?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on July 04, 2016, 10:30:45 PM
It is obviously (or so I presume) a Blackbladder and it may not be the last, so Blackbladder 1. 

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/blackbladder/IMGP7574a.jpg)

I'd been aiming for a 38mm focal length, but the initial position of the pinhole disk meant it was wide enough to pick up the outer threads of the shutter itself. 

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/blackbladder/160704_fp4_01.jpg)


With the disk moved forward it's now 45mm, a slight sacrifice there, but hopefully that will be OK.  And hopefully tomorrow will stay dry.   ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 04, 2016, 10:38:55 PM
When I first misread it, I thought you called it the BlackAdder  :o
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: AJShepherd on July 04, 2016, 11:44:44 PM
It's a cunning plan!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on July 05, 2016, 12:24:09 AM
I like the vignette--it's a good touch.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on July 05, 2016, 05:35:53 AM
I like this backbladder idea...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on July 28, 2016, 10:42:09 PM
I wanted a slightly wider view so I made another Blackbladder, this one at 38mm.
 
(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/blackbladder/IMGP7581a.jpg)

and I appear to have made a partner for it as well - the oRBo 67

You'll figure the name, I'm sure.  This one is wider still with a 30mm focal length.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/pinhole_oRBo_67/IMGP7594a.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on July 30, 2016, 10:26:32 PM
When I got this little 35RC the meter was inoperable. A little solder and some meter adjustments have it almost good as new. I haven't even gone through the first roll yet and I already love it!

(https://i.imgur.com/K7FsyYq.jpg?1)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on August 02, 2016, 12:25:19 PM
last days of summer vacation this weekend so I had to do something with that kodak projection anastigmat lens I had bought earlier this year....

cardboard to the rescue!!

poped a rada film back and loaded it up with maco ort 25, along with a ND8 filter on the lens so I'd be sure to have easy to handle shutter times (or shutterless times, if you prefer). too bad I didn't figure out until half the roll was done that I had to follow every other 6x4,5 frame number for correct frame spacing while shooting 6x9 :P
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on August 10, 2016, 06:04:20 PM
I picked up an "untested" Yashica 124G on eBay for $45 while trolling "newly listed". I could tell from the pictures that it was going to need some TLC, but figured it was worth the money just for the experience of getting into the guts in case one of my (much nicer) Yashica TLRs had an issue in the future.

When I got the camera, the shutter would fire, but the blades wouldn't move, but you could tell they were trying to open and close. Removal of the rear taking lens element and a quick poke at the blades fixed that issue, but the shutter speeds were off and anything below 1/8th wouldn't complete without coaxing. I took the shutter apart, but left it on the lens board and used my trusty Tri-Flow to get everything back into shape. Speeds seem accurate (I still don't have a shutter tester), but the self timer is still non-functional, though not really a concern for me.

The meter was also non-functional and took some poking at to figure out it was shorting on the body. I know the meter is supposed to go on/off with the opening/closing of the WLF, but I couldn't figure out how they were supposed to be mechanically connected, so I moved the contacts to an always-on state. Not my favorite option, but for a $44 camera, I wasn't going to make it like new and now the meter works (and seems to be fairly accurate.)

This one will probably go back on the bay for a little profit and much-required experience was gained. I just need to glue the leather back on the front and focus knob side.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on August 10, 2016, 07:36:06 PM
I made an 8x10 pinhole camera and Mrs. jharr did the embellishment. I can't decide whether to take pictures with it or hang it on the wall.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on August 10, 2016, 08:43:14 PM
That's nice looking James, did she draw all that by hand?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on August 10, 2016, 09:02:26 PM
That's nice looking James, did she draw all that by hand?

Yes, just freehand with a Sharpie. You should see her 'real' art when she isn't just doodling. We have some wonderful watercolors hanging around the house.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on August 14, 2016, 01:14:38 PM
I appear to have three now:  the Blackbladder, the oRBo 67, and the Graflic 69.  These last two have some Acros sitting inside waiting for the sun to come out.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/blackbladder/IMGP7600a.jpg)

The RB 6x7 back has had an upgrade with a longer focal length and a better pinhole so I'll be annoyed if I still only get a circle of image like the last test.  But I think it will be fine.  And the Graflex 6x9 has a focal length of 45mm so that should be fine as well.  We'll see.

Chances are I'll make one for the Grafmatic 4x5 6-shot film magazine as well, eventually.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 14, 2016, 02:30:32 PM
Wow! The family is really growing fast! :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on August 14, 2016, 06:12:06 PM
I appear to have three now:  the Blackbladder, the oRBo 67, and the Graflic 69.  These last two have some Acros sitting inside waiting for the sun to come out.

The RB 6x7 back has had an upgrade with a longer focal length and a better pinhole so I'll be annoyed if I still only get a circle of image like the last test.  But I think it will be fine.  And the Graflex 6x9 has a focal length of 45mm so that should be fine as well.  We'll see.

Chances are I'll make one for the Grafmatic 4x5 6-shot film magazine as well, eventually.
And not a bellows to be seen!?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 30, 2016, 04:10:56 PM
This is probably the simplest build I've ever made.
I had the mini tripod from a Sony Handycam (that's probably the only good product made by Sony in the 1990's), a German made Cullman ball head and the package I just received this morning; a Chinese copy of an Italian Manfrotto quick release plate that I got from Malaysia...
So anyways, here's the tiny monster...



Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Late Developer on August 30, 2016, 04:17:43 PM
Looks like a very neat - yet quite sturdy little unit.  Nice one, Francois.  I might have to invest in similar as an option to carrying round even my travel-pod as that can be a bit cumbersome on public transport.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 30, 2016, 08:52:13 PM
I must say that this Sony Handycam minipod is really surprisingly good. Legs fold so that they are all together at the back. There's a top plate with a bit of movement and a good locking system (too bad it's a plastic part).
The ball head is German precision, so no complaints there.

Besides, it beats my former folding tripod that looks more like a lightsaber with a tiny ball head that's a bit flimsy and a look that would attract any airport security guard...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on September 02, 2016, 12:36:12 AM
Last night I opened up my Kodak 35 RF to give the gears some lubrication and calibrate the Rangefinder.  These things are not easy to calibrate.  Unless there's a trick I don't know you loosen a screw, adjust the half mirror then tighten the screw.  The problem is everything goes out of wack as you tighten the screw.  So I had to estimate how much it needed to be off before tightening the screw.  After several attempts I finally got it just right.  The lubrication of the gears for the film advance/shutter cocking will help a lot, I had a few torn sprocket holes from the last time I used it.  I also cleaned all the glass and mirrors while I was in there.  I didn't touch the shutter, that all seems to be working good.   

(https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5601/15268215687_8d4aa2a46c_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pgcAA4)Kodak 35 RF (https://flic.kr/p/pgcAA4) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr

The next project is new light seals for the Olympus OM-2n that Peter sent me.  The old light seals are out and everything is cleaned up and read to install the new ones. Can't wait to get some film in it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on September 11, 2016, 10:37:21 AM
This thread seems to have slipped down the list so a quick bump with my recently recovered R2A. Not an easy camera to recover as there's uneveness that needs to be packed out with an extra layer of leather.

Leather fom Milly's Cameras. Strap from Cam-in.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8520/29501886161_43f5119337_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LWYSVF)
Bessa R2A (https://flic.kr/p/LWYSVF) by Peter Robinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ridgeway-photographer/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 11, 2016, 02:40:59 PM
I wonder if the British racing green leather actually makes the camera go faster?  :P
Just kidding... It does look pretty darn good I must say.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on September 11, 2016, 06:03:24 PM
I wonder if the British racing green leather actually makes the camera go faster?  :P
Just kidding... It does look pretty darn good I must say.

Thanks Francois. I didn't intend to recover it but after popping the top to clean the dust out I had trouble getting the rubber covers to restick so this was a quick solution so I can take it with me tomorrow on vacation. Will be in a town near you tomorrow (we're flying in to Montreal).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 11, 2016, 08:52:34 PM
Visiting MTL for a stay or just transit?

BTW, Trudeau Airport is really a big mess these days. 8/15 customs counters are closed and it is said that it takes 2½ hours just to get out of the airport. And you're not in the city yet.
There's major roadwork going on all around the airport, they're demolishing the old roads to make way for a new configuration so expect to see lots of orange wedding cake type cones.

Also, most taxis now refuse to bring passengers into the city on a flat rate. They also caught one recently who conned people by using a fake card machine and giving them back a fake card. so if you take a cab and pay with a card, insist on putting the card yourself in the machine and never let it slip away from your sight.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Terry on September 11, 2016, 09:51:39 PM
It's been years since I flew into Montreal--I always take the train from Penn Station now.  It's 10 hour trip (but the scenery is stupendous) but it saves me $300 or more.  So the idea of having one's pocket picked by a cabbie pales next to the scale of robbery the airlines get away with!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 11, 2016, 10:23:33 PM
Well, not really since that cabbie then used the card and pin number to empty the bank accounts...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on September 11, 2016, 10:35:45 PM
Visiting MTL for a stay or just transit?

Well, we're staying in the airport hotel for one night but then picking up a car and heading for the border. We might spend a bit of time in the city before leaving Friday week as we have a late flight out.

Our itinerary is Whiteface, Syracuse, Hammondsport (for the annual seaplane fly-in), Buffalo, Niagara, Picton, Ottawa and back to Montreal. Few other places we have earmarked in between as well.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 11, 2016, 11:33:10 PM
Looks like it's going to be a really nice road trip :)

Have a great time :)

And when in Ottawa, be sure to pick up some Beaver Tails at ByWard Market (it's a very sugary confection).
They do have the museum of photography too. (http://cmcp.gallery.ca/mcfarland/en/index.htm (http://cmcp.gallery.ca/mcfarland/en/index.htm))
The museum of science and technology is always fun (they have a ton of weird things in their storage). (http://cstmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/ (http://cstmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/))
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on September 12, 2016, 02:23:11 AM
Trudeau Airport

What?? Justin Trudeau already has an airport named after him? He's not even dead yet! :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 12, 2016, 02:01:22 PM
It's actually named after his father who was prime minister.
Before it was just Dorval airport for the city it's located in.
And for the airport geeks, it's YUL
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on September 12, 2016, 04:41:12 PM
Oh, kind of like a not-horrible version of Daddy Bush and Baby Bush? I tend to hate dynasties, but apparently this kid is quite popular.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 12, 2016, 09:20:35 PM
It's pretty funny because he's anything but Bush dynasty like.
Justin actually takes after his mother than anything else. He didn't get along with his dad in his teenage years so he moved out west with his mom.
While he might not be as intelligent as his father, he makes up for it by knowing how to select his entourage. He's also got some very social views... before becoming a PM he was a teacher, unlike his father who was a lawyer. Very different approach.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on October 09, 2016, 07:10:48 PM
This is a little resto and refurb job I've just finished.  It's a Sanderson half-plate from 1910 with an Aldis 200/4.5 of about the same period.  Or it was; it's now a 4x5.  The original is all mahogany but the new parts are cherry and maple - front, back, and bottom.  My friend wants to use it, but he also wants to keep it original where possible, hence the screw-insert for the tripod base.  For once, a camera that did not need new bellows; two small repairs and re-gluing the rear was all it needed.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/restoration/IMGP7647a.jpg)

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/restoration/IMGP7645a.jpg)

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/restoration/IMGP7650a.jpg)

The lens wide open works pretty nice.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/instruments/160929_fm320_01.jpg)

The shot is on the Fomapan 320 freebie I was given at Photographica earlier this year.  8 mins in DDX.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 14, 2016, 10:47:35 PM
Last week I picked up an Olumpus XA that was sold with a "Tel Quel" label on it (a.k.a. As Is) for 2$.
The camera was filthy. The front cover was popped out of the rails. The aperture slider was a rock.
I put some batteries in it and it seemed to work, so I proceeded to dismantle the whole thing. After a lot of cleaning and a bit of oil on the aperture rails, it seems to work OK.

I'm wondering if they all have a rather stiff aperture slider?
Also, the cover doesn't slide smoothly and doesn't click-lock when fully open. Is that normal?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on October 15, 2016, 01:16:10 PM
Just a guess here, Francois, but if the sliding cover had a click then it was probably just a detente ball on a spring, and if the cover was off its rail then I guess the ball just rolled away leaving a scratchy spring end.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 15, 2016, 02:33:01 PM
I really have no idea. What surprised me is how crammed this camera is inside.
I still have to work on the electronic flash that came with it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on October 15, 2016, 11:03:20 PM
My XA is in the shop now, so I'm working off of memory, but yes, the clamshell cover should click open and click closed. And the aperture switch is definitely supposed to have an easy throw, except when you push it all the way up to open the flash. At times it seems that I need to lift weights just to perform that task :o  I assume that's because there's a mechanical linkage that has to go all the way through the camera to the flash...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on October 16, 2016, 01:14:00 AM
The clamshell detent uses a roller bearing. An easily lost roller bearing, unfortunately. Probably not hard to fab one up using a brad nail and a Dremel with a cutoff wheel. I don't have mine anymore or I'd pop the cover to measure it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: BernardL on October 17, 2016, 07:18:36 AM
Quote
Sandeha Lynch. Just a guess here, Francois, but if the sliding cover had a click then it was probably just a detente ball on a spring, and if the cover was off its rail then I guess the ball just rolled away leaving a scratchy spring end.

Extract the ball from a ball point pen. Probably a biggish one would be the proper size. I fixed a Componon 80/5.6 (diaphragm detent) that way. If the spring is also lost you need to make one.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 21, 2016, 09:10:08 PM
Since that bearing is actually more like a piece of rod and not a ball, I went through the trouble to make one.
First one I made was too big in diameter. Too bad because it was made from very nice steel.
So I ended-up making one from a finish nail.

For those who lost their's, the best diameter is around 2mm. The length of the roller is 4mm.
It's located on top of the camera.

So now, my XA actually stays open when I need it to!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on December 27, 2016, 10:31:34 PM
A couple of years ago I purchased a beautiful Franka Solida III with a Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar 80mm f2.9 lens. After running one film through it I realized that all shots were out of focus. At the time I just put it on a shelf, meaning to have a look at it when I had the time. This year I took some days off from work at Christmas and yesterday I decided it was time to make an attempt at fixing the Solida. At first I tried to collimate it against my Contax 645 with the 140mm lens, but I was unable to make any sense out of it as the range when the target was in focus was simply too wide. So I put the Solida on a tripod and focused the un-coupled rangefinder on a target around 30 meters away. The rangefinder showed a setting very close to infinity. Then I taped a ground glass to the film frame and focused the lens while using a loupe. The lens showed a distance of 10 meters when in focus. Then I loosened the focus ring, set it to the same as the rangefinder setting and fixed it again.
So today I went for a test shooting with Kodak T-max 400 film and the results are quite good. I do not know what level of precision it is possible to get with these cameras that has un-coupled rangefinders, especially with a large aperture. The first example is shot at f8.0 and the second at f4.0.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 27, 2016, 10:46:57 PM
Usually, the closer you focus the less reliable it gets. I have that on one of my Graflex (a pacemaker crown graphic with the Kalart rangefinder) and can say that with the weight of that camera and its ergonomics, it's a bit of a pain to use that way.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on December 27, 2016, 10:57:00 PM
That's the beauty of the Solida, you can can slip it into a (large) pocket. To be on the safe side I think I will stick to f5.6 and smaller apertures.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 17, 2017, 12:53:07 AM
This is a work in progress but right now I can scan 35mm, 127 and 120 film with it.  Before this I would set up a tripod pointed down at the negative stacked on top of translucent plastic and an iPad for the back light.  One problem with that was the plastic being directly behind the negative, any scratches or blemishes on the plastic could show thru.  This setup gives me some separation which takes the plastic out of the depth of field eliminating that problem.  It also makes setup easier and provides a more stable platform to shoot from. 

I purchased a few cheap aluminum rails on eBay from china and built a camera support that sits on top of it.  This allows me to move the camera back for scanning different formats.  I have the same Kodak negative holders for 35mm, 127, and 120 square and rectangular formats.  The rail system can be locked in place with an Allen Wrench.  The wood negative holder is spring loaded from behind to keep it pressed together and square with the camera.  I added a binder clip on top of the negative holder but I'm not sure that was really necessary but this film had a lot of curl to it. 

I have ordered a 198 led on camera light that has adjustable brightness that will replace the iPad.  I'm also going to add a holder for 4x5 film.  The 4x5 film holder will sit behind the current setup and will also be spring loaded.  If I need to scan odd formats like 110 or wide 35mm I will have to go back to my old system unless I can figure out a way to do it with this contraption.  I'll post updates as I add to it.  It's not pretty because I used mostly scraps of wood that I had around the house as well as a few other pieces of hardware.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on February 02, 2017, 11:16:36 PM
My contraption is done.  I just added the mount for 4x5 film plus a new LED light source. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on February 02, 2017, 11:22:29 PM
Not the best example because it was shot with a Kodak No.2 Brownie Box camera with a meniscus lens but these are a few of the first scans from my contraption using the new light source. 

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/388/32620101495_263973f6a1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RGwxH2)Upper Car Deck (https://flic.kr/p/RGwxH2) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/676/32497505341_934c4fd452_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/RvGd9e)Hood Canal Sunset (https://flic.kr/p/RvGd9e) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: astrobeck on February 03, 2017, 04:08:04 AM
Now that is impressive!  You must be happy with that!!!
Can I see an end view of those rails?
I think I know how they are shaped, but would like a peek....
I'm always looking for things and pieces to make more astronomy gear.
thanks
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on February 03, 2017, 04:48:38 AM
Now that is impressive!  You must be happy with that!!!
Can I see an end view of those rails?
I think I know how they are shaped, but would like a peek....
I'm always looking for things and pieces to make more astronomy gear.
thanks

It may not be pretty but it works and it has made scanning easier.  The link below is the ones I purchased on eBay, they have several different views.  They come in different lengths as well.  The ones I purchased have a hex head on the side of the slider to lock it in place with an allen wrench, I'm not sure all of them have that.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/272360583399?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT (http://www.ebay.com/itm/272360583399?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: astrobeck on February 03, 2017, 02:48:22 PM
Ooh, thanks for that link!
Pretty is overrated at times, especially if it makes something work like you need it too!
Lot's of parts on that link, so I will give it some study.
 8)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on February 13, 2017, 10:15:49 PM
My Pilot Super 6 from 1938 had a badly deteriorated mirror so I decided to try to fix it, because it's a surprisingly good camera despite it's age. Getting the mirror out should be rather easy, but on this particular model it's very tight. In the end I managed it by using a very small suction cup. So off the mirror went to Orion Optics in the UK for a re-coating. I got it back today and after a lot of fiddling to get it back in I finally found the trick, it has to be slid to one side when inserting it and then adjusted afterwards. I did a proper cleanup of the ground glass as well, so now it's ready for it's eightieth birthday next year!
(Sorry about the bad mobile phone shot)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 14, 2017, 01:42:59 PM
A new mirror is a bit like a new heart for these old cameras...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: imagesfrugales on February 14, 2017, 09:14:06 PM
Since that bearing is actually more like a piece of rod and not a ball, I went through the trouble to make one.
First one I made was too big in diameter. Too bad because it was made from very nice steel.
So I ended-up making one from a finish nail.

For those who lost their's, the best diameter is around 2mm. The length of the roller is 4mm.
It's located on top of the camera.

So now, my XA actually stays open when I need it to!
I also lost the roller from an XA and XA2. Replaced it with a small snippet of a wooden toothpick. Works fine.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 14, 2017, 09:36:07 PM
I used a small nail on mine. Just like on the original  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on March 21, 2017, 12:04:15 AM
With some parts I had lying around I put together this Polaroid Pack Film Pinhole camera.  I used a 0.3mm laser cut pinhole, a Polaroid back, a bellows and lots of gaffers tape and glue.   With the bellows fully extended I get a focal length of about 155mmwhich gives me f/517.  With the bellows fully collapsed I get a focal length of about 85mm which gives me f/283.  Fujifilm FP-3000B has some crazy reciprocity.  Using the pinhole assist app on my iPhone it gave me an actual exposure time of less than 6 minutes at f/517.  With the calculated reciprocity it was a 58 minute exposure and it still came out a little dark.  I'll test it with some FP-100C later.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Aksel on March 21, 2017, 10:09:44 AM
Seriously cool Franken-folder!
From the little experience I have with pinhole and fp100c, it´s nowhere as "bad" as the 3000b when it comes to reciprocity.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 21, 2017, 01:45:45 PM
It's alive! It's ALIVE! :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on March 21, 2017, 02:17:23 PM
Seriously cool Franken-folder!
From the little experience I have with pinhole and fp100c, it´s nowhere as "bad" as the 3000b when it comes to reciprocity.

I read somewhere that FP100C doesn't look very good shot with a pinhole, but I will give it a try. 

Francois, it may have to be killed or re-purposed when I get bored with Polaroid Pinholes.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 21, 2017, 07:12:41 PM
Just like the original Frankenstein  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Aksel on March 22, 2017, 07:16:26 AM

I read somewhere that FP100C doesn't look very good shot with a pinhole, but I will give it a try. 


I never reflected on that, might be that I just accepted the results, beeing pinhole but to my eye they looked fine.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on March 22, 2017, 12:15:51 PM


I read somewhere that FP100C doesn't look very good shot with a pinhole, but I will give it a try. 


I never reflected on that, might be that I just accepted the results, beeing pinhole but to my eye they looked fine.


isn't it just that the fuji fp100c gets a blue cast from long exposures?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on March 22, 2017, 02:54:09 PM


I read somewhere that FP100C doesn't look very good shot with a pinhole, but I will give it a try. 


I never reflected on that, might be that I just accepted the results, beeing pinhole but to my eye they looked fine.


isn't it just that the fuji fp100c gets a blue cast from long exposures?

I think that's what I read.  I was just looking at some FP-100c pinholes on Flickr and they don't look bad.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on March 22, 2017, 03:52:45 PM
Something I've been working on this past week or two.

Cuban Polaroid, aka Lambe-Lambe, Afghan Camera, Mobile Darkroom
Dimensions: 32x33x37cm
Weight: 4kg including camera
Camera body: Kodak Recomar 6.5x9 plate view camera
Lens: Kodak Sterling Anaston 105/4.5

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/lambe-lambe/IMGP7781a.jpg)


(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/lambe-lambe/IMGP7814a.jpg)


(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/lambe-lambe/IMGP7825a.jpg)


(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/lambe-lambe/IMGP7829a.jpg)

This one will go touring France in the summer on the back of a cycle trailer.  I may have to build another for my own use.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: AJShepherd on March 22, 2017, 06:37:02 PM
That just looks incredibly cool!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on March 23, 2017, 11:08:49 AM
looking smooth there, Sandeha! even seems like the camera could be released and used normally if desired? btw, does it focus close enough for portrait shots?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on March 23, 2017, 11:32:42 AM
It could be used normally if another view screen back were found, together with film holders, but you can see in the first shot that the back has been modified such that the negative is now pressed against the empty door, in front of the screen.  It certainly close focuses though, and like Mauricio Sapata's version, will be used mainly for portraits.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on March 23, 2017, 03:17:20 PM
It could be used normally if another view screen back were found, together with film holders, but you can see in the first shot that the back has been modified such that the negative is now pressed against the empty door, in front of the screen.  It certainly close focuses though, and like Mauricio Sapata's version, will be used mainly for portraits.
ah, yes. I should've thought about that you've probably had to move where the film goes a bit back so that'd effectively make it to focus more closely. maybe it's even as far off as it can be focused on that shot of the focus screen?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on March 23, 2017, 03:45:28 PM
Infinity is now about 5mm further back, but that's all.  It still racks a long way forward - closest focus is down to about 30cm with the bellows fully extended, which is a good bit more than 1:1 macro though the extra exposure needed would be quite painful.   ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: MiguelCampano on March 24, 2017, 08:51:23 PM
Hello there,

I recently picked up a Beseler Printmaker 35 as my first enlarger. It was $35 plus shipping so it evened out to almost $80 after all was said and done. However, once it arrived, I was cleaning it and realized that it didn't have a negative carrier or the condenser assembly. Everything else is there, including a GraLab timer.

I've seen the condenser assembly going on eBay for like $20 tops, which is fine, but I was wondering if anyone knows how to, or has made, a negative carrier using black cardboard/construction cardboard. My dad told me that he built one like 40 years ago for his slides using kids construction cardboard.

Has anyone used/built anything like this? I just don't feel like paying $50 for one.

Also, does anyone know if the negative carrier for a Beseler Printmaker 67 fits into the Printmaker 35?

Thanks,
Miguel. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 24, 2017, 09:31:54 PM
I've done custom carriers many times. Not really hard to do, but don't expect straight edges on your prints unless you also use an easel.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: MiguelCampano on March 25, 2017, 12:22:48 AM
I've done custom carriers many times. Not really hard to do, but don't expect straight edges on your prints unless you also use an easel.

So, just black cardboard?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 25, 2017, 12:52:28 PM
What I've found is that pretty much anything that's opaque and won't scratch the film will do the job just fine.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: MiguelCampano on March 25, 2017, 01:01:50 PM
What I've found is that pretty much anything that's opaque and won't scratch the film will do the job just fine.

Thank you! I'm definitely going to experiment building one fairly soon... Unless I find one for cheap on eBay  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on March 29, 2017, 04:12:20 PM
Finished and ready to deliver tomorrow.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/lambe-lambe/IMGP7840a.jpg)

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/lambe-lambe/IMGP7846a.jpg)

The photographer has a week to practice before riding from Edinburgh down to the middle of France.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: SLVR on March 29, 2017, 04:54:52 PM
Fixed my wonky needled darkroom timer and modified a lens board to fit my rodenstock lens.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 29, 2017, 08:28:15 PM
Fixed my wonky needled darkroom timer
I still have to do this with my vintage time-o-lite that keeps going past zero...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on March 30, 2017, 07:46:47 AM
the end result looks great, Sandeha! is that the paper box on the right side of the camera?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on March 30, 2017, 09:09:50 AM
the end result looks great, Sandeha! is that the paper box on the right side of the camera?

It is, a safe box for paper or film, with all the fitting very loose for working one-handed in the dark.   :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 07, 2017, 09:04:27 PM
Just to reassure you, there were more parts a few hours ago...
I had it taken apart up to the aperture blades... what a b**** to put back together.
On this camera, the aperture is entirely adjustable by loosening 3 ill placed screws and rotating a mount that also holds the blades. No markings whatsoever.
And my marks for where the helix should mate got wiped-out from all the handling... I guess I've got a few more hours to go on this one...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 07, 2017, 09:59:30 PM
Just to reassure you, there were more parts a few hours ago...
I had it taken apart up to the aperture blades... what a b**** to put back together.
On this camera, the aperture is entirely adjustable by loosening 3 ill placed screws and rotating a mount that also holds the blades. No markings whatsoever.
And my marks for where the helix should mate got wiped-out from all the handling... I guess I've got a few more hours to go on this one...

I can take a lens apart no problem, putting it back together, not so much.  Hopefully you don't have any parts left over.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on April 07, 2017, 10:47:51 PM
Just to reassure you, there were more parts a few hours ago...
I had it taken apart up to the aperture blades... what a b**** to put back together.
On this camera, the aperture is entirely adjustable by loosening 3 ill placed screws and rotating a mount that also holds the blades. No markings whatsoever.
And my marks for where the helix should mate got wiped-out from all the handling... I guess I've got a few more hours to go on this one...

I can take a lens apart no problem, putting it back together, not so much.  Hopefully you don't have any parts left over.

 ;D Me too. I have a Minolta HiMatic 7 that is wonderfully disassembled and will likely never be whole again. Unless someone on this forum cares to rescue it :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 07, 2017, 11:08:43 PM
Just finished putting it back together.
My back aches from staying in the same position concentrating on those b***** screws and washers...
Lucky I won't have to take it apart ever again!
Now the blades swing in and out freely. I've found the infinity, adjusted the aperture properly (they use a really weird way of setting it), cleaned the glass... I even managed not to loose the small ball bearing used for the aperture clicks!

Took me maybe 4 or 5 hours, much of it trying to properly mesh the helix together. And maybe 1½ trying to figure out how to take the thing apart without breaking anything.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 11, 2017, 08:55:48 PM
I'm starting to like these little roller-blind shutters.  Once they're cleaned up with a new curtain and cord and a touch of grease in the right place they are really quite smooth, at least, no more jarring than a Packard.  Like most, this is a Thornton Pickard, and presumably a bit over one hundred years old.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/repairs/IMGP7858a.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 11, 2017, 10:40:13 PM
That looks like a neat mechanical contraption.
How does it work? Pull the cord that is wrapped around a spool attached to the shutter spindle on one side with the opposite side of the shutter on a spindle with a clockspring?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 11, 2017, 11:12:23 PM
Yep, that's it.  The spring is at the bottom end (left in the picture), the cord spindle at the top, and an open window cut into the middle of the curtain.   Pull the cord half way down and one of the tines on the gear wheel will catch against the long lever as the curtain is pulled up.  Focus, then pull all the way down and the curtain is drawn up to close the aperture.  Release the lever and the curtain whips down again, allowing exposure as the window guillotines past.  Back in the day it would have had a bulb cable release lodged under the key shape on the lever. 

On the other side there's a dial for speeds, from 1/15 to 1/90 and there's also a bulb setting.  I imagine the spring would be a weak point if over-tensioned, but in reality it only takes a little weakening of the screw holes in the wood for the mechanism plate to slip downwards messing up the synchronisation.  It took a big fat screw to fix that.  But still, playing with it is as soothing as a nice Compur and more fun than bubble wrap.   :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 12, 2017, 12:03:49 AM
Then I have a screw that slips or is loose in a piece of wood, I usually fill the hole with wood glue and break a bunch of toothpicks in it. I can then put the screw back and it's usually as solid as can be.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 12, 2017, 09:06:07 AM
Sure, but in this case since the screw also went through to the lens plate and was loose there too a larger screw was more appropriate.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Chalky on April 12, 2017, 09:37:54 PM
really really cool to be able to bring that back to life, good work! :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 12, 2017, 09:43:52 PM
Thanks.  I've worked on two of them so far, and they are pretty cool.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 12, 2017, 10:42:46 PM
Definitely pretty cool. I just love simple and efficient mechanical gizmos.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 18, 2017, 05:36:59 PM
Last night I repaired the battery compartment of a Canon T50and made sure everything was functioning properly for a co-worker.  Turns out one of the cheap zoom lenses he had was not stopping down but everything else worked great.  He was quite grateful to get it working. 

I then moved on to my Kodak Signet 35 to clean the rangefinder and try to make the RF patch more visible in the viewfinder like we were discussing in the Olympus XA thread.  One thing I noticed after cleaning it is that there are three images in the RF patch rather than two.  one is brighter than the other and is clearly the correct one but I can see where there could be some confusion when focusing.  I tried placing some tape in the viewfinder window but the image is still not very visible under most normal conditions.  What I think happened is the coating is totally gone from the beam splitter and I'm getting an image from both sides of it.  my conclusion is that I need a new beam splitter before I go any further with it.

After looking at a few web sites that cover adjusting and repairing the Signet 35 I found that the Minolta Hi-Matic F and the Konica Auto S2 both have beam splitters that will fit perfectly.  I have a good working Minolta Hi-Matic F but I don't want to destroy it for this.  What I need is parts camera that I can salvage one from.  If anyone has a non-working Hi-Matic F or Auto S2 that they can part with let me know, maybe we can arrange a trade or something.  I know I can order the beam splitter glass and cut it to shape but I hate cutting glass, I always screw it up. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on April 18, 2017, 06:26:19 PM
Last night I repaired the battery compartment of a Canon T50and made sure everything was functioning properly for a co-worker.  Turns out one of the cheap zoom lenses he had was not stopping down but everything else worked great.  He was quite grateful to get it working. 

I then moved on to my Kodak Signet 35 to clean the rangefinder and try to make the RF patch more visible in the viewfinder like we were discussing in the Olympus XA thread.  One thing I noticed after cleaning it is that there are three images in the RF patch rather than two.  one is brighter than the other and is clearly the correct one but I can see where there could be some confusion when focusing.  I tried placing some tape in the viewfinder window but the image is still not very visible under most normal conditions.  What I think happened is the coating is totally gone from the beam splitter and I'm getting an image from both sides of it.  my conclusion is that I need a new beam splitter before I go any further with it.

After looking at a few web sites that cover adjusting and repairing the Signet 35 I found that the Minolta Hi-Matic F and the Konica Auto S2 both have beam splitters that will fit perfectly.  I have a good working Minolta Hi-Matic F but I don't want to destroy it for this.  What I need is parts camera that I can salvage one from.  If anyone has a non-working Hi-Matic F or Auto S2 that they can part with let me know, maybe we can arrange a trade or something.  I know I can order the beam splitter glass and cut it to shape but I hate cutting glass, I always screw it up.

I have a HiMatic 7 if that would work...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 18, 2017, 07:04:20 PM
Last night I repaired the battery compartment of a Canon T50and made sure everything was functioning properly for a co-worker.  Turns out one of the cheap zoom lenses he had was not stopping down but everything else worked great.  He was quite grateful to get it working. 

I then moved on to my Kodak Signet 35 to clean the rangefinder and try to make the RF patch more visible in the viewfinder like we were discussing in the Olympus XA thread.  One thing I noticed after cleaning it is that there are three images in the RF patch rather than two.  one is brighter than the other and is clearly the correct one but I can see where there could be some confusion when focusing.  I tried placing some tape in the viewfinder window but the image is still not very visible under most normal conditions.  What I think happened is the coating is totally gone from the beam splitter and I'm getting an image from both sides of it.  my conclusion is that I need a new beam splitter before I go any further with it.

After looking at a few web sites that cover adjusting and repairing the Signet 35 I found that the Minolta Hi-Matic F and the Konica Auto S2 both have beam splitters that will fit perfectly.  I have a good working Minolta Hi-Matic F but I don't want to destroy it for this.  What I need is parts camera that I can salvage one from.  If anyone has a non-working Hi-Matic F or Auto S2 that they can part with let me know, maybe we can arrange a trade or something.  I know I can order the beam splitter glass and cut it to shape but I hate cutting glass, I always screw it up.

I have a HiMatic 7 if that would work...
The Hi-Matic 7 came out in 1963, the Konica Auto S2 came out in 1965 and the Hi-Matic F came out in 1972.  If they used the same rangefinder mechanism on all of them then it would probably work.  Does the rangefinder look good on it and can you open it and get a rough measurement? 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on April 18, 2017, 09:56:08 PM
Last night I repaired the battery compartment of a Canon T50and made sure everything was functioning properly for a co-worker.  Turns out one of the cheap zoom lenses he had was not stopping down but everything else worked great.  He was quite grateful to get it working. 

I then moved on to my Kodak Signet 35 to clean the rangefinder and try to make the RF patch more visible in the viewfinder like we were discussing in the Olympus XA thread.  One thing I noticed after cleaning it is that there are three images in the RF patch rather than two.  one is brighter than the other and is clearly the correct one but I can see where there could be some confusion when focusing.  I tried placing some tape in the viewfinder window but the image is still not very visible under most normal conditions.  What I think happened is the coating is totally gone from the beam splitter and I'm getting an image from both sides of it.  my conclusion is that I need a new beam splitter before I go any further with it.

After looking at a few web sites that cover adjusting and repairing the Signet 35 I found that the Minolta Hi-Matic F and the Konica Auto S2 both have beam splitters that will fit perfectly.  I have a good working Minolta Hi-Matic F but I don't want to destroy it for this.  What I need is parts camera that I can salvage one from.  If anyone has a non-working Hi-Matic F or Auto S2 that they can part with let me know, maybe we can arrange a trade or something.  I know I can order the beam splitter glass and cut it to shape but I hate cutting glass, I always screw it up.

I have a HiMatic 7 if that would work...
The Hi-Matic 7 came out in 1963, the Konica Auto S2 came out in 1965 and the Hi-Matic F came out in 1972.  If they used the same rangefinder mechanism on all of them then it would probably work.  Does the rangefinder look good on it and can you open it and get a rough measurement?

Ok, what do I measure, and how accurate does it need to be? I have digital calipers, but I'm pretty sure they're out of whack. Other than that, I have a ruler :(

(http://konakkol.com/images/other/20170418_165228.jpg) (http://konakkol.com/images/other/20170418_165228.jpg)

(you can click to embigify it)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 18, 2017, 10:24:15 PM
Ok, what do I measure, and how accurate does it need to be? I have digital calipers, but I'm pretty sure they're out of whack. Other than that, I have a ruler :(

(http://konakkol.com/images/other/20170418_165228.jpg) (http://konakkol.com/images/other/20170418_165228.jpg)

(you can click to embigify it)

The angled mirror on the left at the viewfinder window.  You don't need to be exact in the measurement just as close as you can get.  I'll measure the Signet 35 this evening to see if they are close. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on April 18, 2017, 10:41:54 PM
Ok, what do I measure, and how accurate does it need to be? I have digital calipers, but I'm pretty sure they're out of whack. Other than that, I have a ruler :(


The angled mirror on the left at the viewfinder window.  You don't need to be exact in the measurement just as close as you can get.  I'll measure the Signet 35 this evening to see if they are close.

Width is about 2.5-2.7mm, depending on where I measure from (the bottom left screw, or trying to actually see where the mirror begins). Height is about 1.5mm.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 18, 2017, 11:06:40 PM
It should be a problem free transplant if the glass is the same thickness.  If it's not you will have adjustment problems.  Not impossible, but tricky.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 19, 2017, 02:26:59 AM
Ok, what do I measure, and how accurate does it need to be? I have digital calipers, but I'm pretty sure they're out of whack. Other than that, I have a ruler :(


The angled mirror on the left at the viewfinder window.  You don't need to be exact in the measurement just as close as you can get.  I'll measure the Signet 35 this evening to see if they are close.

Width is about 2.5-2.7mm, depending on where I measure from (the bottom left screw, or trying to actually see where the mirror begins). Height is about 1.5mm.
I think your measurements are cm not mm unless it's very small.  Either way it looks like it's a different size.  The one in my Signet 35 measures about 19mm wide, 10mm high and 2.5mm thick.  Thanks for checking that Satish. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on April 19, 2017, 05:47:27 AM
Ok, what do I measure, and how accurate does it need to be? I have digital calipers, but I'm pretty sure they're out of whack. Other than that, I have a ruler :(


The angled mirror on the left at the viewfinder window.  You don't need to be exact in the measurement just as close as you can get.  I'll measure the Signet 35 this evening to see if they are close.

Width is about 2.5-2.7mm, depending on where I measure from (the bottom left screw, or trying to actually see where the mirror begins). Height is about 1.5mm.
I think your measurements are cm not mm unless it's very small.  Either way it looks like it's a different size.  The one in my Signet 35 measures about 19mm wide, 10mm high and 2.5mm thick.  Thanks for checking that Satish.
;D Of course you're right, it's cm not mm. I'm American, I don't know about this metric stuff :D Sorry it didn't work out ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 19, 2017, 04:43:29 PM
I just recently found a Kodak Flurolite Camera shortly after I built my film scanning contraption:  http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg121179#msg121179 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg121179#msg121179).  I wish I had found it sooner, it's much easier to work with.  I already have a full set of Flurolite glass-less negative carriers for 35mm, 127 and 120 film.  I just need to make this work with 4x5 film which will require making an extension for it.   I will probably use the mount for the camera that came with this to make a 4x5 negative holder.   

All I had to do to mount the camera to the lens board was attach a filter ring adapter ring to it.  I got a 52mm to 82mm adapter and cut the 82mm threads off and trimmed the flat part to fit.  Then I attached it to the lens board with contact cement.  The Flurolite negative carries fit into a ring on the back where I removed the camera from (see the links below for the intended purpose of this device).  I then place a translucent piece of plastic behind the negative and a light source behind that (an iPad in this case).  I set the camera timer to 2 seconds so there's no shake when it the shutter is triggered.  I tested this setup last night and it worked great. 

http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/KodakFluroliteCamera.htm (http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/KodakFluroliteCamera.htm)

https://books.google.com/books?id=GV0zAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=Kodak+Flurolite+Camera&source=bl&ots=1r9UldZ_fT&sig=aG7xz_-QDzRUBgtUqukoJkmBIW8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNg6Ho67DTAhVE_mMKHaqVADkQ6AEIMzAD#v=onepage&q=Kodak%20Flurolite%20Camera&f=false (https://books.google.com/books?id=GV0zAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA82&lpg=PA82&dq=Kodak+Flurolite+Camera&source=bl&ots=1r9UldZ_fT&sig=aG7xz_-QDzRUBgtUqukoJkmBIW8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjNg6Ho67DTAhVE_mMKHaqVADkQ6AEIMzAD#v=onepage&q=Kodak%20Flurolite%20Camera&f=false)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 19, 2017, 08:41:08 PM
That is an odd looking bellows set...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 19, 2017, 09:59:19 PM
That is an odd looking bellows set...

It's the same bellows as the Kodak Flurolite Enlarger.  Instead of a light they had a camera mounted to the back.  The camera mount is the same as the negative holder mount.  It came with a Kodak Supermatic Flash shutter and a Kodak Ektar 101mm lens on the front.  That's what I took off the lens board to mount my camera on the front.  The camera that was mounted to the back of mine was a modified Kodak Pony.  There's a ground glass on a sliding plate so you can focus then move the camera into place to take the picture.  It's not a very practical 35mm camera for anything other than making copies or microfiche which was probably what it was mostly used for.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 20, 2017, 01:25:08 PM
My fist in the air nearly broke the sound barrier when the last little stud popped into place.

(http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/Sandeha/repairs/IMGP7877a.jpg)

I would not have needed to disassemble the unit if I'd remembered that when the aperture starts bowing when it closes it means that grease is sticking the leaves together.  Better to immediately remove the unit for a Ronsonol bath, which with the older Compurs is not a difficult task.

But I forgot, and a leaf popped out.  Fortunately none of the leaves were damaged and following a clean up it all went together quite easily.  After one hour it was mostly in place with the top plate screwed down lightly.  Then ten minutes of jiggling the next morning, (leaving it overnight is an important part of the procedure) and it was done.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 20, 2017, 02:29:56 PM
I must admit that it's quite satisfying when blades go in and actually work properly!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: thatguychad on April 20, 2017, 02:42:39 PM
My fist in the air nearly broke the sound barrier when the last little stud popped into place.

I know that feeling....last weeks Leica Summitar blades had me doing the same thing.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on April 26, 2017, 09:37:23 PM
This was stone dead when it arrived - no signs of electronic life whatsoever. It has been resurrected and is now feeling quite really better. Full details here: https://filmosaur.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/meet-the-camera-hexar-af-rhodium/

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2832/33447192044_efb70ec781_c.jpg)

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2848/34131555902_435a7dcf79_c.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on April 26, 2017, 09:51:36 PM
This was stone dead when it arrived - no signs of electronic life whatsoever. It has been resurrected and is now feeling quite really better. Full details here: https://filmosaur.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/meet-the-camera-hexar-af-rhodium/

Love the Python references! ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 11, 2017, 05:00:43 AM
Ok, what do I measure, and how accurate does it need to be? I have digital calipers, but I'm pretty sure they're out of whack. Other than that, I have a ruler :(


The angled mirror on the left at the viewfinder window.  You don't need to be exact in the measurement just as close as you can get.  I'll measure the Signet 35 this evening to see if they are close.

Width is about 2.5-2.7mm, depending on where I measure from (the bottom left screw, or trying to actually see where the mirror begins). Height is about 1.5mm.
I think your measurements are cm not mm unless it's very small.  Either way it looks like it's a different size.  The one in my Signet 35 measures about 19mm wide, 10mm high and 2.5mm thick.  Thanks for checking that Satish.
;D Of course you're right, it's cm not mm. I'm American, I don't know about this metric stuff :D Sorry it didn't work out ;)

I found a beam splitter from a Minolta Hi-Magic F and it fit perfectly.  What a difference it makes, the rangefinder window is clear and bright.  Someone was parting out a Hi-Magic F on eBay so all I had to buy was the rangefinder mechanism and remove the beam splitter.  It's calibrated and ready to go.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 12, 2017, 04:34:29 PM
Guess this counts...

I lost the cap to my 135mm Tele-Elmar so drew one up using Tcad and got it 3D printed by Shapeways. I thought red might help me to stop losing another (but got two more printed at the same time just in case I do).

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on May 28, 2017, 04:15:54 PM
I recently heard that you should paint faces on things you don't want to lose, as people normally can remember faces better and they jump out at you when you look around - not sure if that works.  :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on May 28, 2017, 04:28:59 PM
I just finished making my first camera. I am a bit proud as I haven't been building a lot in recent years. I designed it on the computer and had the wooden parts laser cut from plywood- had to tweak it quite a bit though when I put it together.

It is a square body with Graflok compatible back (I did have a look at Sandeha's fantastic Tutone for some ideas here, but then made it a bit different to match the materials I was using). The front lens board is square as well so I can put it on in any direction. Configurations are:
- Super Angulon 75mm 5.6 (slightly off-centre)
- Angulon 90mm 6.8
- Pinhole (80mm) with one centre and one off-centre hole.
I might build some more boards for it in future.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on May 28, 2017, 06:14:15 PM
What a pretty machine! I hope that there're no light leaks and that all your hard work pays off. Well done!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on May 28, 2017, 07:51:49 PM
That looks excellent, Manuel.  And I do like your colour scheme.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 28, 2017, 09:07:06 PM
Quite nice and it looks like it's super versatile :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on May 28, 2017, 09:23:37 PM
Thanks a lot for the kind comments.  :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on May 30, 2017, 07:28:57 PM
ManuelL, that looks great! Nice project.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on May 31, 2017, 05:39:00 AM
Thanks a lot Adam!  :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: MiguelCampano on June 18, 2017, 03:52:48 PM
Unfortunately I do not have a manual, and my Google searches have come up empty handed. Anyone who owns/has used a Beseler Printmaker 35... Do you know the size/diameter of the screws that attach the base to the stand? I'm planning on setting it up, however, I'm still missing the screws!

Thank you,
Miguel.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 18, 2017, 08:47:47 PM
Do you have calipers?
Since Besseler is an American company, expect the size to be imperial.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Klaus on June 19, 2017, 10:47:56 PM
... a stopper for an old Paterson dev tank where the cap was missing. A pipe end stop from Screwfix for £1.09 and some insulation tape to make a tight and waterproof fit. So now hoping to use the tank for two or three 4x5 negatives, taco style, needing max 700ml liquid.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on July 12, 2017, 06:59:58 PM
The aperture blades on my Kaleinar-3b 150mm f2.8 lens for the Pentacon Six were rather sticky, so what to do? I had never opened up a lens before, but I figured this could be the perfect lens to rehearse on. Seeing that the aperture is sitting close to the bayonet of the lens I decided to start from the back. Three screws removed and the back cap came off. But when I lifted it out, two broken bits of a brass coloured washer fell out, see the second picture. Not very nice! I proceeded to unscrew the rear lens element, it can be done just using your fingers. And there they were, the bronze coloured aperture blades. I dared not go further in, so I cleaned them in situ with lighter fluid and brushed them with a tiny amount of graphite dust. When I reassembled I just left the broken bits out. The aperture and focus rings run smoothly so I believe it's ok.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on July 12, 2017, 07:45:03 PM
Those brass pieces are very likely shims to get the lens optics square to the mount. If you can discern where they were originally, reinstalling them would be a good idea. If not, well, you might be able to figure it out with a micrometer - I'm not familiar with that lens, so I can't tell you how to proceed.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on July 12, 2017, 08:51:58 PM
I'm afraid it's not possible to find out where they were sitting, and one of them is warped as well. I'll shoot a test film with it and see if it's a problem.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 12, 2017, 10:39:30 PM
Seeing that they are cut square, I could guess they could have been part of the infinity stop system...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on July 15, 2017, 10:48:52 PM
I recently picked up an Argus A-Four with a stuck shutter.  The stuck shutter turned out to be an easy fix but in the process of taking the front lens element out to fix it I discovered that I probably messed up the focus scale.  After a little searching on the internet I figured out how to calibrate the scale. 

As you can see in the photos below I opened the back of the camera and placed a strip of cellophane tape across the film plane.  I did this from top to bottom because the sides are slightly recessed and I wanted the tape on the same plane that the film would be on.  I made sure the tape was pulled tight to keep it flat.  This can also be done with a ground glass from an SLR if you have a spare one. 

To hold the shutter open I set it to "B" and used a cable release with a nut to hold it open.  I opened the iris all the way, f/3.5 in this case.  looking at the tape with a loupe I focused on an object far away to adjust it to infinity.  I then loosened the two screws on the front of the lens and rotated the scale to infinity.  You don't need to take the screws all the way out, the pressure of the ring against the lens is all it uses to rotate the front element.  After setting the infinity focus I tightened the screws and checked the close focus.  It took some fine tuning to get everything just right.  Now I need to put some film in it to see how I did. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on August 16, 2017, 03:49:23 PM
my sewing skills are not the best but I was able to repair this case that came with my Leica IIIc.  The top was only held on by about two threads.  The tread was rotted and falling apart but only on the top, the rest of the case seems to be in good condition.  I first had to strip the cardboard and felt off the top piece to get be able to work with the top leather piece.  I then sewed it back on re-using the old holes.  A few holes were torn out so I reinforced them with super glue.  I then used contact cement to re-attache the cardboard and felt to the inside of the top.  It's not a Leica brand case, it's an American made one but it fits the camera properly.  I think I'm now inspired to try fixing a few other cases that I have, it really wasn't very hard to do with the right needle and thread.  There are also a lot of informative web sites that show how it's done.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 16, 2017, 08:45:40 PM
Does look way better once it's fixed...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on September 06, 2017, 10:08:04 PM
I fixed another case.  This is a Bolex movie camera case for a B8 or C8 camera.  I have had it for several years and have been meaning to fix it so I finally decided to do it after fixing my Leica case. 

The first step was to remove the old thread, this is the hardest part because the rotted thread falls apart when you try to pull it through the holes.  The next step was to sew it one direction using the old holes.  As you can see in the second photo every other stitch is missing.  This is because a machine uses two threads, you can do this by hand but it's much easier to just work with one thread.  Originally this was done with a machine but it takes an expensive specialized machine to sew heavy material on a corner like this.  After making one pass I made a second pass going back in the other direction sewing every loop that was skipped on the first pass. 

Both sides of this case needed to be repaired.  There is an inner part of this case that the camera mounts to but that thread still seems to be in good condition so I didn't do anything with it.  You can see that there is a nail directly in the path of the stitches, there is an identical one on the other side as well.  The nail supports a wood brace inside the case.  I had to pull the nail out a little to sew past it.  The leather on this case is still in pretty good condition so it should work great.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 06, 2017, 10:57:15 PM
That looks pretty good. I have the same one with my grandpa's Bolex...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 17, 2017, 08:31:31 PM
Last night I worked on James' Kodak 35 I got through Share the love.
The camera works fine but the 1938 grease that was in the focusing mechanism made things difficult to say the least.
Took it apart, used a dab of Lithium grease, re-calibrated the focus and now it's ready for another 80 years of picture taking :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on November 17, 2017, 08:37:21 PM
Nicely done, François. I'm wondering: how did you recalibrate the focus? I've tried it once on a Voigtländer and failed miserably (though before shooting a roll of film I was pretty confident that it went well).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 17, 2017, 09:55:46 PM
The trick is super simple. I do what is called reverse-collimation.
I have a piece of film on which I made some pretty big scratches on the emulsion side.
I tape it inside the camera and leave the camera back open. I put my desk lamp so it light through the scratched X.
You open up the shutter and leave it open using a cable release if the lens doesn't have a T setting.
Now, using a big telephoto on another camera, you just focus through the lens of the camera that needs fixing.
Rotate the focus until you get perfect focus on the film. Lock the infinity at that point.

That's all there is to it.

You do need a lens of at least 210mm for it to work. More the better.

Eventually, I might make myself some sort of jig to hold everything, but just setting things on the desk works just fine.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on November 18, 2017, 09:07:43 PM
To be absolutely sure I understood you correctly (sorry for ascii-arting this):

Code: [Select]
#===           =#  ?
|               |  |
|               |  +---- Light source
Camera          Camera (to be adjusted)
w/              w/
>210mm          scratched Film

When you focus the tele lens, how do you know if the film is in focus if the camera that needs adjustement hasn't focused to infinity? It's very likely that I'm just too stupid to understand this method properly so thanks in advance for your patience. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 18, 2017, 10:59:14 PM
OK, lets try it with a drawing.
I redid it and found it works better with a multi-LED flashlight as it gives better light with less flare.
So, you have a setup like below.
I used a 500mm lens on my second re-focusing and found it much easier to do than with a 210mm.
Now when you look through the lens of the camera that needs focusing, the scratches will be soft and out of focus. As you move the focus on that camera, you will be able to get the scratches in sharp focus. You can see the emulsion slightly peeling on the side of each scratch. It's that much magnification.
All you have to do is lock the focus on infinity when the scratches are in focus.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on November 19, 2017, 01:51:21 PM
Thanks so much for the instructive sketch. Now I understand how it works. Great writeup, François, it's highly appreciated.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 27, 2017, 11:23:26 PM
I'm not great when it comes to lens repairs but I just completed one of the more difficult ones.  I recently got a great deal on a Leica IIIa with a Summar lens that was in desperate need of cleaning.  To get to the inner lens element I accidentally set the iris blades free.  Looking for clues how to put them back together it was clear that even the repair technicians hate putting these back together.  I spent several hours today fiddling with it before I finally got it back together.  I don't ever want to do that again.  The lens had a lot of gunk on the inner elements that I was able to clean.  There's still a little haze on the rear element but a few tests with it mounted on my digital camera shows that it will do just fine. 

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 28, 2017, 03:35:31 PM
Fixing aperture blades is definitely a pain. I've done it more than once and it's never fun. But when you manage to get it right, boy is it a thrill!

Sometimes haze is caused by a thin layer of grease. One of the best lens cleaners is liquid dish detergent. It's safe on the lenses and coatings. Rub it with your fingers and dry with an old piece of t-shirt very softly.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 28, 2017, 05:24:29 PM
The dome shape of the iris blades on the Summar make it even more difficult.  The trick was to hold them in place while inserting the last few.  I used small pieces of cardboard taped to the outside of the lens barrel to push down and hold them in place.  I was constantly moving the pieces of cardboard to allow another to go into place. 

The haze on the inner element was a layer of grease so that was easy to clean.  The rear element haze is between the glued elements so that can't be cleaned.  It's not bad enough to have much effect on the image. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 28, 2017, 08:52:30 PM
The only way to get there would be to de-cement the glass and re-cement it back... I don't know how to do the first part except with a hammer and chisel  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 28, 2017, 10:19:49 PM
There are a few repair shops out there that do it but I'm afraid to ask how much it will cost.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 28, 2017, 10:27:44 PM
I know you can get the required materials at Edmund Scientific's Optics division.
The glue used cures using a high powered UV light.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 28, 2017, 11:53:50 PM
They use heat to separate the elements.  If it’s not done correctly you can easily crack the glass.  It has to be cooled down slowly.  I’m sure there are a lot more tricks to it that we don’t know about.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 31, 2017, 05:30:30 AM
I took the plunge and took the Leica IIIa apart today, the one that came with the Summar lens mentioned above.  I couldn’t believe how much crap came out of that little camera, dirt, dead bugs, rocks, leaves, cigarette butts...  I cleaned the slow speed escapement, cleaned the pressure plate, inspected the shutter curtains, re-glued the leatherette and got it all back together without any leftover parts.  The slow speeds all work properly now, it’s ready to shoot film.  I’ve been hesitant about doing this but it wasn’t as hard as I thought.  I found these great instructions that were really helpful:

http://tunnel13.com/blog/tag/leica-iiia/ (http://tunnel13.com/blog/tag/leica-iiia/)

http://tunnel13.com/blog/leica-iiia-cla-clean-the-slow-speed-escapement/ (http://tunnel13.com/blog/leica-iiia-cla-clean-the-slow-speed-escapement/)

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-155.html (http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-155.html)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4593/39355372441_9681cf889a_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22XGz7a)Leica IIIa (https://flic.kr/p/22XGz7a) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on December 31, 2017, 01:07:06 PM
There's nothing particularly difficult about the Leica mechanics; as you found, they come apart and go back together relatively easily, as long as you pay attention to all the little parts and how they fit. There are, however, a few points to note. One is that there are adjustments that can be very fiddly to get exactly right (slow speed lever, shutter brake on the later models, curtain tension, to name a few). The second is the question of lubrication; Leica used a ridiculous number of different lubricants in these cameras, and while I've never tried to determine the properties of each, let alone replicate them (whale oil is hard to find these days), careful lubrication is important to maximize the life of the components. I've found that Breakfree CLP (a firearms lubricant) is a good general purpose oil, while molybdenum grease, clear synthetic all-purpose grease (Superlube), and synthetic automotive wheel bearing grease are useful in different areas.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 31, 2017, 02:12:20 PM
There's nothing particularly difficult about the Leica mechanics; as you found, they come apart and go back together relatively easily, as long as you pay attention to all the little parts and how they fit. There are, however, a few points to note. One is that there are adjustments that can be very fiddly to get exactly right (slow speed lever, shutter brake on the later models, curtain tension, to name a few). The second is the question of lubrication; Leica used a ridiculous number of different lubricants in these cameras, and while I've never tried to determine the properties of each, let alone replicate them (whale oil is hard to find these days), careful lubrication is important to maximize the life of the components. I've found that Breakfree CLP (a firearms lubricant) is a good general purpose oil, while molybdenum grease, clear synthetic all-purpose grease (Superlube), and synthetic automotive wheel bearing grease are useful in different areas.

I was careful to put the slow speed mechanism back together exactly how it came apart adding a small amount of grease to the knob.  I didn’t touch the curtains, they seem to be in good working order.  The curtains are something that I’m not comfortable messing with.  I started reading some of the article below and quickly decided not to touch them.  I used lithium grease and sewing machine oil (mineral oil), that’s what I have always used in my movie cameras and projectors. 

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/leicashutter.pdf (http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/leicashutter.pdf)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on December 31, 2017, 02:30:58 PM
I don't care for lithium grease, at least the ones I've tried, as they tend to separate. Mineral oil is OK as long as you're not using the camera in very cold temps. Everyone has their own preferences at this point, as the original options are long gone for the most part.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 31, 2017, 06:23:38 PM
I don't care for lithium grease, at least the ones I've tried, as they tend to separate. Mineral oil is OK as long as you're not using the camera in very cold temps. Everyone has their own preferences at this point, as the original options are long gone for the most part.

I have noticed that with the Lithium grease, I'll look into getting some of the lubricants you mentioned.  One thing I started thinking about after I got everything back together was lubricating the slow speed shaft where the brass speed adjuster comes in contact with it.  I assume that shaft rotates against the brass adjuster when using the slow speeds.  I didn't see anything about it in the instructions but it seems that would be a spot that could use some lubrication. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 31, 2017, 10:28:13 PM
I wonder if electronics grade white lithium grease is any better than the run of the mill car stuff?
I got some from a local electronics store and they claim it stays greasy and doesn't separate until fairly high temperatures.
I've used it to lube a focusing mechanism and it feels pretty good so far.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 31, 2017, 11:44:35 PM
I have noticed some separation in a tube that I have had for several years, one tube lasts a long time for what I use it for.  I have never noticed any problems in my projectors and they produce a lot of heat. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on January 01, 2018, 12:57:23 AM
I don't care for lithium grease, at least the ones I've tried, as they tend to separate. Mineral oil is OK as long as you're not using the camera in very cold temps. Everyone has their own preferences at this point, as the original options are long gone for the most part.

I have noticed that with the Lithium grease, I'll look into getting some of the lubricants you mentioned.  One thing I started thinking about after I got everything back together was lubricating the slow speed shaft where the brass speed adjuster comes in contact with it.  I assume that shaft rotates against the brass adjuster when using the slow speeds.  I didn't see anything about it in the instructions but it seems that would be a spot that could use some lubrication.

You're talking about where the shaft runs on the cam on the back of the slow speed dial, yes? If so, then yes, I think lubrication is called for (I'm not home right now or I'd check the Leica manual to confirm). IIRC, I applied a thin film of moly grease.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on January 01, 2018, 03:02:03 PM
Ever since Bryan posted his negative copying setup (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg121179#msg121179 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg121179#msg121179)), I've been meaning to do something similar. I bought some bits ages ago but have only just got around to making what I had in mind. Here's the, more or less, finished item.

(https://i.imgur.com/PwvXA02.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/UBic2bw.jpg)

I started out with one of these

(https://i.imgur.com/SpG66DD.jpg)

and joined the two racks together to make one longer one which I attached to the frame. The base, which would normally be screwed to a tripod head, has now become the movable carrier and I screwed the camera mount directly to it. Illumination is a simple LED light panel.

Results?

Same 35mm neg scanned on my Epson 4990 (left) and with the new setup (right) at 100%.

(https://i.imgur.com/y0aVVMu.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/apWXO0I.jpg)

Whole image.

(https://i.imgur.com/H3fYeW0.jpg)

The lens I'm using is a Tamron 90mm. On its own it will do 1:2. With a x2 converter it will do 1:1. The above was shot with the converter. The lens can suffer from a strange flare. I've seen it before but only when used on my A7 as here. Initially it was very bad but by masking the light source all around the neg I can eliminate it. But I might try some alternative lenses.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 01, 2018, 04:50:53 PM
That’s a nice looking setup Peter, I like the rack setup for centering on the negative.  I found in addition to masking the negatives that you either need to scan in the dark or use bellows like my newest setup (link below).  Otherwise you can get reflections on the negative.  I use the macro zoom lens that came with my Olympus OM-D E-M5.  I use the macro setting for everything up to 6x6 negatives. 

http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg123458#msg123458 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg123458#msg123458)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on January 01, 2018, 06:18:37 PM
That’s a nice looking setup Peter, I like the rack setup for centering on the negative.  I found in addition to masking the negatives that you either need to scan in the dark or use bellows like my newest setup (link below).  Otherwise you can get reflections on the negative.  I use the macro zoom lens that came with my Olympus OM-D E-M5.  I use the macro setting for everything up to 6x6 negatives. 

http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg123458#msg123458 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg123458#msg123458)

I need to experiment a bit more. I'll try it with the room lights off to see if that helps.

Another issue I've found is I was getting banding across the image. It's something to do with the LED panel and the camera interacting. So I've switched to a small neg viewer as a light source. Not sure what sort of lamp is in it but it's got rid of the banding.

Have you scanned any colour neg with your setup Bryan? I've tried with no success so far. Can't get the colours correct. I setup a custom colour balance in the camera using some blank film and that very effectively removes the orange mask but I still get colour casts I've not been clever enough to remove. I tried importing a scan into Vuescan to use its custom settings for different film but that doesn't work for imported images. I'll have to do some Googling. I'm sure others have done this before.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 01, 2018, 07:22:24 PM
I also use a Circular Polarizing filter, that seemed to help with newton rings when I was using a glass plate to hold the negative flat.  That may help with the banding as well.  I use an iPad for the light source, If I was to use a led array I would make more separation from the light source and the negative to allow for better diffusion of the led lights.  Maybe add another piece of  translucent white plastic as well. 

I have not scanned color film with my setup, my lab does very nice scans. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 01, 2018, 08:53:38 PM
I had made a somewhat similar contraption a long time ago and was getting pretty good results with it.
On mine, the light source was far away from the negative which was held by a film holder from my enlarger. The light source was an incandescent bulb that went through a diffuser.
I found that for good results I needed surprisingly to underexpose my images by some margin, but I suspect that doing an HDR treatment would give the best results.
To remove the color cast on negatives, I would take the photo with the white balance set for the light source, import into photoshop, go to the levels menu and select a part of the clear negative using the proper eyedropper. That works pretty good. Then I invert the image.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on January 01, 2018, 09:20:14 PM
Reading around what other people do, it seems manually adjusting the curves is the preferred method - I was trying to get the auto colour balance to fix things. So I've tried again. I think adjusting the colour balance of the camera to eliminate the mask is what I'll stick to as I only use one colour film (Ektar) so I only need to do that once. Twiddling the curves got me pretty close but I was surprised how much I needed to adjust the individual colours. This image is one I've always had problems getting right and this is the best I've ever done with it so I must be getting somewhere. Still needs a tweak though.

(https://i.imgur.com/ReqOozi.jpg)

Edit: picture updated with better version.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 01, 2018, 10:44:56 PM
The fun thing with curves is that you can save them. You probably can apply the same one to most negatives that have the same film.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 23, 2018, 06:15:27 PM
OK. We had a power failure this morning. So after reading and playing the uke for a while, I decided to tackle a job I've been meaning to do for so long I don't dare say it in public.
Thing is, I've got this run of the mill Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 that was desperately needing a lube job. When I say it was really needing it, you could feel the helices rub metal on metal.
I must say I was pretty impressed with the way the lens is made. You just loosen a grub screw on the side to remove the front of the lens. Then three screws and you're in.
But putting both helices in the right position was the usual nightmare. Took a couple of hours but now the lens is buttery smooth.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on February 23, 2018, 10:44:14 PM
I made a Shutter Speed Tester from an Arduino Uno, a light sensor module, and an LCD. It's still WIP but the proof of concept seems to work. I'd like to put it into a smaller package (Arduino Nano + sensor + LCD + battery in a single case) at some point so that I can carry it anywhere (garage sales? used camera sales fair?). Also, I'd like to switch to IR instead of visible light but I couldn't get the necessary components in time. I still have plenty of space on the LCD so I'm currently thinking about what more information would be useful to have on there. I'd also like to add a button to reset the test.

P. S.: I know that this is neither a particularly new nor a particularly clever idea, more talented people have built better setups but I wanted to try it by myself and it was great fun. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 24, 2018, 02:19:26 PM
Now that is sweet.
You could make it a two part system with a sensor pack and a display pack that would contain the batteries and the Arduino. That way if you need to change the sensors you don't need to take the whole thing apart.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on February 25, 2018, 10:38:22 AM
Yes, good idea. All of the digital sensors behave the same, making them interchangable shouldn't be too difficult. I'll keep you posted.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on March 02, 2018, 06:10:33 PM
Just (semi) fixed the broken focus dial of this little Contax I had inherited from my aunt some time ago. When I opened up the dial a tiny spring and some tiny, tiny parts jumped out at me (WHY, OH WHY !!!). After I finally found the parts (WHY do they have to use parts that are 1 mm or smaller?....) I glued the contact back into the dial know and put the spring and tiny ball back where I thought they belong. After re-attaching the dial, I turned it (scrchh!!!) and it was broken again. I think the little spring and ball did the same thing as the had done in the first place and pulled off the concact from the dial. Now I put everything back together without the spring and ball. Seems to work, except the dial is not clicking any more. I am just running some test rolls through the camera, hope they turn out ok. Will think of a solution to get the clickiness back.

The camera itself fees a bit stylish for me, but I guess I'll get used to it.  :)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4773/40577467011_cd95d11aed.jpg)
 (https://flic.kr/p/24PG8fc)Contax (https://flic.kr/p/24PG8fc) by Manuel Lion (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156921528@N08/)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on March 02, 2018, 06:28:27 PM
You're a lucky guy if it works, the Contax T2 sells for silly prices at the moment. I've been looking at the first one, the T which is a "folder" like the Minox'es. It's manual focus, so I'm afraid it might be a bit fiddly given the tiny size.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on March 02, 2018, 07:12:05 PM
You're a lucky guy if it works, the Contax T2 sells for silly prices at the moment. I've been looking at the first one, the T which is a "folder" like the Minox'es. It's manual focus, so I'm afraid it might be a bit fiddly given the tiny size.

I have the T, it's a nice rangefinder and the lens, the same one as Manuel's camera, is very nice.  It's also very small and fits nicely in your pocket.  The rangefinder is not great but my viewfinder is a bit scratched.  The one thing I don't like about it is that you have to reach awkwardly around the lens door from underneath to focus it.  Otherwise you block the viewfinder or rangefinder window.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4537/37867689325_59df30116f_n.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ZGeNKg)Contax T (https://flic.kr/p/ZGeNKg) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on March 17, 2018, 11:08:28 AM
I've finished building the Shutter Tester and I just put up the source code and schematics on github so that people can build it themselves. If you're interested, have a look here:

https://github.com/c-s-1/shutter-tester
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 17, 2018, 01:04:56 PM
I'm going to take a look. Could be an interesting build. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on March 17, 2018, 03:55:08 PM
If you have questions or suggestions, please let me know, I'd be happy to help if I can. Patches are welcome, too. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 17, 2018, 07:52:17 PM
To increase the high speed precision you could make a slit mask for the sensor. A narrow strip is more likely to record a shorter moment in time.
The thing with focal plane shutters is that it's the width of the slit that determines the exposure. At the point where the shutter gap is the same as the size of the sensor you won't be able to get a good measurement.

To know if this is right, check it against a regular in lens shutter.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on March 17, 2018, 08:13:18 PM
I agree, there's a lot of room for improvement. It's probably even a good idea to work with several sensors in a row. I feel version 0.2 of this contraption taking shape in my mind. :) Thanks for the feedback.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 17, 2018, 09:13:41 PM
I don't really see how a series of sensors would improve anything. You don't need more than one at the start and one at the end of the travel.
Having two sensors would indicate is the travel speed is constant.
Personally, I'd concentrate on making the single sensor version as reliable as possible first and then add a function for a second one (or just make the sensor block in a way that you can reverse it to check the other end of the curtain travel.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on March 17, 2018, 09:55:31 PM
I need to give it some more thought. I'm not entirely sure that a slit mask would be necessary. I tested the shutter of a Canon F-1 which has a metal foil curtain shutter and I also tested several other cameras and they all give me plausible results. I don't know if I own a camera with a focal plane shutter (or maybe I hit the "non native speaker language barrier" and mistake the focal plane shutter for something else). Anyhow, I think that the software needs some more work. I work with interrupts which should give me a reasonably precise timing, assuming that the sensor module doesn't add any delays. Since I don't know if this is the case, I need to figure out if the delays for starting to detect IR and stopping to detect it are the same; if they aren't the same, this would have to be factored into the measurement. So I guess that some sort of calibration routine would be interesting. However, this is only feasible if the Arduino can actually turn on and off the IR emitter by itself. Then I could turn on the IR emitter, memorise the timestamp and subtract it from the timestamp when the IR sensor signals the detection. This should give me the delay of the sensor module. Then do the same when turning the IR emitter off. This would give me reference values that I could use to get a more precise measurement. Maybe this would help with measuring the faster times (less than 1/500s) for which I don't know if they are accurately measured at the moment.

I'm afraid that I'm going very much off topic so I'll open a separate thread as soon as I've got more news on this project. If you build this thing, François, please let me know, I'm very much interested in your thoughts.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 18, 2018, 01:32:02 PM
The sensor specs should give you the minimum exposure and reaction delay.
I was thinking last night and was wondering if there could be some additional precision possible by glueing two sensors together at a known width and using the change in luminosity to measure the speed.

Also, I know there are both two pronged and three pronged phototransistors. The three pronged ones are usually much faster to react than the two pronged ones.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on March 18, 2018, 04:54:48 PM
Good point. I'll quickly move my answer to a new thread to keep this thread "clean".
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 09, 2018, 03:46:56 PM
Happy to see that this thread is staying alive with everybody's good works.

Just finished a little conversion to make a Pinorama.  The frame measures 28x60. 

The body arrived with an unfixable broken speed selector so it was ripe for conversion.  After two years on the shelf, and with a few parts stripped off for other projects, the remains of the body was almost queued up for recycling, but then I remembered that WPPD is coming up so ...

The camera to the right is an F.X2 in perfect condition and is shown for comparison.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/867/40629687074_bb30b8746f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24UiLs7)
IMGP8811a (https://flic.kr/p/24UiLs7) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/788/41300513572_7047b07f2e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25VzVNd)
IMGP8813a (https://flic.kr/p/25VzVNd) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

Waiting on the weather and perhaps some Fuji Acros.  I have six rolls left, dated 2012.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 09, 2018, 04:29:40 PM
Nice job Sandeha!  Did you have to carve away at more than just the film mask to get that wide?  It looks like some of the internal stuff was cut away like the mirror mechanism.  Now you have me thinking about what camera I can cut away at. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 09, 2018, 04:50:21 PM
Brian, yes I had to cut away the sides of the chamber.  I cut as far as was practical with a hacksaw and then crosswise using a Dremel wheel - by the time I was done the line of sight was more than clear.  After peeling the curtains away from the rollers I ripped away much of the insides with pliers, and then stuffed the various holes with darkcloth and sealer.  There was little worth saving from the guts.  My guess is that the body form of the Praktica is particularly suitable as it's really a very wide camera.  I don't know that many would yield a negative length of 60mm.  At two wheel-turns per frame I'm hoping I'll get a decently spaced 15 shots.

EDIT:  Quick extra point.  I ran a roll through and then found there were considerable internal reflections.  I glued some darkcloth sections into the body to completely cover the internal area.  Problem solved.  Also found that it makes 16 clear frames on a 36 roll, with very even spacing - 3 shots in a standard neg storage sleeve.  The slight downside is that the body cap puts the focal length at 45mm, which is a bit long for a wide angled view (if that's what you like).  I have a 6x9 that is 45mm, so that is wide, but on this frame it's just a segment of that.  0.25mm pinhole in brass from www.vist.lt (http://www.vist.lt) or his eBay shop.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 09, 2018, 09:19:59 PM
Now that is interesting...
I wonder if my old Praktica L would be a good choice? Or my broken Chinon...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 09, 2018, 10:40:52 PM
Have a look in the back Francois.  This Praktica has that metal plate for a film gate which is easy to remove and cut, yet still strong enough when it's back in place, and being a cloth shutter it's really only curtains and one roller that need to come out.  Then all you need is to ensure that the winder and rewind button still function OK, plus the rewind lever itself.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 10, 2018, 02:39:28 PM
I checked my praktika last night and it has a vertical metal shutter that relies on a weird mechanical timer. I guess I'll have a bit of engineering to do.

Did you completely remove the screw mount on yours?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 10, 2018, 05:57:57 PM
Yep, six screws, I think, a cover and the screw mount plate itself, otherwise I could not have put the hacksaw blade all the way through.  But then remounted it and used a body cap from the bay.

If your camera is completely dead it might be worthwhile, but there's a lot less to remove with a cloth shutter camera.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 10, 2018, 09:19:59 PM
I do expect it to be a bit of a chore. It's the first time I see a camera that has different spring pressure adjustments for the fast speeds so it's bound to be more complex than I thought.

But yeah, there is a big problem with the shutter. It opens up when you wind on, and closes partially when you press the shutter button. The only thing that works well with it is the mirror...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: johnha on April 10, 2018, 10:43:02 PM
I haven't fixed, but have had fixed my Pentax KX & LX bodies (far too complicated for me to have a go at). It might not be the filmwasters ethos, but it's important to me to get them back up and running.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on April 11, 2018, 05:54:07 AM
I think that keeping gear running is definitely good filmwasters' ethos. If there were capable repair shops nearby I'd probably bring my gear there. Unfortunately there aren't any that I know of and I'd probably be unable to afford them anyhow. So fiddling with the gear myself is due to this and due to the fact that I like to do it. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 11, 2018, 09:59:40 AM
Getting stuff fixed by others is still good news.  Bald Mountain repair shop in California closed a couple of years ago, and I recently heard that Harrow Technical (Pentax specialist) is also retiring.  There will be more ...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 11, 2018, 02:17:40 PM
I think we better adopt the maker's motto: if you can't fix it it's not really yours.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 25, 2018, 10:25:01 PM
Here's another contraption!
http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=9563.new#new (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=9563.new#new)
This one is easy as pie, so anyone can build it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: EarlJam on May 01, 2018, 01:50:58 PM
Raphael Orlove, features editor on the automotive site Jalopnik, has written about his attempts to repair a Pentacon 50mm for an otherwise working Praktica LTL. Section titles include "YouTube is a Lie", "The Only Thing You Can Count On With Old Parts Is That They Will Deceive You And Fail You", and "If Something Seems Like It Requires Experience, Be Prepared To Do It Over A Dozen Times", which sum up my experiences whenever I've tried to work on a lens. Well, that, and an appalling lack of fine motor skills and manual dexterity.

https://jalopnik.com/how-not-to-fix-something-1825611360 (https://jalopnik.com/how-not-to-fix-something-1825611360)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Aksel on May 02, 2018, 07:45:06 AM
Raphael Orlove, features editor on the automotive site Jalopnik, has written about his attempts to repair a Pentacon 50mm for an otherwise working Praktica LTL. Section titles include "YouTube is a Lie", "The Only Thing You Can Count On With Old Parts Is That They Will Deceive You And Fail You", and "If Something Seems Like It Requires Experience, Be Prepared To Do It Over A Dozen Times", which sum up my experiences whenever I've tried to work on a lens. Well, that, and an appalling lack of fine motor skills and manual dexterity.

https://jalopnik.com/how-not-to-fix-something-1825611360 (https://jalopnik.com/how-not-to-fix-something-1825611360)

Pretty spot on!
Reminds me of a few projects that have been laying around far to long  ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 16, 2018, 07:56:58 PM
I think it's official, the Homemade Camera Podcast made me loose my marbles!
I built this as part of their 80mm lens challenge. And this thing has seen more twists and turns than I've ever seen. From broken tools to impossible to find parts to gluing things the wrong way using epoxy (try and get this apart!), I think I've seen it all. But here it is finally.

So, in the right corner weighing in at 3 lbs 7 oz. (over 1 kg) (camera not included), I present to you the MagnaLux-Delta!
This lens designed around an old Nikon FE is based on a modified projection TV lens. It has 3 elements in 2 groups, including one aspheric lens. It's focal length is between 80mm and 85mm and has a tested aperture of.... drum roll please......
f/1.4

It focuses from 3 feet 9 inches to infinity (roughly 1 meter to infinity).

So, what do you think? Did I go overboard with that?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on May 16, 2018, 08:32:57 PM
That is pure awesomeness. Lovely work, François. And yes, I can confirm that you lost your marbles. :P
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 27, 2018, 07:43:24 PM
I recently purchase this Leica IIIf RD ST with a Summaron lens for about the price of the lens.  The camera is in great working condition, just needed some new skin.  I ordered the skin from hugostudio.com for about $25.00. 

The first thing I did was remove the self timer to make both removal and installation of the skin easier.  The second thing I needed to do was remove the old skin, it flaked off with ease.  Now for the hardest part, a few hours of scrubbing with acetone to remove the old glue.  I did this outside so I didn't get too high.  You want the body very clean and smooth so that the new skin adheres properly and doesn't show bumps.  After carefully aligning the section of skin around the self timer and slow speed dial I worked my around to the other side of the lens mount making sure it was all lining up properly.  Now it looks good as new.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on May 27, 2018, 07:52:19 PM
Outstanding work, Bryan. The IIIf looks like new. Very well executed. May I ask what type of glue you used? I always have trouble glueing things to bare metal.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 27, 2018, 07:59:56 PM
Outstanding work, Bryan. The IIIf looks like new. Very well executed. May I ask what type of glue you used? I always have trouble glueing things to bare metal.
 
The skin from Hugostudio.com is self adhesive, otherwise I would have used contact cement.  That's what I use to repair skin that is starting to peel off. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: MiguelCampano on May 27, 2018, 08:01:00 PM
Amazing job, Bryan! Wow!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 27, 2018, 08:40:18 PM
This definitely looks mighty fine.
I'll have to do that to an old Argus I got in the shed...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on May 28, 2018, 09:31:49 AM
Gem Bond or Jewel Bond are best for sticking down leatherettes to bare metal.  They're designed to glue sequins onto fabrics but they have the right density for camera bodies.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 28, 2018, 02:17:05 PM
Shutter from Chris' Flexaret...

Slow speeds and self timer working now.

https://youtu.be/akYrewtEwwA (https://youtu.be/akYrewtEwwA)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 28, 2018, 04:27:45 PM
Gem Bond or Jewel Bond are best for sticking down leatherettes to bare metal.  They're designed to glue sequins onto fabrics but they have the right density for camera bodies.
How permanent is it Sandeha? Could the covers be removed again without damage if necessary?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 28, 2018, 04:57:36 PM
The Flexaret back together. Cleaned the screen too. Just needs some film in it now.

(https://i.imgur.com/gTugfRE.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on May 28, 2018, 06:45:17 PM
Gem Bond or Jewel Bond are best for sticking down leatherettes to bare metal.  They're designed to glue sequins onto fabrics but they have the right density for camera bodies.
How permanent is it Sandeha? Could the covers be removed again without damage if necessary?

Both permanent and yet removable.  They are good glues for those awkward stiff corners that are bent up the wrong way as, after a little pressure, they can hold down forever.  But equally, when I've needed to make a change a year later it peels away with little obvious residue.

The glue is a different consistency from most, a bit viscous, and that may be where it gets its staying power.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 28, 2018, 08:52:04 PM
I wonder if Gorilla Glue or E6000 would work?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 30, 2018, 10:36:20 PM
I painted another one.  I picked the colors to match the Kodak film box.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1732/27591049687_ab94b1d53c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/J38kPe)Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash Painted Red and Yellow (https://flic.kr/p/J38kPe) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr

This is what I have done so far:
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on May 31, 2018, 06:02:13 AM
The result is great, Bryan. Can you give us a quick hint how you do the painting and how you make the paint stick on the bakelite (if that indeed is bakelite) or plastic? I tried painting plastic once and though I used an adhesive agent it still didn't stick properly.

I appreciate the diversity due to the fact that we fellow Filmwasters are scattered around the world but there're moments when I think how brilliant it would be to live closer by to be able to quickly meet up for things like a "I really need to paint my camera" workshop or for a "Got a hazy (Yashica? ;) ) lens? Here's how to clean it!" workshop. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: AJShepherd on May 31, 2018, 12:34:17 PM
Wow! That yellow and red Hawkeye is utterly striking!
The others are great too but that one really stands out.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 31, 2018, 01:25:50 PM
Really good paint job.
Did you use some krylon fusion? I know that it's made to stick to plastic, but it takes a good week to really fully harden.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 31, 2018, 02:41:18 PM
The result is great, Bryan. Can you give us a quick hint how you do the painting and how you make the paint stick on the bakelite (if that indeed is bakelite) or plastic? I tried painting plastic once and though I used an adhesive agent it still didn't stick properly.

I appreciate the diversity due to the fact that we fellow Filmwasters are scattered around the world but there're moments when I think how brilliant it would be to live closer by to be able to quickly meet up for things like a "I really need to paint my camera" workshop or for a "Got a hazy (Yashica? ;) ) lens? Here's how to clean it!" workshop. :)

Thanks everyone for the comments, my wife calls it ketchup and mustard.

I have never had a problem getting the paint to stick to Bakelite.  The first thing I do is take the camera apart as much as possible.  On the Hawkeye I leave the shutter mechanism in place.  I then clean the surface that I will be painting with water and Dawns dishwashing liquid, it’s great at removing the grease.  It’s hard to damage the shutter on these so I don’t stress too much about getting a little water in there.  I then dry it thoroughly, a little isopropyl alcohol helps dry it out if you get some wTer in the shutter mechanism. 

After everything is dried out I start taping with masking tape.  This is the hard part and you have to get creative.  You don’t want any paint to get inside the camera and the part on the top that has the lock mechanism needs to be taped where the metal makes contact.  If you don’t do that it will be difficult to open and close.  There are lots of little corners and odd shapes to tape, an exact knife comes in handy.  A good tape job is the most important part. 

The paint I used is Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover 2X.  It says you don’t need a primer but I probably could have done fewer coats and got a better finish if I had used one.  Primer does help the paint stick to the surface.  I put on light coats, 2 within an hour then let it dry for 24 hours.  Then I put on the third coat followed by a clear coat, then let it dry for another 24 hours before removing the tape, flipping the lens and putting it back together. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 31, 2018, 03:41:04 PM
A few more notes on painting:

I leave the strap attached to the back of the camera.  I tape it up good and bend it back to paint under it.  Leave it in a straight position like it will be when it’s attached when painting so it looks good when it’s re-attached.  The back of the strap is riveted on so it’s more work putting it back together if you want to take it off. 

Paint the two body parts separately, you don’t want to glue the together with paint.

Use good 3M masking tape, the cheap stuff will only make it more difficult. 

Use a tooth pick to get the tape shoved into tight spots. 

Trim the tape with a sharp Exacto knife, this makes fitting odd shapes easier.

Take notes and photos when taking it apart, is one of the parts like the viewfinder can be a bit confusing when you put them back together. 

There are some good instructions online for taking it apart.  Some focus on flipping the lens but they can be helpful for this.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on July 08, 2018, 05:00:15 PM
I guess this story should not be in this thread, but I couldn't find any better. Almost ten years ago I bought a Yashica 35 rangefinder (not the Electro 35), these were made between 1958 and 1959. I did not know the condition of it, but it looked nice. Checking it out it soon became clear that the film transport was not working. I unscrewed the bottom plate and sure enough; a couple of broken parts fell out. But knowing that not many of these were made, I decided to send it off to Mark Hama to try to get it fixed. The first message back was not encouraging, obviously somebody had messed up this camera seriously. But he managed somehow to find parts for it. On it's return, the first film I ran through it had overlapping frames showing that the film transport was still not working properly. Disappointed I put the camera in a drawer and got on with life.
But then about a week ago a thread on this camera appeared over on RFF, and one of the contributors had an important piece of advice. Before loading a new film you have to move the film transport roller backwards until you hear a click, otherwise the film transport might not work properly. So yesterday I loaded the camera to test it out, and today I lifted out a roll of Fomapan 100 from my Paterson tank with 37 perfectly spaced frames.
Here is a nice link if you want to know more about this camera: http://www.mikeeckman.com/2017/05/yashica-35-1958/ (http://www.mikeeckman.com/2017/05/yashica-35-1958/)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on July 08, 2018, 07:51:32 PM
I'm glad that you got the Yashica 35 to work properly. I have a thing for Yashicas. I own a 35 Electro GSN and love it (I only need to figure out how to brighten up the viewfinder again). You Yashica 35 looks gorgeous. It's quite tempting to search for a working copy. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 08, 2018, 09:24:20 PM
You just gotta love when things are an easy fix like that  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on July 09, 2018, 09:19:03 PM
Well, I forgot to mention the other thing that "fixed itself" on that camera. All those years ago when I first used the camera I thought the viewfinder was rather unclear and fuzzy, but I did not react to it as many old cameras are like that. The other day before I set out to test it, I took a look through the viewfinder without my glasses on by pure mistake. And then I realized that I could see very clearly even on long distances! So it turns out that the camera has had a -4 diopter installed when I purchased it, and I never suspected it at all. I did not even know that you could get a diopter for an old camera like that!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on July 10, 2018, 05:15:30 AM
Kai, a surprise internal -4 diopter in a Yashica 35 is so far down the camera nerd rabbit hole that I'm going to flower foul you just for the fun of it!   ;D

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1782/29239802188_d2beeb52c4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LxPCuu)
ChinonCP5-EliteChrome-029 (https://flic.kr/p/LxPCuu) by James Harr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/harrlequin/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 10, 2018, 02:44:29 PM
Wow!
That is so big that you don't even need glasses to see it ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on July 10, 2018, 05:58:11 PM
Thanks James, I love your nerdy flower pictures. But I'm afraid I'll have to give you one in return for "camera nerd rabbit hole". Shot without diopter and without glasses by the way......  8)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on July 12, 2018, 03:43:10 PM
I re-stitched another case.  This one fits the leica III, IIIa and IIIb cameras with an Elmar lens.  Any other lens and the front wont close, they stick out too far.  The leather on this one is in great condition but the threads were very rotten.  I stitched the top, bottom and the lens cover after pulling all the rotten thread out. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 01, 2018, 09:25:48 PM
Here is my latest monstrosity.
It's a dual pinhole anamorphic camera that I call the BendoBot for some obvious reasons.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on December 02, 2018, 02:21:17 PM
It seems like investing in some repair manuals is starting to pay off. These are two cameras that I had more or less written off. The Nikon FE has been sitting on a shelf for several years with a mirror locked in the upper position, film advance and shutter blocked. Really an easy fix once you understand how things work. Took off the bottom cover and removed the cover plate over the cocking bar. This bar operates both mirror and shutter, and when you lift up this bar you will be able to operate the shutter and mirror separately. So now I know that if the mirror doesn't come down after exposure, I must not advance to the next frame because that will lock up the camera. The correct thing to do is to remove the lens, lower the mirror with the little lever on the side and then advance to the next frame.
The problems with the Nikon 35TI I have described in a separate thread, it had a shutter that didn't seem able to make up it's mind whether to operate or not. The other day it struck me that it could simply be a case of dirty contacts. I found a service manual online and I starting working on it. Removing the top cover gave me access to the on/off switch which also selects between program and aperture priority mode. I also had to separate two flexible printed circuit boards. I cleaned the contacts between these two boards and the on off switch contacts. I did not have any high hopes as I was not able to clean the shutter button contact, this was encapsulated and not possible to open. But after running a test roll through the camera camera twice it seems to be fine! The whole operation takes a bit of time as you have to remove the front leatherette to access the top cover screws. And then you have to clean the glue from the leatherette and the camera body before re-gluing. But hey, it's worth it!  :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 02, 2018, 08:42:28 PM
When it works, it's definitely worth it.
And as a bonus you get to experience that "I can't believe I fixed it" moment :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: grit on December 05, 2018, 01:20:35 AM
I just cleaned all the sand out of my tripod! Was photographing at the beach and the bottom of my tripod got hit by a wave. It's an old Manfrotto one with pins at each joint that you hammer out in order to take the legs apart. Took me a good 2 hours to do the whole job: lesson learned. But the legs slide freely again, good as new!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 05, 2018, 04:05:14 PM
This is a bit like their light stands. They use a tapered pin that comes out easily only if you got it from the correct side.
Let's just say it took me a while to figure this one out.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on January 31, 2019, 05:05:40 PM
A friend sent me a tin of home-made biscuits the other week, in a beautiful and shapely tin. Apart from the excellent biscuits I was struck by the dimensions of the lid - would it be imperial or metric?

It turned out that a sheet of 4x5 fitted the space perfectly.

(http://www.sandehalynch.com/photoessays/pinhole/030.jpg)

Find the centre, drill just above it, and then root around for the aperture lever of an old rotary shutter and fix in place with a stop point. 

(http://www.sandehalynch.com/photoessays/pinhole/032.jpg)

The next task was to build a supporting frame for a sheet inside and then adapt the cover with a spacer to hold the sheet firmly in place.

(http://www.sandehalynch.com/photoessays/pinhole/031.jpg)

Then take it for a test drive.

(http://www.sandehalynch.com/photoessays/pinhole/033.jpg)

(http://www.sandehalynch.com/photoessays/pinhole/034.jpg)

It appears to run quite well.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 31, 2019, 09:11:53 PM
Funny thing is it looks like there is some astroturf in the camera  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on February 01, 2019, 10:33:40 AM
 ;D Just green felt.  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: AJShepherd on February 01, 2019, 10:57:25 AM
That's a really cool-looking biscuit-tin-cam! Liked the picture from it too.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on February 01, 2019, 01:59:53 PM
That's a stylish pinhole! Great work!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on February 23, 2019, 10:58:48 AM
I tried to improve the looks of my battered Altissa Periskop Box camera. This is what I did:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7878/46461033884_48fdf19631_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dMAWGm)
Altissa Periskop restauration (before) (https://flic.kr/p/2dMAWGm) by C S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/c_s_1/)

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7850/47132747582_bdcfd499fe_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eNXDM1)
Altissa Periskop restauration (during / after) (https://flic.kr/p/2eNXDM1) by C S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/c_s_1/)

This was my first time doing this and here're the lessons that I learned:
All in all I found it surprisingly challenging to work on the box. But it was fun anyhow and I'm pleased with the result. There's no rust anymore and I was also able to polish the rust off the chrome parts. Now the hood of the viewfinder is of the same colour as the metal parts of the box which looks quite nice (and judging from a box that's in an even better shape, this was the original look of the box; due to the rough surface it seems like the grey tone of the hood is dust that collects on it which is not the "intended look" :) ).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 23, 2019, 01:57:22 PM
Definitely was worth the effort. It probably looks better than when it was new.
Taping is always a chore but as I say: one hour of taping is worth ten hours of swearing.

I know that as a metal primer, I really like the Tremclad rust converter. You spray it on lightly and it sticks to metal really good. It's a super flat black and it gives the finish paint really good adhesion. I used it on a little red wagon and it did a fantastic job.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on February 23, 2019, 06:47:12 PM
Nice job cs1, it looks great!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on February 23, 2019, 07:37:22 PM
Thanks for the advice, François, I need to check whether that primer is available here.

Thanks Bryan. I also reworked a second box for my daughter. She's five yo. and loves photography (and she's surprisingly good at it because she actually thinks a shot through; sometimes she's the one who returns from a photowalk with the best keeper shots). She loves my little Altissa Periskop and asked whether or not she can get one of her own. I said that of course she can (they really don't cost that much) and since I reworked mine I asked her which colour she'd like for the metal parts of her Altissa. Well, enter the "Altissa Pinkiskop" which I'll be showing here when it's finished...  Who am I to judge her choice of colours if it makes her happy and by way gets her into film photography, so sure she can have her Altissa Pinkiskop. :) On her Periskop I also reworked the rim of the lens because that's metal as well. I used a technique to get the white colour back into the engraved letters which uses water based acrylic paint to freshen up e. g. distance or aperture engravings on lenses. I picked the technique up on YouTube. You basically roughly fill in the engraved letters with white acrylic paint and use a kitchen towel which is slightly wet to remove the excess colour on the surface. This leaves enough colour in the letters themselves. It turned out nice, despite the fact that the engravings on the Periskop weren't that good in the first place. I'll re-assemble her box tomorrow and try to post a picture of it then.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on February 23, 2019, 07:56:43 PM
Can’t wait to see the Pinkiskop!  I’ve painted a few Kodak Hawkeyes bright colors, it’s a lot of fun.  I have one I’m going to paint as soon as I have some time.  Adding a little contrasting color to a small part can add to the fun.  Just like what you mentioned, the masking is the hardest part.  I always finish it off with a clear coat, it gives it a nicer and more durable finish.  You may want to do that with the pink.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 23, 2019, 09:05:38 PM
OK, it's official, I've created a monster!
I had this old Polaroid ColorPack that was gathering dust. It hasn't been loved ever since Fuji stopped making peel apart. Since I have two of them, I decided to take one and do a conversion. I measured once, twice, got my trigonometry references, did a whole bunch of calculations and drawings. I cut the camera apart and managed somehow to make a new back for it. This one takes 4x5 sheet loaders. Somehow, after the project had been plagued by disasters, bad measurements, personal injury, a mess of hot glue and breaking parts, I managed to get the focus right!
So, I present to you, the one, the only Polaroid ColorPack 45. What I think is the first fully automatic large format camera.
I finished it late last night as I wanted to get it done before going to bed. This is many weeks of head scratching and swearing. But in the end I'm super proud of it.
I just did a test on some photo paper and I'm impressed.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on February 24, 2019, 03:21:10 PM
Wow, what an incredible machine, François! :)

As promised, I herewith introduce you to the Altissa Pinkiskop:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7924/33322011318_5fcd029de0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SLy23w)
Altissa Pinkiskop (https://flic.kr/p/SLy23w) by C S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/c_s_1/)

A matching pink camera strap with white polka dots is on its way. Is this combination over the top? Absolutely, but I have hope that my daughter is going to like it. Apart from that, as Bryan already stated, it's a huge amount of fun to individualise a nice camera. :)

There's still a lot of room for improvement. I should be more patient when coating the camera and use less paint for each coating and instead add several more coats after letting one coat dry. But this is very likely not the last box that is going to be modified. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on February 24, 2019, 04:21:00 PM
Very, very nice.
Not that I like pink, at all.
But that's very very smart.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on February 24, 2019, 04:39:59 PM
I don't fancy the colour pink either and it's not like my daughter is an "everything has to be pink" kind of girl but in this case it was her assessment that pink is the most suitable. And I tend to think that she's somehow right. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 24, 2019, 08:59:09 PM
One thing's for sure, it looks pretty joyful :)
Maybe I should have painted my monster pink ;)

Funny thing is, I kinda like pink. It's not a sad color that's for sure. And historically, it hasn't always been girly. In the 1800's pink was worn a lot by young boys. And in the 1700, it was closely associated with aristocracy as the pigment used was very expensive. And now, we have a ton of cool things that are pink, like neon signs, pink cadillacs from the 50's, flamingos...

But back to cameras and spray paint, thin light coats are definitely the way to go. What I like to do is spray a light coat, wait for a bit of the solvent to evaporate (usually a few seconds) and then hit it with another light coat and repeat. Doing so will prevent drips from forming. It's also a good idea to keep the can moving and at a good distance from the object. One of the fun things with spray paint is that if you act fast enough, you can actually blend colors together. That's why when I paint for decorative purposes I have a table with all my cans ready to go.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on February 25, 2019, 01:16:45 AM
It really is a nice blend of "brute force" design and whimsy of the color. I'd throw it over my shoulder and take it out for a day.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on February 25, 2019, 03:35:02 PM
That looks great cs1, how could she not love it!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 07, 2019, 07:16:07 PM
OK!
I just finished working on another project. This time I feel like I was a bit in a mad scientist's lab as this was a bit of a nightmarish build.
It's the Télé-Sténolux, a 384mm monster that has an f/441 aperture and feeds off 120 film.
It's entirely made from recycled parts that I glued and taped together.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on April 08, 2019, 04:59:13 PM
"It's alive, it's alive!" A true Françoinkenstein... ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: John Robison on April 08, 2019, 09:10:56 PM
I think this forum should establish the “Miroslav Tichy” award. I’m quite sure Francois would be the first recipient of this award.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 08, 2019, 09:23:34 PM
I'm slowly going that way :)
It's actually surprisingly hard to build anything remotely light tight and reliable using materials like that.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 19, 2019, 03:05:58 AM
I just made this to use my Bronica ETRSi with my microscope.  I cut a hole in a body cap and mounted a LTM extension tube on it.  This allows the Leitz MIKAS adapter to thread onto the cap.  Hopefully I'll have some medium format shots with the microscope soon. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on April 19, 2019, 04:10:31 AM
 This thread makes me smile  :)  :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 19, 2019, 02:25:14 PM
Just be careful not to drop that thing. Looks flimsy to me, but I must say that I tend to overbuild everything.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 19, 2019, 02:47:56 PM
I used contact cement and gave it a bit of a stress test, it’s surprisingly strong.  Luckily everything is balanced pretty good when it’s on the microscope.  The one thing I need to watch is the body cap twisting to the position that it releases from the camera.  It doesn’t click in like a lens.  I’ll use gaffer tape to hold it in position on the camera.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on April 19, 2019, 08:39:12 PM
Good work, Bryan. I've been enjoying your microscope photos since you started. Looking forward to seeing the first medium format microscope shots.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 19, 2019, 09:45:30 PM
I hope you have better luck than I did today with some epoxy that for some reason refused to stick to a metal part on a Kodak Tourist II...
And even after grinding the surface and cleaning the place with some 99% alcohol.  :-\
Ended up holding the pieces I was adding with a good amount of hot glue...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on April 25, 2019, 12:27:44 PM
I noticed that the vertical alignment on my Konica II rangefinder was off a bit, so I decided to try to fix it -- even though I think if the vertical is off a tad it actually might be helpful in focusing so you don't completely lose the patch, to confirm you're not just going blind if that makes sense.

So I looked for info on the internets and found discussions for other Konica rangefinders, but more helpful was the general tip of looking for false screws (access covers) on the cold shoe or other top panel screw. So I started unscrewing the three cold shoe screws and they were obviously real screws holding the cold shoe on. So I removed the cold shoe and there they were -- two access holes with screw heads below.

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/da29b9b29b5eb435e7234d533277c34d_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=650)

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/c3a059ac020033d94d84c01a4ff03ece_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=650)

Once I adjusted the vertical alignment -- focusing at infinity through my apartment window on the the tall clock tower building a little over a mile away -- I noticed the more important horizontal alignment was ever so slightly off so adjusted that too. I still think I might come back and adjust the vertical to be off a bit... But it's very simple and easy so we'll see.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 25, 2019, 02:44:56 PM
At least it was easier than on the FED. Not that it's really hard to adjust, but putting that leaf spring back in place is a bit of an exercise in dexterity.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 25, 2019, 04:47:12 PM
Once I adjusted the vertical alignment -- focusing at infinity through my apartment window on the the tall clock tower building a little over a mile away -- I noticed the more important horizontal alignment was ever so slightly off so adjusted that too. I still think I might come back and adjust the vertical to be off a bit... But it's very simple and easy so we'll see.

This may depend on the type of rangefinder mechanism, but I remember a suggestion to always adjust the vertical first and only then the horizontal. But it sounds like you got it right the first time anyway!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on April 25, 2019, 05:03:56 PM
Ahh, so perhaps the vertical adjustment put the horizontal off... Like I always say, it's better to be lucky than to be good.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on April 25, 2019, 05:12:27 PM
Looks like I've been a bit slow with updating here, and François has made more cameras than me over the period. I posted my Superior Cookie tin camera at New Year, but I've done four more since then - all pinhole.

The Drax 4x5, which conveniently takes all manner of film backs as the back was scavenged from an older 4x5 I once made.  This has two pinholes, just above the centre for each format. 45mm on 4x5 is fairly wide as it corresponds to 12mm on 135.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4854/46702095262_3e00831433_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2e9UrR1)
IMGP9279a (https://flic.kr/p/2e9UrR1) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

Black Box #7, 120 with a 60x40mm film size. Simply trying to make a 120 as small as is reasonably possible.  F/l 25mm. The knob came from a dented Brownie Box camera. It's got some Ektar in it now.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7913/46212306675_c337cb410d_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2dpC9Lc)
190217_a (https://flic.kr/p/2dpC9Lc) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

The Paradox Pinhole 35mm, which is a conversion of an Adox 300 film magazine. Handy and wide, as it's 17mm focal length and sports a film counter of its own, even though it was a full insert module.  It needed a brass bar attaching to the bottom to tap a 1/4" tripod thread.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7885/40201296773_d26f0e65ce_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/24fs9Wr)
190215_a (https://flic.kr/p/24fs9Wr) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

Hasselblack 3, 6x6, with the obvious Hasselblad A12 or A24 film back on it. This is a further iteration of the 'Blad adaptive design, with a 33mm f/l.  About to start a roll of Fomapan 200.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46736827775_c32281f7dc_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ecYsBr)
HasselBlack 3 6x6 Pinhole Camera (https://flic.kr/p/2ecYsBr) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 25, 2019, 08:46:27 PM
Looks like you've been busy. :)
I'm currently working on a second birdhouse camera. I want to try and do some solargraphs, so I thought hiding the cameras as birdhouses could be the best camouflage there is.
I mage one in bright red for the backyard. I'm wondering if I should go full camo for the second one as I want to put it in a public park?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on April 25, 2019, 09:04:00 PM
Looks like you've been busy. :)
I'm currently working on a second birdhouse camera. I want to try and do some solargraphs, so I thought hiding the cameras as birdhouses could be the best camouflage there is.
I mage one in bright red for the backyard. I'm wondering if I should go full camo for the second one as I want to put it in a public park?

The best disguise in a public park is probably to make it look like a surveillance camera.  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 25, 2019, 10:46:56 PM
Strange thing is security cameras are not very common in parks around here. I must say I tend to hang-out in cities that aren't very criminalized... or mostly have weird non violent crimes comitted in them. Here are a few examples of what I call weird crimes:
-the police apprehended a television thief that went around on bicycle
-the police was looking for airbag thieves
-there was a series of catalytic converter theft at a regional park
-somebody stole the roof of a local church
-somebody stole the plaque on the fallen soldiers of the 1st world war memorial statue and nobody noticed until the 11th of November! Worse yet, nobody remembered the names on it!
-thieves got away with a life sized fiberglass zebra which was never found
-people stole railroad tracks in broad daylight with passers by looking at them work and telling the thieves how happy they were that the railroad company was finally removing them
-a bunch of wanted graffiti artists were squatting the municipal garage for months without anyone noticing.

These are just a few of the neighboring city's local newspaper's crime articles that caught my attention...

So the worst thing that can happen is that somebody steals the birdhouse camera I made...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 26, 2019, 12:49:54 AM
So the worst thing that can happen is that somebody steals the birdhouse camera I made...

Since the thieves would probably be Canadian hopefully they'll be nice enough to develop the film and share the results with us.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 26, 2019, 02:10:41 PM
There's always a chance.
But there's a greater chance that they would hang it in their house for A few years, then sell it at a garage sale where I would find it with the paper still in place. I would scan it and find a nice picture of their living room....
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 01, 2019, 10:15:35 PM
Just hacked something which I hope is worth the effort I put in it.
Years ago I got a Kodak Tourist II folder that was missing both knobs. Since it's a strict 620 camera I just let it gather dust. But last week I decided to modify the interior to take 120 film. A real pain in the *** to do. Kodak really wanted to make sure nobody would do this modification and put in it an insane amount of ribs to prevent it from being done. But they didn't take into account a single guy with a Dremel who wanted to do this really bad!

So I re-made the buttons, modified the drive, hogged-out most of the interior, cleaned the viewfinder and fixed the weird shutter behavior while still maintaining the original aesthetics.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on May 12, 2019, 12:57:01 PM
I've been on the lookout for a 50s / 60s fixed lens rangefinder for my grandson's second camera -- his first camera will be an Olympus Trip. He's only 10 months old but I'm going to be prepared! And my daughter wants to have a couple more kids, so no pressure on him if he's not interested... For one's photographic growth, I think it's ideal to move from the basically automatic Trip where all you have to worry about is composition to a camera where you can learn about exposure and the relationship between shutter speed and aperture, and where you can choose what in the frame to focus on when working with shallow DOF.

Besides the typical Minoltas, Konicas, Olympuses (Olympi?), and even Yashicas, Petri rangefinders appeared on my radar. Specifically, the Petri Racer. I'm a sucker for pretty cameras and I think it's quite charming. It has a match-needle cds meter coupled to the shutter and aperture, but fully manual in that it doesn't automatically set one when you set the other.

One showed up on Etsy at a good price, especially considering the seller had tested it with film -- frozen shutters are a reported problem with these cameras. He reported everything worked fine except the rangefinder, which he said worked intermittently and when it did, the double-image lagged. Hmm... sounded fixable so I bought it and it arrived yesterday.


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/08dfa9ab32002bd0ac84b3520a28d6af_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=650&w=1280)

With the top off, featuring its Green-o-matic (TM) rangefinder


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/2211c4d9db95b01dcbbfe72cebb1a790_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=650&w=1280)

Overview of the rangefinder


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/c4dc13f1d8bb33f7c3044d344230f881_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=325&w=1280) (https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/9b6d19ed63316d02e56424f72c34a20a_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=325&w=1280)

The rangefinder double-image projector on its swingarm. This is what was not moving freely.


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/bb0aa6aca29bd5d90cb0ff0af9c57d3b_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=650&w=1280)

The grayed-out screw around which the swingarm pivoted. It was a bit mucked up from dirt and age so I loosened it a tad and moved the focus lever on the lens back and forth a bit and it now works fine. Fixed!


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/85eb2ef5c566959de43a5aeed724bb10_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=500&w=1280)

Cleaned and fully functional Petri Racer


Now, another issue. This camera, like every 60's / 70s fixed-lens Japanese rangefinder I've handled, has a slightly wobbly lens barrel. This example is a lot less wobbly than the Canonet I used to have, which took extremely sharp pictures. So I probably shouldn't worry about it. But I'm in a tinkering state of mind...

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/216e6b0a6d6576755965d240a4f53c49_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=650&w=1280)

There are three concentric rings that seem could be tightened here. My guess is the outer one might have something to do with the lens wobble. From what I've read on other forum threads, mostly about the Canonet and Hi-Matic, this could be the issue or four screws under the front leatherette could be the issue. I'd rather not try to pull up the leatherette since it doesn't just meet flush with the lens barrel but goes underneath the lens barrel.

I don't have a lens spanner so my question is, is it worth getting one and seeing if I can tighten that outer ring?
 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 12, 2019, 02:43:26 PM
Well, there are two ways of looking at this.
If you don't mind the wobble, might as well leave it like that.
But on the other hand, I have a spanner wrench and it's one of the most useful tools in my camera and lens repair arsenal. I got mine from China years ago and it's more than paid for itself in lens repair and other jobs.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on May 12, 2019, 02:58:56 PM
Sounds like a gateway to buying more cheap lenses...  :o
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: John Robison on May 12, 2019, 03:51:55 PM
Just hacked something which I hope is worth the effort I put in it.
Years ago I got a Kodak Tourist II folder that was missing both knobs. Since it's a strict 620 camera I just let it gather dust. But last week I decided to modify the interior to take 120 film. A real pain in the *** to do. Kodak really wanted to make sure nobody would do this modification and put in it an insane amount of ribs to prevent it from being done. But they didn't take into account a single guy with a Dremel who wanted to do this really bad!

So I re-made the buttons, modified the drive, hogged-out most of the interior, cleaned the viewfinder and fixed the weird shutter behavior while still maintaining the original aesthetics.

If you can obtain some 620 spools then you only need to modify the feed side of the Tourist cameras. I also spent much time grinding down the ribs in this camera before it dawned on me I only had to do one side. I develop my own film so spools are just reused.   
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on May 12, 2019, 05:08:08 PM
I've been on the lookout for a 50s / 60s fixed lens rangefinder for my grandson's second camera -- his first camera will be an Olympus Trip. He's only 10 months old but I'm going to be prepared!
Good thinking! People laughed when I bought my daughter her first bike when she was 6 months old because I came across a very good bike for a fraction of the normal cost for a pre-owned version. Now she's grown out of it and passed it on to her brother and it's still in use. So I solute your preparedness, sir! :)

Spanner wrenches are so cheap, it's well worth getting one. I've used mine many times. Not only for lenses, it's also used for tightening the screws of many advance levers.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 12, 2019, 05:29:12 PM
Don’t get the cheapest spanner wrench you can find, you get what you pay for.  I did that and ended up getting a better out of frustration.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 12, 2019, 09:10:04 PM

If you can obtain some 620 spools then you only need to modify the feed side of the Tourist cameras. I also spent much time grinding down the ribs in this camera before it dawned on me I only had to do one side. I develop my own film so spools are just reused.
I would have loved to do that but it was missing so many parts I just figured a full conversion was in order. The winding knob came from an old Polaroid oscilloscope camera and the other knob is actually made from some lamp parts and JB Weld  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 09, 2019, 10:04:27 PM
Here's another contraption.
It's a shift lens made from an enlarger lens. 75mm f/4.5 with a weird square aperture. It's held with magnets on the special mount I made. It's just too bad it doesn't exactly focus far enough for my taste. But with a small aperture it does reach infinity.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Late Developer on June 10, 2019, 12:52:34 PM
Here's another contraption.
It's a shift lens made from an enlarger lens. 75mm f/4.5 with a weird square aperture. It's held with magnets on the special mount I made. It's just too bad it doesn't exactly focus far enough for my taste. But with a small aperture it does reach infinity.
Ye gods, Francois, that's a strange looking beastie! Well done for building it.  Can't wait to see some shots from it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 10, 2019, 02:42:00 PM
I can't wait to try it out too.
I still have to calculate the hyperfocal distances. I'm going to put them on the rear lens cap so I don't loose them.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on June 17, 2019, 02:45:31 AM
I adapted a 4X5 camera to my microscope.  I attached a Leitz MIKAS camera adapter to a lens board.  It needs to be supported with a tripod, too much weight to just have it rest on top of the microscope.  It takes a bit of maneuvering to get everything lined up and square.  Now I need to see if I can make some decent printable negatives with it.   
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 17, 2019, 02:48:15 PM
Holy cow. That's a real monster!
Maybe you should make a baseboard and put a vertical piece of lumber on it using some heavy duty angle brackets.you could attach the camera on this quite securely and have something that's easier to setup.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on June 24, 2019, 04:21:06 AM
I’m going to be spooling some 127 film soon so I decided to trim 120 backing paper down.  In the past I did this with a ruler and a razor knife.  It’s really hard to get the width just right and you have to setup for each roll.  I found this ribbon cutter at my fathers house, it belonged to my mother, she did a lot of sewing.  The ribbon cutter does not have a very good guide so I clamped a scrap of metal to it and after wasting a few rolls of backing paper I got it cut just right.  Since I was able to get good consistent cuts I just kept going until I had 24 rolls.  I rolled each one onto a 127 spool to quality control my work as I went. 

I’m also working on a device to make it easier to roll film and backing paper onto a spool.  If I get it working I’ll post it here.  I have a few bulk rolls of 127 film, Ilford HP5+ and Konica 160 color, so I want to get to shooting it with my Baby Rolleiflex.  I don’t need the numbers printed on the paper for the Baby so that makes it a little easier.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 24, 2019, 03:30:55 PM
Pretty ingenious.
About 10 years ago I made a cutter for 127. It used an old electric screwdriver and a razor blade to cut both the backing paper and the film at the same time directly on the 120 spool.
I sadly never got around to use it as I still need to make a jig to cut both the backing paper and the film to length.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on June 28, 2019, 04:50:56 PM
This is my 127 spooling contraption, not to be confused with Terry's 127 spooling contraption http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8268.msg110178#msg110178 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8268.msg110178#msg110178).

I built this to solve a few of the problems I had with spooling 127 film by hand or at least to make it a little easier.
These problems included the following:
- Getting the film started perfectly strait with the backing paper.
- Cutting the film to the proper length.
- Finding the proper location to start spooling the film.
- Taping the film.

The rails are aluminum with two slots, they're left over from a project, I made some sliding storage doors for my wife.  The rails are cut to the required length of the 127 film.  The first thing I do, in the light, is run the backing paper from the spool down to the end of the board in the bottom part of the rail.  the distance from where the rails end to the end of the board is the proper distance for the leader.  I could do this in the dark but it's easier in the light, need to be careful about damaging the backing paper.  You can see in the photos below how the paper can get buggered up after being handled a lot.  That was some old ReraPan paper I was using to get my measurements.

In the dark I run the film down the top part of the rail until I get to the end.  Since there is separation from the paper it's easy to cut the film square by squaring the scissors with the end of the rails.  I then put a pre-cut piece of tape on the film using the rails as a guide to help center it.  I never put tape all the way to either side of the film, this helps trigger the mechanism that detects the start of the film in the Baby Rolleiflex.  It's a small hook that is tripped when it catches on the start of the film.  At this point the tape is only attached to the film, not the backing paper. 

The next step is to crank the film onto the spool.  I first feed the film up to the spool then put some pressure on the paper with my fingers to pinch the film between the backing paper.  Then all I have to do is crank it on, when it gets to the end of the film the tape sticks itself to the paper in the correct location.  I cranked out 3 rolls of HP5+ last night, now I need to start shooting some for the final test of my system. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 28, 2019, 09:52:10 PM
Pretty impressive. Can't wait to see if it works well.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on August 10, 2019, 09:49:43 PM
Figured I should say something about this one now that I've started a 7th pinhole camera. This 'Froglet' is a Clanger-Blad, a reference that will likely resonate only with a certain generation of British folk. Apols for the flash positioning - it really is a lime green to contrast the orange.

It's pretty much as short as can be without vignetting on 6x6 at 27mm pinhole to film distance. I got an 0.2mm pinhole from Reality So Subtle as they really do make the finest pins.

These were shot with my final roll of four year-old Acros, some of which was shared with another camera since it is a 'Blad back ... The A24 back is currently currently loaded with extra fresh 35mm Superia 400, while the A12 has some venerable 120 Pan F.  The bubble level on the side and the second tripod socket are for shooting 35mm in landscape.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330266566_e2349182e3_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gCMfs3)
IMGP9554a (https://flic.kr/p/2gCMfs3) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330245121_02dcf9756b_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gCM95i)
IMGP9560a (https://flic.kr/p/2gCM95i) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48387754566_85b69e8670_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gHRTCs)
190726_acr_07 (https://flic.kr/p/2gHRTCs) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48387754731_7905039b1e_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2gHRTFi)
190726_acr_03 (https://flic.kr/p/2gHRTFi) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

The next pin cam is an 8x10 paper shooter, but I'm trying not to rush.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on August 11, 2019, 07:20:55 AM
Looks fantastic Sandeha! Really love your designs.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 11, 2019, 02:29:05 PM
Yep, it's pretty clean looking.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 14, 2019, 09:12:40 PM
Just spent half the afternoon (well, maybe more than half) fining a badly calibrated Kalart rangefinder on my Crown Graphic. I had been putting it off for over 5 years since it's quite a chore but I'm pretty happy I did it. Not as hard as it seems from the instructions but just a definite pain to do. You just gotta love instructions that require a rubberband to keep the focusing lever on the cam follower  ::)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on August 14, 2019, 11:18:43 PM
Just spent half the afternoon (well, maybe more than half) fining a badly calibrated Kalart rangefinder on my Crown Graphic. I had been putting it off for over 5 years since it's quite a chore but I'm pretty happy I did it. Not as hard as it seems from the instructions but just a definite pain to do. You just gotta love instructions that require a rubberband to keep the focusing lever on the cam follower  ::)

Is this to calibrate it to a different lens focal length or to re-calibrate it back to where it was supposed to be?  I don't use the rangefinder on mine but I always understood that it's calibrated to a lens and would need to be adjusted if the lens is changed. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 15, 2019, 02:28:29 PM
This was just a recalibration.
On the Kalart finder, you can only use one lens, the 135. But on the other finders, the one on top, there are actually removable cams hidden under the top plate.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on August 27, 2019, 09:38:15 AM
Together ... the 6x6 Froglet that runs on A12 or A24 film holders, and La Rana (frog in Italian) that is a single sheet 8x10" paper shooter.

The film to pinhole distance is 115mm and the two offcentre pinholes are 0.4mm giving an F.288. I was looking at other builds and 8x10s seem to run between 85mm and 150mm - too wide or too long so I hope 115mm is a reasonable compromise. Being plywood and cherry it's solid yet light so shouldn't stress too much in a breeze the way some do.

It turns out that a small changing tent is cheaper than one 8x10 double darkslide, and if I really wanted to take multiple shots it would be lighter to carry a tent and a box of sheets than to carry any number of DDS.

I haven't shot paper negs since 2003, (it was the first step away from 35mm) but I have several boxes of Ilford paper that came from a redundant studio some ten years ago.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on August 27, 2019, 07:25:24 PM
That's a pretty looking thing, Sandeha. I'm looking forward to seeing shots taken with it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on August 27, 2019, 08:15:32 PM
Looks great Sandeha!
These cameras go very nicely together. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 27, 2019, 08:23:30 PM
Looks pretty darn good.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Matt Lethbridge LRPS on September 06, 2019, 01:18:44 PM
Looks brilliant Sandeha, can't wait to see the results......
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Matt Lethbridge LRPS on September 06, 2019, 01:20:45 PM
I've recently made a new pinhole camera from a totally knackered Ensign, it's a 6x6 - 6x9 folder, 100mm focal length, 0.3mm pinhole and works out at F/333.............
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 06, 2019, 02:24:47 PM
I think your shutter takes the cake when it comes to uniqueness ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on September 06, 2019, 02:34:08 PM
I've recently made a new pinhole camera from a totally knackered Ensign, it's a 6x6 - 6x9 folder, 100mm focal length, 0.3mm pinhole and works out at F/333.............

I did that with a folder that had a bad lens, the shutter works fine.  I adjust the bellows to different focal lengths, I have a cheat sheet taped to the back to give me the corresponding f stop. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 06, 2019, 09:01:42 PM
Did something similar with an old Ansco Viking readyset that had a rusted-out shutter.
Managed to salvage the internal parts. Could have repaired it but I decided at the time to turn it into a pinhole.
I used the parts of the shutter to make a new one so that the camera looks largely unmodified.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Flippy on September 08, 2019, 07:08:37 AM
Just acquired a Beirette K100. Lens was foggy so I took it apart, and found some rather interesting engineering. Foggy lenses seem to be a common problem on these cameras, and now I know why. The lens is a two element achromat design - but it is uncemented, and there is a thin paper washer between the elements to keep an airspace between them. I didn't know this, so when I started cleaning the glass, I was surprised to see liquid getting sucked into the lens... I had to gently break the lens apart, since the retaining ring is glued in. The upside is, I got to clean the inner surfaces that I hadn't even known existed. So the uncleanable haze these lenses tend to have, is hidden in the air space between the elements, that most achromatic lenses do not have. I suppose it saved the East Germans a penny or two on glue.

The other thing I saw was really quite clever. The shutter has three settings. Sunny, Cloudy, and B. The sunny setting is the "fast" shutter speed (looks to be about 1/60th), while the cloudy setting is not a "slow" speed - but rather an automatic double exposure.  If you're familiar with how the common rotary shutter in a box camera works, this is much the same. On the sunny setting, the slot on the rotating sector passes over the aperture, exposing the film. The sector then stops in its travel when it hits a small pin that is set in place with the shutter speed dial. When you select the cloudy setting, the pin is moved out of the way, and the sector moves further, allowing a second slot in the sector to pass over the aperture, giving a second exposure of about 1/60th (and with about the same increment of time between each exposure). So effectively you get 1/30 on the cloudy section, but it's two exposures of 1/60th. This is such a stupidly simple way of giving more exposure times, that I'm actually surprised I haven't seen it on any actual box cameras before.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 08, 2019, 03:03:22 PM
Whoo! A beirette!
You're in for quite a surprise, they were considered to be the 35mm equivalent of the holga.
The lenses had an air gap because they are made from the same type of glass. since they have the same refractive index, they can't be cemented together while maintaining the optical formula.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 18, 2019, 05:33:50 PM
Do you know what time it is? It's Contraption time!
Yep, I did it again. I had the lens of a broken Yashica 35MF zone focus camera that had been sitting in a box for a good 10 years. So I decided to adapt it so it would fit my Fed 5B.
Apart from loosing the aperture which was part of the shutter assembly and not properly clocking the lens on the screw mount, everything went pretty flawlessly.
Took me a good 3 days to figure out how the darn thing worked in order to put it back together properly (it uses one of the weirdest focusing systems I've seen in a while) but I managed to get it to infinity focus.
Here's the monster. Now I need a viewfinder for it...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on September 18, 2019, 07:45:35 PM
That is scary, François... :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: John Robison on September 18, 2019, 08:12:53 PM
Like CS1 said, scary....but neat!
I'm definitely of the DIY school of thought, "If I can mount it, I'll shoot it."
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 18, 2019, 10:11:46 PM
That is scary, François... :)
And the outside isn't half as scary as the inside :)
I should say that Epoxy Steel like JB Weld is really good stuff. It makes your mistakes last forever!  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on October 20, 2019, 12:51:21 AM
I ran a roll of film in my Primo Jr 4x4 TLR and I only got two good exposures -- along with 2 dark squares and 8 blank shots.  At first I thought there might be something wrong with the film advance mechanism but I ran a roll of backing paper through and it went through fine. Then I noticed that the shutter would be balky -- either not close all the way (black squares) or not really fire at all (blank shots), which I hadn't noticed before thinking I just couldn't see it, but checking it at slow speeds I could tell something was wrong.

So I got out the lighter fluid and luckily found online a blog post with photos of a disassembly of a Primo Jr so I knew where to go digging under the tolex to remove the screws holding the face plate, which I had to remove to unscrew the outer lens so I could get to the shutter.

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/1f10c6e5d1210ee3c2e0cb508fbd625c_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=600)   

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/42fd92b08fe23f0b48e3a23ff3f29068_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=600)

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/d183b753020dfa0e7de7745986186258_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=600)


After a lot of repeated swabbing with a naptha-soaked q-tip and sopping up dissolved dirt with a dry q-tip, it seems to work fine now.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 20, 2019, 03:12:24 PM
Good thing it didn't require digging into the clockwork.
BTW, when I take a camera apart, I use an ice cube tray to keep the parts in groups. One cube by step.
Makes it easier to put things back together.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on October 20, 2019, 08:05:59 PM
Yeah, the pic of the film advance gearworks here scares me immensely

https://oldcam.wordpress.com/2016/05/07/primo-jr-rtf/
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 20, 2019, 09:34:32 PM
Well, at least they have a single possible position, pretty big screws and only one layer.
I've completely dismantled a few leaf shutters down to the aperture blades and let me tell you, this is a whole other thing.
Gears over gears, levers galore, and aperture blades are such a pain to put together right since the last one goes over the next to last one and under the first one you put in... Last time it took me about half an hour with massive swearing bouts before I got them to work. And I don't swear in regular daily life, so that tells you how much I enjoyed it!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on October 28, 2019, 07:16:50 AM
Got to fix this...

(https://i.imgur.com/EWZay2ml.jpg)

The intermittent slow speeds I knew about, also the loose mirror in the rangefinder. But another mirror was completely missing and the semi-silvered mirror was beyond saving and had to be replaced. (Note for people in the UK, semi silvered mirrors can be got from http://greenweld.co.uk/ (http://greenweld.co.uk/))

The meter is a very simple affair and battery voltage dependent, which wasn't a problem with mercury batteries but more of a problem now. So I modified it to be voltage independent. I've got a zinc air type battery in it now which are stable but don't last too long. With the modified circuit, it can use silver oxide or alkaline.

It takes pretty decent pictures...

(https://i.imgur.com/oUvA3LCl.jpg)

but I don't like the bokeh.

(https://i.imgur.com/Y5HesaBl.jpg)

Not a problem as the camera's already sold so I won't be using it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 28, 2019, 01:20:13 PM
Nice to see that you managed to fix the beast. I still haven't gathered all my courage to fix the aperture blade on mine
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Moto-uno on November 16, 2019, 09:35:34 PM
  Needed a bit of work  :( , this is a shout out to Richard Oleson for his detailed drawings that were of great help after my clean and lube went awry !  Peter
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 16, 2019, 10:06:47 PM
Well... that was quite something.
Hopefully you won't find in six months that small spring that needs to go somewhere  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Moto-uno on November 17, 2019, 12:38:19 AM
 ^ It's as though you'd seen a previous repair of mine on a Kowa Six . I didn't just loose the springs , I melted them ! Actually ended up making springs from a box of scrap camera parts . I should see if I can find any pics from that exercise in patience  :) . Peter
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Moto-uno on November 17, 2019, 12:44:14 AM
  I should also mention , I had one Pentacon Six TL that I was able to repair and ordered a custom camera skin from "Asahi ", to finish it off . Well , what if the gentleman didn't send another custom skin with the first . That led to another camera to add the skin to , which led to another for parts to repair it...., Peter
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on November 17, 2019, 09:29:21 AM
Aki-Asahi always send an extra set of covers to 'practice' with. Often it's in some horrible colour I would never use but sometimes they are quite nice and usable. A recent one they sent me was in tartan finish. I'm just waiting for someone from Scotland to ask me for a Contax 139 and I'm on it.

Here's an Aki freebie that I thought was quite nice.

(https://i.imgur.com/lk8Wegnl.jpg)

And as this is the 'I just made/fixed' thread, I could mention this particular camera was made from spare parts out of my spare parts drawer. More info here (https://contax139.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-bitser.html).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: MrclSchprs on November 17, 2019, 01:10:49 PM
... Here's an Aki freebie that I thought was quite nice ...

Not so long ago, I "fixed" my LX and it shows a somewhat remarkable resemblance ....

(http://s3.marcelschepers.com/misc/mylx.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on November 17, 2019, 01:46:46 PM
Maybe we should have a new thread "show us your new covers - red only"

(https://i.imgur.com/SccBBa2l.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 17, 2019, 02:14:03 PM
I've got a few cameras that need new coverings... Maybe I should start thinking about getting this done.

^ It's as though you'd seen a previous repair of mine on a Kowa Six . I didn't just loose the springs , I melted them ! Actually ended up making springs from a box of scrap camera parts . I should see if I can find any pics from that exercise in patience  :) . Peter
How in the world did you manage to melt a spring? :o
I've done some breakage of all sorts but that would definitely be a first....
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on November 17, 2019, 04:12:29 PM
I've got a few cameras that need new coverings... Maybe I should start thinking about getting this done.

Then maybe a good time to make some comments about replacement covers suppliers.

Aki-Asahi: Almost no complaints. Price is good and quick delivery. I've had a couple of covers that didn't stick very well but they immediately sent replacements. Choice of colours and finishes is a bit limited.

HugoStudio: Only used them once (the red croc in the picture above). Not great quality - thin and very shiny so little grip. Came with glue on the surface of one piece making it unusable. They are sending a replacement but I just got a very curt, one line, email to say they are sending it. No apology and no concern. I probably won't use them again. Good choice though.

CameraLeather: Don't even ask. Not sure they are still in business but if they are, just don't. OK?

Milly's (https://cameramill.co.uk/): Limited choice but always excellent service. They use goat skin (I think) which is quite soft and grippy if you like that sort of thing.

Maybe others have opinions.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 17, 2019, 09:30:07 PM
Yeah, heard the same thing about CameraLeather. Some people got billed and never received their stuff. Others got the wrong orders. And the guy doesn't answer his emails. Probably a case for the BBB...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Moto-uno on November 17, 2019, 11:16:23 PM

  This is a picture of the repair I had to do to get the Kowa operational again . Pretty much the single most common source of camera failure . The single tooth on the main wind mechanism fails and I decided to use the carbide tooth from a wood saw blade and actually brazed it in place with an oxy-acetylene torch . Got a bit hot and the wiggly home made spring is what I came up with , still works fine . Words of encouragement from Ross Yerkes kept me from tossing the whole camera . And that's how I melted a spring ::).  Peter
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 18, 2019, 03:03:30 PM
I'm mighty impressed.
But things like that can't happen to me since I don't weld much. Instead I get everything stuck together using JB Weld and then have to use the Dremel to try and get everything free again...
I've also got a few parts stuck to my fingers using CA glue.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on November 23, 2019, 08:37:46 AM

  This is a picture of the repair I had to do to get the Kowa operational again . Pretty much the single most common source of camera failure . The single tooth on the main wind mechanism fails and I decided to use the carbide tooth from a wood saw blade and actually brazed it in place with an oxy-acetylene torch . Got a bit hot and the wiggly home made spring is what I came up with , still works fine . Words of encouragement from Ross Yerkes kept me from tossing the whole camera . And that's how I melted a spring ::).  Peter

That's an impressive bit of camera repairing. Well done! It reminds me of the saying "experience is directly proportional to the amount of equipment ruined" which doesn't even apply to you because you made it work in the end. :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Moto-uno on November 24, 2019, 11:02:00 PM
  ^Thanks for your remark , I didn't mention that the entire camera repair (including lens and film back repair ) was a mere 123 hours !
Without being retired this would still be on the desk a year later . The mechanics of these cameras truly intrigues me :), Peter
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on November 27, 2019, 07:27:27 PM
This is the Kodak Signet 35 that I posted about in the "Dont you just love found pictures?" thread http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=6295.msg134163#msg134163 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=6295.msg134163#msg134163).  The shutter wasn't working, the beam splitter silver was gone, the lens was dirty and the viewfinder was dirty.  I cleaned the lens, opened the shutter and gave it a lighter fluid rinse.  I took the top off and replaced the beam splitter with one out of a non-working Minolta Hi-Matic F.  I cleaned all the viewfinder and rangefinder windows and internal glass.  I adjusted and calibrated the rangefinder.  Cleaned it up and put it back together.  Using the beam splitter from the Minolta makes the rangefinder better than the original.  It has a yellow tint that makes it much easier to see.  Even though I already had one of these I couldn't pass this one up, especially since I had the Minolta for parts.  These are great little rangefinders with a nice sharp Kodak 44mm Ektar lens. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on November 30, 2019, 01:44:14 PM
Two little 6x9 cuties with new bellows. Both dated around 1930 and both in excellent condition.

Left: Butcher Watch Pocket Carbine with the upmarket Cooke 4" 5.6 Anastigmat lens.

Right: Kodak No2 Hawkette with a Bakelite body and a meniscus lens. Never on sale but given away as premium scheme merch.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49146165336_fbd0cd9e93_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hSSWJd)
IMGP9652xx (https://flic.kr/p/2hSSWJd) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 30, 2019, 03:17:55 PM
I'm such a sucker for Bakelite stuff....
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on December 19, 2019, 04:18:59 PM
(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/bc7c3430fdcd1343fa1697202d21d4c4_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=600)


When I was working to set up my Koniflex for flash, I noticed the flash terminal (old-style Kodak bayonet) was loose. So I decided to open it up and tighten it. I was hoping I could get in there by removing the viewfinder assembly but no such luck. I had to take off the front plate. In order to take off the front plate, I needed to screw off the view lens. No biggie. Except when I unscrewed it, I noticed this weird slip/pop. Oh well, I was able to tighten the terminal and so started to put it back together.

I found out when trying to put it back together that someone previously had stripped the view lens threads but managed to get it together. The stripped threads part was what I heard when I unscrewed it. I figured if the other person was able to have it hold together I could too. But I couldn't. I mourned. I cursed my flashy ambitions. I looked on ebay for a parts Koniflex.

The same guy I bought my original Koniflex from in Taiwan had a parts Koniflex also -- advance didn't work, back wouldn't close, taking lens outer element badly scratched. Perfect!

So it arrived in two days and I went to work. The view lens on the parts camera was very difficult to screw off, which caused me great anxiety, but with the aid of a special pliers, I got it off. 60 year-old grease = glue. Let some fine oil soak in around the threads for a day beforehand.

I took the whole lens plate assembly from the parts camera and installed it on the original camera's focusing mechanism (very easy to do - 4 screws). And I took the outer taking lens element from the original camera and screwed it onto the newly installed lens plate assembly from the parts camera. Added bonuses: the parts camera shutter has more accurate times and Bulb works, unlike on my original camera (but I wonder about the utility of Bulb mode on a camera that doesn't have a way to use a cable release -- I can always jam toothpicks in the mechanism, I guess); and the new lens plate assembly has a PC flash socket so no more spliced old bayonet flash terminals and M bulb early flash times to compensate for. I also took the ground glass and viewfinder latch from the parts camera because they were better than what was on the original camera.

So the last thing to do was test the new Koniflexenstein.
https://www.hookstrapped.com/album/koniflex-enstein-hp5-tests (https://www.hookstrapped.com/album/koniflex-enstein-hp5-tests)

It passed! Thank goodness...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on December 19, 2019, 04:38:43 PM
That's a great piece of work, done, and successful shots following.
I think the wonderful thing is getting over the initial feeling that a camera is fubar ... and then sometimes little more than a few emails can bring in a donor.
And it's always nice to have a working TLR.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on December 19, 2019, 05:14:16 PM
Nice job Peter!  I would have been worried about the focus, I know sometimes that's adjusted with shims when the camera is manufactured but it looks like you where successful.  I just recently purchased a 6X6 ground glass for checking focus on my medium format rangefinders, it works great and there is a seller on eBay that sells them fairly cheap. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on December 19, 2019, 05:47:28 PM
Yeah, the focus was what I was worried about. I screwed in the view lens until it gave correct apparent focus -- testing at infinity and 4 feet. But the question was the taking lens.

Unlike my Mamiya C220 that has shims that adjust where the ground glass sets, the Koniflex doesn't. Maybe because the view lens screws in with no definite seating.

But there are shims at the 4 screws connecting the lens plate assembly to the focus assembly, and both cameras had 2 shims (thin washers) at those points, so that was encouraging.

Anyway, I'm very happy and relieved. I love my Koniflex and I thought I had rendered it unusable  :'( but as it turned out everything is fine  :D 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 19, 2019, 10:08:13 PM
Looks like you had better luck than me with my Retinette 1A...
I'll have to take another stab at it sometime...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 08, 2020, 09:14:06 PM
Just re-lubed my Nikkor 50mm f/1.8.... again.
First grease was too thick, so this time I put just a small dab of moly grease with a paintbrush. It seems I still put too much in but at least it's usable.

I've come to a point where I can do the job in about ½ hour, including setting infinity.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on February 05, 2020, 04:38:44 PM
So, as I mentioned (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=6181.msg134309#msg134309) over in the 'I just picked up' thread, I got a Yasuhara T981 recently. What I 'fixed' was just about everything. At least, that's how it feels after disassembling it four times. The highlights included several modifications around the rangefinder to make it work better and to make it easier to adjust. Some modification to the meter circuit to improve the LED display and some grinding and lubricating of the, very unusual, offset rewind crank which didn't help much but it's now usable. I also added a grip and used up some blue leather I had left over to recover it.

I also bought a Jupiter 8 lens to go with it which needed a complete strip down as the focus was so stiff you almost needed a wrench to move it. And I'm working on the lens that came with it as it wouldn't focus on infinity. I've taken out a shim but haven't tested it yet.

Here's a few random pictures.

(https://i.imgur.com/AQzh18nl.jpg)
Top plate parts

(https://i.imgur.com/52l3yevl.jpg)
Top plate off

(https://i.imgur.com/whCUXjcl.jpg)
Front plate, lens mount and rangefinder assembly

(https://i.imgur.com/uxcJAKBl.jpg)
Chassis with shutter

(https://i.imgur.com/ou1W4WFl.jpg)
Individual resistors added to each display LED so brightness could be adjusted. Previously there was one resistor for all.

(https://i.imgur.com/NEguHc0l.jpg)
Rangefinder in bits

(https://i.imgur.com/9rQsa1xl.jpg)
With the Jupiter 8 and added grip
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on February 05, 2020, 04:49:54 PM
Wow!  :o
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 05, 2020, 09:55:18 PM
That is one heck of a teardown.
That reminds me of all the cameras I have that need fixing... some of them are really not obvious.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on March 16, 2020, 03:43:39 PM
This is the last one, as the wood is finished and I'm not planning to buy more. I used up the last of the maple and the cherry, and also requisitioned a gear and pinion from a damaged Hasselblad A12 to turn the winding gear of the Fuji GX680 film insert. Careful positioning, and the fact that the gear teeth are a perfect match, means that it winds on very, very smoothly.

I could potentially get 9 shots out of a 6x8 but it's sure to be less than that, and some wide gaps, until I narrow down the number of turns for each frame. If I get six from the first roll I'll be fine with that.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49662471071_c501f3621d_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iEv9re)
IMGP9841a (https://flic.kr/p/2iEv9re) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49662752252_aeeac57bf1_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwA2b)
IMGP9829a (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwA2b) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49662752302_44aa04cfde_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwA33)
IMGP9825a (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwA33) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49662737207_01c0f538a4_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwvxM)
IMGP9822a (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwvxM) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49662737077_079ac4b8a1_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwvvx)
IMGP9815a (https://flic.kr/p/2iEwvvx) by Sandeha Lynch (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sandeha/), on Flickr

The Sessantotto pinhole camera is a 6x8 with a 45mm pinfilm distance and a 0.25mm pinhole disk. It equates approximately to the same angle of view as a 20mm lens on a 135 camera. As such, it fills the gap between my other 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9, 120 roll film pinhole cameras.

Unusually for me, I started out with some sketches, but the final details were still completed as a 3D design-as-you-go project.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 16, 2020, 09:12:49 PM
Looks pretty darn good.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on March 16, 2020, 09:31:07 PM
That's a great way to re-purpose a 220 back.  Nice job Sandeha!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on March 17, 2020, 05:08:33 AM
That's a really pretty looking camera!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on March 23, 2020, 08:39:22 PM
Last summer I picked up an Olympus OM-10 from a street market for 15 pounds. Brought it with me on my vacation, but found the controls fiddly and cumbersome. Seeing that the "real" OMs have the same type of controls I decided not to go any further with the OM system. Besides I need another SLR system like I need the plague. But the lens, a Zuiko 50mm f1.8 is too nice to let go, so I ordered a lens conversion kit from Leitax. All that is needed is a suitable screwdriver and the spring removal tool seen to the left in the picture. This came with the set. The other parts are left over after the conversion. Stop-down metering is the price you pay, but it's OK when you set the camera to aperture priority auto.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 23, 2020, 09:17:31 PM
Didn't know such kits existed... I'll have to look into this.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: rotarysmp on March 31, 2020, 03:08:39 PM
I finished my Instafrankenroid yesterday. The build was documented in video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgzRbOfX9Ao (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgzRbOfX9Ao)

Mark

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: zapsnaps on March 31, 2020, 05:43:26 PM
Wow - that's quite an intensive mod - enjoy the camera and I hope to see the results of it on here soon.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: rotarysmp on March 31, 2020, 09:13:47 PM
Thanks. It was more extensive than I originally planned. I'll be posting photos to the weekend threads.
Mark
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on March 31, 2020, 10:33:55 PM
Last year I picked up two Kodak Bantam Specials at an estate sale.  One has a slight amount of mold in the lens but everything else was in good condition.  The other was in excellent condition except the bellows were shot.  Every time I tried to patch a hole another showed up.  I measured the bellows and found something close for sale on eBay.  The only thing I couldn't find was instructions for taking the camera apart to replace the bellows. 

http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=6181.msg133844#msg133844 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=6181.msg133844#msg133844)

After an inquiry on Photorio someone gave me fairly detailed instructions for replacing them.  It's not easy, I spent the better part of Sunday working on it.  The bellows I bought measured 2 inches wide and 1 3/4 inches tall, no taper.  I was able to get them to work, the original bellow do have a taper.  The fit was fairly close in the front, the rear fit great top to bottom but it was small side to side.  Side to side I didn't have enough material to wrap it around the frame so I just glued it really good to the front of the frame. 

The bellows may just barely interfere with the picture on the sides but I won't know for sure until I run a roll of film through it.  There may also be some focus adjustment I still need to do but it looks good on a ground glass.  The film gate that has to be removed has adjustments for fine tuning the focus.  You can't remove the rear frame for the bellows without removing the adjustment screws so it has to be re-adjusted when it's put back together. 

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: rotarysmp on April 01, 2020, 10:42:49 AM
Cool camera. I like the style of the stripes on the sides.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 01, 2020, 02:24:56 PM
Just do a reverse collimation. It's really easy to do and costs less than a roll of film.
That's how I always adjust the focus on my cameras.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on April 01, 2020, 09:16:00 PM
In the Mike Eckman piece, "Eleven Unfortunately Named Cameras", he included the Minoltina AL-S (along with its big brother the Minolta AL-S). The Minoltina really intrigued me as I had never heard of it before and it sported a 40mm f1.8 Rokkor. Found one real cheap (under the alternate name Minoltina S) from one of those vintage junk sellers on etsy not knowledgeable about cameras. I figured the leaf shutter would be gummed up and read that they were easy to clean so went and ordered it.

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/deb59d73a1ce2dde2bda20d32ae1b6ec_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=650)

Anyway, part way through the fix a couple pieces sprung out of the shutter and I got a bit confused so put it away. I was sad because it seems like a real nifty little camera. Anyway, I woke up last night thinking about it and decided to give it another try. Success!

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/4b0ee008522bbeaed5122b8f57b41e43_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=650)


The shutter speeds sound about right. Will check them later. The aperture blades are clean, the glass looks great. The selenium cell works but seems to be off, registering things much brighter than they are. Might just set it on a lower ASA or use my Gossen like I do for everything.

The rangefinder patch was almost invisible. I found Rick Oleson's fix of putting a little piece of electrical tape in the middle of the viewfinder and it works. So, tomorrow on my essential exercise walk, I will test it out.

Addendum to the rangefinder patch fix: I was wondering if there might be a more elegant fix -- along the same lines but without the distracting black blob in the middle of the frame. Some people use colored gels, some use a sharpie. So I used a colored sharpie. Much better!

(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/10ad172def29318cc0ea49e6308b2f47_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=650)

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 01, 2020, 10:28:51 PM
Great that you managed to find those flying parts to put it back together.
I probably have a few cameras that are missing that elusive little spring or ball bearing that makes the whole thing work...
And some day I'll probably find a small spring or ball bearing and wonder where the heck it goes.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on April 02, 2020, 10:30:33 AM
Well, I did have a screw left over when I put it back together. Hate it when that happens. Fortunately, it wasn't many steps back.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 02, 2020, 03:05:06 PM
That's why I use an ice cube tray to store the screws when I take something apart. It makes it a bit easier to trace back the steps.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 03, 2020, 02:28:59 AM
Just do a reverse collimation. It's really easy to do and costs less than a roll of film.
That's how I always adjust the focus on my cameras.

Just collimated it using the instructions in the link below, I don’t know if that’s “Reverse Collimation”.  It looks like I had it pretty close.  I have a roll drying right now from before I collimated it, I’ll see if I can notice a difference on the next roll.  I used my Bronica ETRSi to collimated it, that’s the only SLR I have with a waist level finder.  The magnifier helps a lot with my bad eyes.  Re-checked the rangefinder, it’s dead on.

http://elekm.net/zeiss-ikon/repair/collimate/] [url]http://elekm.net/zeiss-ikon/repair/collimate/ (http://[url)[/url]
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 03, 2020, 02:20:34 PM
My usual setup involves a 35mm SLR witn a 210 zoom
The more magnification the viewing camera has, the more precise you can be with the collimation.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 03, 2020, 03:34:09 PM
My usual setup involves a 35mm SLR witn a 210 zoom
The more magnification the viewing camera has, the more precise you can be with the collimation.

I used a 250mm lens.  The only adjustment the Bantam Special has is 3 screws on the film gate, the 4th screw is not adjustable.  Maybe they only intended to use the screws to level the gate to the 4th screw. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 03, 2020, 09:15:06 PM
Probably.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on April 07, 2020, 12:46:51 PM
Test pics from my Minoltina S

http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=10035.0 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=10035.0)

Kinda amazed it works.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 14, 2020, 04:36:42 PM
Yesterday we had a power failure that lasted most of the day, so I got the bright stupid idea of fixing a long broken Nikkor 28-70 f/3.5 zoom lens...
Anybody ever tried to finish fixing-up a lens with a flashlight?
Anybody ever tried to fix a broken Nikkor zoom? I don't think I've ever seen so much Mickey Mouse engineering in my life!
The focus is fixed and held by a strip of Scotch tape. There are some parts that make no sense. A lot of things are overly complicated. They glued-on the circuit board after the lens was assembled, do that if you need to get to the aperture, you have to dismantle the whole thing. Every friggin screw is held with varnish. And if you tighten the bayonet screws too much, the whole lens stops working! There are also not 1 but 2 zoom stops...
And after working for many hours to take the darn thing apart twice, I did manage to get it to work.
Now, I really pity the Nikon repairmen who have to go through this every day...

This is what my desk looked like at dismantling number 1
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on April 14, 2020, 04:51:39 PM
That's why I only work on the most basic lenses.  I tried taking a zoom lens apart once, it's in a landfill somewhere now.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 14, 2020, 09:25:03 PM
What I find kind of crazy is that I once took apart a Minolta lens and it was a dream to work on it. Each disassembly step had different screws in different numbers.
I once re-lubed a manual focus 50mm Nikkor and I was surprised at how easy it was to work on, though not as clear cut as the Minolta one.
But this thing? Sheesh...
And you should see the hair thin springs that control the aperture. Just grabbing them with tweezers induces a catastrophic deformation... and the lens has two of those.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: John Robison on April 14, 2020, 09:31:09 PM
My eyes have grown dim with a fixed focus at about 30 inches. Now if I want to work on small fiddly camera stuff I wear +2.5 readers at least and if it's really tiny then go to a +6 strength! Just about need bright sunlight on the workpiece with a visor to keep it out of my eyes.
Getting old, (but not mature).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on April 14, 2020, 10:54:58 PM
That's why I only work on the most basic lenses.  I tried taking a zoom lens apart once, it's in a landfill somewhere now.

Isn't that where most zoom lenses belong?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 14, 2020, 11:05:36 PM
Well, some of them are not that bad.

Now if I want to work on small fiddly camera stuff I wear +2.5 readers at least
I did resort to using some 1.25 readers for those annoyingly small springs.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 03, 2020, 09:46:25 PM
Does this count?

Having lots of time on my hands, I'm getting things done I would probably never have got around to otherwise. So a new tool rack appeared today. Just for my more frequently used camera repair tools that, up until now, have lived loose on my desk. The wood was from a long since gone garden table.

(https://i.imgur.com/FFyQGVv.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 03, 2020, 09:49:26 PM
Does this count?

Having lots of time on my hands, I'm getting things done I would probably never have got around to otherwise. So a new tool rack appeared today. Just for my more frequently used camera repair tools that, up until now, have lived loose on my desk. The wood was from a long since gone garden table.

Nice, I need to make something like that.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 04, 2020, 03:24:49 PM
Definitely looks like a better option than my current plastic shoe box full of tools...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 12, 2020, 06:05:28 PM
Had a camera sent to me for repair. What a state. Looks like it was stored in a garden shed for a couple of decades. I decided to strip it back to a near bare chassis to clean it.

(https://i.imgur.com/ArS4CaTl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/s9XnVGLl.jpg)

A bit later...

(https://i.imgur.com/mRv06sil.jpg)

I think the previous owner thought an oily rag was the best option to clean the mirror

(https://i.imgur.com/G9Soogxl.jpg)

Most of it came off though.

And three days later, everything is looking much better.

(https://i.imgur.com/nHsMtWKl.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 12, 2020, 09:05:19 PM
Wow!
What a change!

I had a filter that had one of those oily residues that even 90% isopropyl couldn't clean. I decided to hit it with some acetone on a lens cleaning paper and it came out the cleanest I've ever seen without any effort. It could be the solution for that mirror.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on May 12, 2020, 09:42:36 PM
Shed cameras really are the worst (or nearly). Btw Peter, someone was asking me about repairs to the older Contax rangefinder recently. Do you overhaul those as well?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 12, 2020, 09:50:41 PM
Wow!
What a change!

I had a filter that had one of those oily residues that even 90% isopropyl couldn't clean. I decided to hit it with some acetone on a lens cleaning paper and it came out the cleanest I've ever seen without any effort. It could be the solution for that mirror.

IPA did it. But some of the silvering had gone but not enough to justify replacing it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 12, 2020, 09:54:14 PM
Shed cameras really are the worst (or nearly). Btw Peter, someone was asking me about repairs to the older Contax rangefinder recently. Do you overhaul those as well?

Maybe the same person who asked me. I used to do a bit with the post war versions but not the pre war ones. But it's been a long time since I worked on one and would rather not. I don't know anyone else who works on them either.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 13, 2020, 10:28:25 AM
Next up was a Yashica 50/1.4 with a seized aperture. Never taken one of these apart before - what a pain. Probably didn't need to dismantle it as much as I did but it wasn't obvious how the aperture assembly came out. Turned out it was partly glued.

(https://i.imgur.com/REimuS8l.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/rMfRUr5l.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 16, 2020, 06:20:49 PM
Painted another Hawkeye.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49901436753_ee4d29c9e7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2j2BUBc)Brownie Hawkeye Green &amp; Orange (https://flic.kr/p/2j2BUBc) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr

This is all of them.  All the painted ones have the lens flipped and have been modified to take a 120 feed spool.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49901436468_02e918c316_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2j2BUwh)Hawkeyes (https://flic.kr/p/2j2BUwh) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 16, 2020, 09:52:56 PM
Ooooh!
Nice and shiny...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on May 17, 2020, 09:33:46 AM
Great job, Bryan! Can you elaborate how exactly you went about painting it? Do you use a primer? Do you spray paint? I think that the boxes look brilliant!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 17, 2020, 07:55:02 PM
Great job, Bryan! Can you elaborate how exactly you went about painting it? Do you use a primer? Do you spray paint? I think that the boxes look brilliant!

It's a lot of intricate masking tape work.  First I take it apart as far as I need to.  Remove the metal front lens/viewfinder plate, take photos of how everything will need to go back together.  It's quite simple but there are some parts that can go in two different ways.  If you have the older non-flash model the name plate on the front unscrews so you don't have to mask that.  On the flash models it's riveted so you have to mask it.  The metal film wind knob also unscrews on the non-flash model. 

Next I remove the film holder which also holds the lens in place.  It's just two screws, very simple.  Some people remove the shutter and buttons but this gets more complicated and is necessary unless you want to paint the buttons.  The buttons have a fairly tight tolerance, I would worry that the paint will make them rub and interfere with use.  On the film holder you took out there's a metal tab on the feed reel side that prevents a larger 120 reel from being used,  Bend that until it breaks off so you don't have to re-spool onto 620 reels, you will still need a 620 take-up reel.  Also, note which way the lens is facing, the tapered side of the plastic housing faces the film, you can flip this when you put it back together.

On the back part of the body the only thing you can remove is the latch/strap holder.  There's a retaining ring on the inside of the chamber, you can push this off with a large screw driver, be careful not to slip and damage anything.  Note how it all goes back together.  The back of the strap is riveted so that will need to be carefully taped up.  Also the red window will need to be carefully taped, also be careful when removing the tape, it's easy to damage the red window. 

Before any taping I clean the camera really well.  I use Dawn dish soap and water then quickly dry everything.  This removes grease and dirt really well.  Get into all the little nooks and crannies.  The problem with Bakelite is it doesn't do well getting wet, it can start to swell and the finish can get ruined.  That's why you need to dry it quickly.  If you use rubbing alcohol do it quickly and stop, this can destroy the finish if you do it too much.

On both body pieces I tape everything that I don't want to get paint on.  This includes the groove parts where the two halves go back together.  Also where the latch rubs against the plastic on both halves of the body.  If you don't tape that it will be hard to open and close the camera.  On the front half I tape up the buttons and knob and the front where the metal plate came off.  Also the name plate and the flash buttons.  Get a good brand of tape, 3M or Scotch, the cheap stuff either doesn't stick well or can be difficult to remove. 

For all the detailed taping an Exacto knife and a tooth pick come in handy for cutting and pressing little bits of tape into small crevices.  After all the detailed stuff is taped I run some wide masking tape across the openings of the two halves to seal them off. 

A primer coat will help make the paint stick much better, less chance of chipping off.  Some paints say they are paint and primer in one but a dedicated primer coat is better.  I usually do two light coats of paint followed by a clear coat when I am happy with the coverage.  Let it dry at least 24 hours before you take the tape off and put it back together, the paint will be soft and easily damaged before that. 

When it comes to choosing colors, I let my wife do that, she's much better with things like that. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on May 17, 2020, 09:08:32 PM
Bryan, Those really look terrific. Well done.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 17, 2020, 09:21:31 PM
Also, using a separate primer in a light color will make the top coat pop. Applying color to a black body always turns out dull.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on May 18, 2020, 12:46:57 AM
Very cool!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 18, 2020, 02:40:26 AM
While I had the spray paint going I re-purposed this slide carousel into a clock for my wife's sewing room.   After scanning my father's slides and putting them into boxes to save space I tried to sell the carousels on eBay with no luck.  I have an idea to make a lamp as well.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on May 18, 2020, 03:04:32 AM
That's beautiful Bryan! I'm sure you can sell those on ebay!! ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 18, 2020, 02:24:50 PM
Never thought of doing anything like that.
I had a ton of hanimex carousels that I ended up simply throwing in the trash.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 20, 2020, 07:30:04 PM
I got this Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic a while back but the bellows were in worse shape than the Dead Sea Scrolls.  The rest of the camera is in really good condition.  I have another one of these with the meniscus lens that is in really good condition but I wanted to try this one with the Rapid Rectilinear lens.  I was able to salvage enough of the bellows to create a pattern.  This is my first attempt at making bellows and I went into this knowing that small bellows like this are more difficult.  One of the problems is getting blackout fabric as thin as what Kodak used.  One option would be to paint silk with acrylic paint.  Instead I used an old film changing bag that had a tear in it that I had been saving for something like this. 

After making the pattern I made a paper mock up to make sure it was going to go together properly and fit in the camera.  My paper model leaves something to be desired but it seemed to fit.  For the first bellows I made I used a thick photo paper.  I printed the pattern on the paper, cut out the pieces then used glued them onto the coated side of the fabric.  This fit in the camera fine but it was not going to come close to closing all the way. 

Next I printed the pattern on regular paper and made the bellows the same way as before hoping the thinner paper would be enough to make the camera close better.  I found that the heavier stock paper made it much easier to fold the bellows but the paper did work.  It comes really close to closing all the way, hopefully with some use it will loosen up a bit and close.  It doesn't take much force to close it down all the way, one side actually latches shut.  At least I can use it now and I learned how to make bellows, something I've been wanting to try for some time. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 20, 2020, 07:30:36 PM
The finished product.

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 20, 2020, 09:01:38 PM
Pretty good for a first try.
I do agree that the fabric looks like it's a bit on the thick side though.
But with fabric stores still closed, you just make do with what you've got.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 20, 2020, 09:50:17 PM
Pretty good for a first try.
I do agree that the fabric looks like it's a bit on the thick side though.
But with fabric stores still closed, you just make do with what you've got.

This guy paints silk, I think that's the way to go.  I bet that's what the original Kodak Bellows are.

http://salihonbashome.blogspot.com/2009/06/bellows-in-silk.html (http://salihonbashome.blogspot.com/2009/06/bellows-in-silk.html)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 21, 2020, 02:53:35 PM
Funny because I'd be afraid that the paint would add too much thickness.
But I guess that if you go lightly with a spray can it could just fill the voids.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 21, 2020, 03:29:51 PM
Funny because I'd be afraid that the paint would add too much thickness.
But I guess that if you go lightly with a spray can it could just fill the voids.

He doesn’t go into detail on how he paints them but it sounds like he lightly brushes it on until he can’t see light through it anymore.  Not sure if that’s done before or after the bellows are made, probably before since that would make inspecting for light leaks easier.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 21, 2020, 03:56:29 PM
If he uses acrylic paint, it will also work like an adhesive if the paint seeps to the underlayer.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 28, 2020, 05:55:22 PM
I repurposed a few more slide carousel's, another clock and a tiki torch centerpiece, both for the back patio.  I have about 37 more carousels so any ideas for them would be helpful. 

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 28, 2020, 09:09:36 PM
Insect cottage?
Large lamp base?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on June 11, 2020, 06:22:11 PM
I got one of these with too many problems to list

(https://i.imgur.com/hTMhYf2l.jpg)

and did this to it

(https://i.imgur.com/GoPN8Oxl.jpg)

and now it works. Yay!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on June 11, 2020, 08:21:34 PM
Excellent!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on June 11, 2020, 08:55:44 PM
Excellent indeed! But it looks a bit scary, did you have a repair manual or did you just make notes as you went along? I have a Petri 7S that could need the same treatment, one day I might pull myself together and get it done.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 11, 2020, 09:18:01 PM
Those things can sometimes turn into a nightmare if you don't separate the screws properly.

I took one look at the instruction on how to take apart a Retinette and went Nope...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on June 12, 2020, 10:28:03 AM
Excellent indeed! But it looks a bit scary, did you have a repair manual or did you just make notes as you went along? I have a Petri 7S that could need the same treatment, one day I might pull myself together and get it done.
No manual. All the fixed lens rangefinders are generally the same construction. As long as to take a few pictures along the way. I did have an issue where all the shutter leaves just fell out but I found a picture of how they went back. Usually you can find someone who's done it before.

I did a Petri 7s once. Too long ago to remember any details but don't think there were any issues.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: cs1 on June 12, 2020, 08:35:59 PM
That's a really lovely looking Konica, Peter. Good job! I have this thing for Konicas. This doesn't help. ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on June 17, 2020, 09:07:15 PM
I just finished my second set of bellows.  This was for a Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic Model B that I have had lying around for a while.  In addition to bad bellows it's still missing a few parts but it's still usable.  Sandeha saw what I was doing on the other one and sent me some fabric that he uses.  His fabric is definitely thinner than what I used on the first one so I will be getting more of it. 

I did a few things different on this set.  Instead of gluing the tabs onto the fabric I printed the pattern on a sheet of self adhesive label paper, the full sheet type (Avery 8165).  This made it a little easier but it probably won't work as well on larger bellows.  I also painted the bellows with flat black acrylic paint, not sure this was really necessary though.  My bellows are still far from perfect but I'm learning a little each time and some tips from Sandeha helped. 

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50014275058_f7ede363f2.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jcAevd)Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic Model B (https://flic.kr/p/2jcAevd) by Bryan Chernick (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60348236@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on July 12, 2020, 12:33:24 AM
A few years ago this Leica IIIc started giving me problems, so I wrote "shutter problem" on some masking tape and stuck it to the bottom.  This weekend I decided to try to figure it out.  I took some video of the shutter moving with my iPhone using the Slow Motion setting.  I looked at that frame by frame and could see the first shutter curtain was bouncing back into the frame and didn't move until the second curtain pushed it on.  This Leica IIIc is a bit rough and I have never sent it in for servicing.  I think I bought it because of the lens that was on it.  The slow speeds didn't work when I got it so I took it apart and cleaned the slow speed escapement.  I used it for several rolls before it started giving me problems. 

I found this manual, linked below, that talks about adjusting the shutter brake eccentric to stop the shutter bounce.  The shutter brake eccentric is a small offset wheel that controls the amount of braking pressure.  Not having a tool to adjust it I sharpened one of my forked screw drivers with a Dremel grinding wheel.  After each adjustment I shot a slow motion video to see what was happening.  Too much brake and the first shutter curtain stopped before it exited the frame.  To little brake and it still bounced.  It took very small adjustments to get it to where it was braking just right. 

By the way, I didn't have to take the camera all the way apart to make these adjustments.  Just need to take the bottom plate off that says "Stop! Nicht weiter herausziehen".  While I had it apart I cleaned the shutter gears and checked the curtains for leaks.  Now I need to put a test roll in and see how it does. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjHuPnar8PqAhWKJDQIHYGjC7IQFjAGegQIAxAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pentax-manuals.com%2Fmanuals%2Fservice%2Fscrew_mount_leicas.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0YTpVKOQyO2sWhZaAeWvl3&fbclid=IwAR01bi3lo8r-8gl5kSWaS7R9NZ9lJyUS9IdtUXvJAzWPigHRd1At0G4Fi8M (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjHuPnar8PqAhWKJDQIHYGjC7IQFjAGegQIAxAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pentax-manuals.com%2Fmanuals%2Fservice%2Fscrew_mount_leicas.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0YTpVKOQyO2sWhZaAeWvl3&fbclid=IwAR01bi3lo8r-8gl5kSWaS7R9NZ9lJyUS9IdtUXvJAzWPigHRd1At0G4Fi8M)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on July 12, 2020, 11:21:47 AM
Good work!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 12, 2020, 02:23:12 PM
Good work.
Could this have been done without removing the casing?
I've got to cla my Grandpa's 1C and it scares me a bit since I never had great success repairing SLR's. Leaf shutters I'm ok with, lenses I'm ok with too, but this seems to be another ball game.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on July 12, 2020, 02:30:06 PM
Good work.
Could this have been done without removing the casing?
I've got to cla my Grandpa's 1C and it scares me a bit since I never had great success repairing SLR's. Leaf shutters I'm ok with, lenses I'm ok with too, but this seems to be another ball game.

Three screws hold the bottom plate on, two on the edge shown in my photo and one in the middle of the plate.  If the gears for the shutter curtain need cleaning then you have to take the casing off. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 12, 2020, 08:19:17 PM
I guess I'll have no choice...
The shutter feels like it's running in molasses, and that camera has no slow speeds!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: grit on July 15, 2020, 01:00:21 AM
Not a huge accomplishment, but I spent today replacing the light seals and the leatherette on an RB67 I bought on ebay for a song (presumably the price was low because many of the existing seals were next to gone). It came out pretty good! Working on a test roll now but I'm pretty sure I won't see any more leaks for awhile.

Out of curiosity, I also have an RZ67 that has a lot of peeling rubber. Does anyone have any ideas on how to restore it to cosmetic glory? It doesn't seem like there's anyone out there selling a prefab replacement, but I'm willing to make my own now that I'm stuck at home.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50113710606_b09895b1a3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jmnSed)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on July 15, 2020, 08:43:31 AM
Out of curiosity, I also have an RZ67 that has a lot of peeling rubber. Does anyone have any ideas on how to restore it to cosmetic glory? It doesn't seem like there's anyone out there selling a prefab replacement, but I'm willing to make my own now that I'm stuck at home.

Rubber covers on SLRs I clean using IPA and/or a mild detergent and, for bad cases, I scrape them first. I wrote a bit about it here (https://contax139.blogspot.com/2017/12/cleaning-rubber-covers.html).

For resticking covers, including rubber ones, I use Gem-bond (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gem-Bond%C2%AE-Rhinestone-Industrial-Strength-Precision/dp/B06XXQ8WGC) which Sandeha put me on to. Use it as a contact adhesive - coat both surfaces, leave to dry then press together. It's the only thing I've I've found that successfully sticks rubber covers.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: grit on July 17, 2020, 04:52:00 PM
Good tip, thanks Pete! I'll give it a shot. Some of the material is missing, but this will at least save what I still have.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: grit on July 21, 2020, 04:03:18 PM
OK, now I'm moving on to the 35mm cameras, and I have a bit of a mystery. I got an old Minolta XD-5 from my aunt's attic and I now have it cleaned and mostly working. BUT it doesn't fire unless it's in O or B mode. If I depress the shutter button in any normal mode or in X mode, the button goes down halfway but no further (as if something is blocking it). This is true both in Manual and in Aperture or Shutter Priority. The interesting part is that if I use the self-timer, it not only works fine, but also the speed is accurate (at least to my ear test)! It's got brand new batteries in it. Any idea what the problem could be?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on July 21, 2020, 05:20:17 PM
I know nothing but Googling suggests the O and B modes are mechanical and the others are electronic so probably electronic problem.

There's some info at https://www.rangefinderforum.com/classics/forum/messages/2/27649.html?1377879428 (https://www.rangefinderforum.com/classics/forum/messages/2/27649.html?1377879428) which might be relevant.

Also a very comprehensive guide to repairing the XD-11 (aka XD-7) which is probably very similar at https://www.suaudeau.eu/memo/manuels_rep/reflexes/minolta/minolta_xd_repair_guide.pdf (https://www.suaudeau.eu/memo/manuels_rep/reflexes/minolta/minolta_xd_repair_guide.pdf)

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on August 02, 2020, 12:48:42 AM
I've been interested in Zeiss Ikon Super Nettels for the past few months, but they go for $400-$800. So, no way. There was a nice looking one a while back for around $380. I was tempted but I try not to spend more than $120 on a camera, preferably no more than $40. So when I went browsing again for them one showed up in my search for $120 on Bonanza, from a guy in the UK I've bought from before when he was on Etsy. So why was it so cheap? The shutter didn't work. It just so happened I recently watched a video on YouTube where a guy fixed a stuck shutter on a Super Nettel by spraying a load of lithium grease on the gears. It worked... But more importantly for me, he showed how incredibly simple it was to disassemble the camera. Oh, and it was missing the rewind knob.

After a sojourn in LA, the camera arrived today.


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/7d5bad121799d0ab0a52655dac967a11_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=640)


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/fb9128d4857ac99b84583df407f0fd77_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=640)


Just loosen four screws on the bottom, four screws on the front holding the lens/bellows assembly to the body, and two screws holding the housing for the film canister and take-up reel and you'e ready to clean up the shutter gears. I used lighter fluid, not lithium grease.


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/9fd22b7eac7171208a0c5828df4a052c_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=640)


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/99d56a3a35f6ba2ae709c968e34e74bc_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=1280&w=640)


The lighter fluid loosened things up as expected. The fast speeds -- 1000, 500, 200, 100 -- worked great. On the slower speeds, the first curtain would begin to open as you cocked the shutter, then the second curtain would close rather slowly when you fired it. Not sure what's going on so will need to do a little research. Or I could just try spraying lithium grease on it.

When I put it back together, even the fast speeds were hanging up. Hmmm. I noticed that someone jerryrigged a little wire for a missing screw. You can see it at the upper right of the last pic. I removed it (it wasn't doing anything as another screw was still in place holding that little disc which itself doesn't seem to be doing anything -- it doesn't move (famous last words).

Anyway, put it back together for now to test the fast speeds. The shutter ribbons look in great shape. The rangefinder seems to be in proper adjustment. Lens looks great. The aperture blades are clean. The lens focus was very stiff at first but working it a bit it's fine now.

 EDIT: oh, I see that disc holds the spindle for the second curtain. Maybe I should look for a screw
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 02, 2020, 02:46:00 PM
I'm never a fan of spraying stuff around. The overspray always goes where you don't want it to. I like using a syringe with sewing machine oil much better.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on August 02, 2020, 08:21:36 PM
Well, I went scavenging through my parts camera box and pulled out some candidate screws. Found one -- from the film retaining springy piece of metal in the take-up reel chamber of a Kiev 4A. Round head instead of flat head but the perfect thread and (very short) screw length.

I also squirted it with lighter fluid again and the slow speeds work (well, 50 and 25) and the fast speeds are much snappier. Dunno why I can't even turn the speed selector to 10, 5, or B but I'm not going to sweat it. The additional slow speed mechanism kicks in at 50 so it's not that.

Before I cleaned it again, when I tested it and cocked the shutter, it squeaked. So I guess it needs oil. I have sewing machine oil but am not sure where to apply it...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 02, 2020, 09:07:27 PM
Usually, the oil is only applied very sparingly to the pivots.
Too much oil will slow things down.
Grease is only useful for regions of high friction, high pressures, low speeds or where oil would drip everywhere.
Most camera mechanisms I've seen so far except for the focusing helix don't need it. And even then the focus needs an insanely small amount.

I tried lithium grease on some things but had to remove it because it thickened with time and made things hard to move (I put some on the focusing ring of a lens).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: BernardL on August 16, 2020, 10:26:56 AM
Bought last year at photo fair this Perkeo I with Color-Skopar. Test film: focus OK. Speeds sound OK, and exposure looks OK. Issues:
Considered making a new bellows, read a lot on the interweb... Then considered buying one from Sandeha Lynch. Finally settled on repairing the existing bellows. Good thing I did not try to make one: the Perkeo being the smallest of all 6x6 folders, its design is putting pressure on every millimeter in the dimensions. For instance, the bellows folds get narrower towards the body, because there is only approx 2.5mm around the image gate to glue the bellows (at least in the vertical sides; in the horizontal sides a little more, I guess because the vertical size here is constrained by size of  the film spools).
Anyway. Applied liquid paper glue between the inner lining and the ribs, through the delamination gap on the rear side; then re-formed the proper folds with small metal blades and plumber's PTFE tape, left to dry, and a whiff of matte black paint inside. With the bellows taken out, time to observe and lubricate the mechanisms for struts and transmission of shutter release. Remove top plate, clean v/f, re-install loose spring of film advance indicator. Since shutter works and speeds sound OK, leave it alone. No haze on internal surfaces, just minimal dust.
Re-assembly OK. Glued the bellows with period-correct shellac glue, just because. Possibly the bellows is a slightly tighter fit than before, not sure.
A word for rangefinder-less cameras: most pictures I take I can estimate the distance with sufficient accuracy (say, beyond 2m). For the occasional picture at closer distance, I bring out my assorted Voigtlander accessory rangefinder; can even leave it on the cold shoe.
Note: the distance scale on the lens is from the lens, not the film plane (test film with focus target); seems to be the norm for this kind of camera.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 16, 2020, 03:25:47 PM
The fun thing with folders is that they are relatively simple, which also means easy to fix.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on September 10, 2020, 09:26:55 PM
With the current state of things meaning way more time at home, I decided to spring for a 3D printer. I wanted to learn how to do it and I hope that it will inspire my kids to learn how to conceptualize, engineer and create. Prices have come down a great deal in the few years since last I looked into it, so after a good bit of research I purchased a Creality Ender 3 V2. My younger son and I spent a few hours putting it together, then taking it apart to put back together again the right way. Then once more... After some fiddly bed-leveling and other jargon that I have just learned we printed our first test and it came out fine. Spurred by success I decided to engineer a wall frame for packfilm prints, since i have hundreds laying about. While the packfilm cartridges themselves make cool frames with minimal tweaking, my supply of those is finite. Using a simple, online 3D design program, Tinkercad, I designed a frame. It took about seven redesigns and three test prints to get a satisfactory model. It could still use some small adjustments, but I am pleased with the result.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50328145237_05cc98165b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jFjUb2)3D Printed Packfilm Frame (https://flic.kr/p/2jFjUb2) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 10, 2020, 10:11:15 PM
That's pretty neat.
Do you have white filament?
If you do you need to print at least one lithophane  :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on September 11, 2020, 04:26:31 PM
That's pretty neat.
Do you have white filament?
If you do you need to print at least one lithophane  :)

Francois, I do not have white filament. And I had to google lithophane, and now I need to get some white filament and try it. Neat stuff!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 11, 2020, 08:26:32 PM
I printed one at the library last December and gave it mo my mom.
She was really impressed. At first when you print it, it essentially looks like nothing. But when it's done, it's really fun.
But they are very slow to print because of all the detail. I later found that they don't require any infill to stay together. And since they don't get abused, you don't need to waste filament for nothing.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on September 12, 2020, 07:38:53 PM
Francois,

I ordered white filament. Will post results once I've made a good one. Thanks for the idea, they look like fun.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on September 30, 2020, 05:07:24 PM
This is an update on my Super Nettel. After getting the shutter to fire by using naptha in the mechanisms, one of the silk ribbons holding the lateral shutter slats broke. Rather than sending it to the Contax guy (its shutter is the same as in a Contax I) who insists on rebuilding cameras completely whether they need it or not and charging accordingly, and has a 10 year waiting list (his email was quite amusing and that was the punch line), I sent it to Oleg in Russia. Got it repaired quickly at a reasonable price. All the shutter speeds working well. Took my first pics with it the past couple days and I really like the results -- particularly the combination of sharpness and the way it renders out of focus areas, and the transition between the two. Anyway, like the look of the lens, a f3.5 Tessar.


(https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/35dfb571d46e6a91d7b00d79bb03084a_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=640&w=1280) 
  (https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4672/f08d7dfb972bd5c27b8c1cc4efcb20e3_hd.jpg?fit=max&h=640&w=1280)

More pics
http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=10142.0 (http://www.filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=10142.0)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 30, 2020, 08:46:29 PM
Looks like he's a pretty good repairman.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on September 30, 2020, 09:26:39 PM
Oleg has fixed several cameras for me, he's really good. I still have more work for him; I hate cameras that doesn't work and throwing a camera in the bin is sacrilege! :o  Speaking of non-working cameras, I've got a Konica Autoreflex T3 that is un-repairable (auto firing syndrome) so if any of you are looking for parts just PM me. (I probably invented a new word there, un-repairable.  :P)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on September 30, 2020, 09:30:07 PM
It's hard to find someone with the experience and willingness to replace those ribbons. There are some DIY instructions floating around that I looked at but... Nah.

Though the Contax I, II, and IIa shutters are somewhat different, they're the same basic design. I think Oleg's experience repairing Kiev rangefinders has made him the go to guy for the metal slat shutters. He said he never worked on a Super Nettel but I sent him pics and my understanding that it's the same as a Contax I (that he lists on his site as a camera he works on). Anyway, great experience. He also replaced the missing rewind knob before I even asked him about it, all for the CLA price.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on October 01, 2020, 10:35:20 AM
If he can get something close to the original ribbon dimensions that's good. I was looking for ribbons for a Zeiss Miroflex one time and it seems nobody makes them anymore.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: hookstrapped on October 01, 2020, 01:54:01 PM
If I recall correctly from the DIY info I browsed, there is a Japanese supplier that has ribbon intended to fit the postwar Contax IIa, but it seems people differ on if it is the correct size. Fedka has ribbons for the Kiev, which should work on both the prewar Contax I and II. I'm guessing Oleg has access to these ribbons.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 17, 2021, 09:07:24 PM
I just found something really neat on Thingiverse that I printed using the 3D printer mom got me for Xmas.
They are film speed reminders that fit on the hotshoe.

Apart from the design being a bit too big (I had to scale down to 94%), it looks pretty good and should be really handy.
Here's the link for the project: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3119153 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3119153)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on January 18, 2021, 06:27:14 PM
I just found something really neat on Thingiverse that I printed using the 3D printer mom got me for Xmas.
They are film speed reminders that fit on the hotshoe.

Apart from the design being a bit too big (I had to scale down to 94%), it looks pretty good and should be really handy.
Here's the link for the project: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3119153 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3119153)

Those would help immensely on some of my cameras! BTW, what printer did you get Francois?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 18, 2021, 08:04:40 PM
I got an Ender 3 Pro.
I put a lot of mods on it. Some were hand printed and other ones bought. I upgraded the springs on the bed, put in an adapter for a regular sized SD card and added an Octoprint server.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on January 18, 2021, 10:51:08 PM
I got an Ender 3 Pro.
I put a lot of mods on it. Some were hand printed and other ones bought. I upgraded the springs on the bed, put in an adapter for a regular sized SD card and added an Octoprint server.

Nice Christmas gift! I have an Ender 3 V2. I really like it. I've also upgraded the springs to those yellow ones and replaced one of the fans to make it a bit quieter. Some film photography related prints I have designed and made:

A 4x5 pinhole camera that can use standard 4x5 film holders or the polaroid holders. Please excuse the cludgy tape for mounting the shutter mechanism as it was a proof of concept. Now I just need to figure out attaching things to things in a more elegant fashion.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850715582_b9877cd980_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd8y)4x5 Pinhole Camera (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd8y) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr

Test image from 3D printed 4x5 pinhole camera
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850715102_335ecd30c3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvcZh)Pinhole Test (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvcZh) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr

A large format lens holder for my Intrepid 4x5 camera. Another proof of concept. But it works.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50849901193_a60c88719c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ktr33n)4x5 Lens Holder (https://flic.kr/p/2ktr33n) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr

Francois, I took your advice, purchased some white filament and made a couple of lithophanes from my photos. Those are quite neat.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850715172_3eee1d803e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd1u)Lithophane (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd1u) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850715272_9644a2b5ed_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd3d)Lithophane Lit (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd3d) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850623791_206c85f19c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ktuJQX)Gettysburg Lithophane (https://flic.kr/p/2ktuJQX) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr

And lastly another design I'm currently fiddling with, I wanted to see if I could make a splitter so that I could get two images on a Fuji packfilm print. I based the part that holds to the camera on the Polaroid UV filter for Land Cameras. This is the first version and I need to tweak the dimensions of the tabs so it holds better to the lens. I also need to make it so it works as intended. But that's the fun of 3D printing. The engineering puzzles. And I printed one of those ISO tabs that you had printed, also at 94% and it fits perfectly in my hot shoes. So thanks for posting the link to them Francois.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850715372_57aa023e2b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd4W)Land Cam Splitter and ISO Chip (https://flic.kr/p/2ktvd4W) by adoephoto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/adoephoto/), on Flickr
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 19, 2021, 01:58:43 PM
You're welcome.
For the pinhole camera, you might want to take a look at the Pinh5ad camera by schlem on thingiverse. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:143882 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:143882)
It's got some neat hooks for the rubber bands.

What program do you use for modeling?
I use FreeCAD. It's very powerful. It does have a few quirks but once you get used to it it's pretty darn good.
And best of all it plays nice with Inkscape for some things.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on January 19, 2021, 03:43:17 PM
You're welcome.
For the pinhole camera, you might want to take a look at the Pinh5ad camera by schlem on thingiverse. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:143882 (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:143882)
It's got some neat hooks for the rubber bands.

What program do you use for modeling?
I use FreeCAD. It's very powerful. It does have a few quirks but once you get used to it it's pretty darn good.
And best of all it plays nice with Inkscape for some things.

I've been using Tinkercad, which is very basic and hosted online. I will need to learn a more complex CAD program so I can do curves, extrusions, etc.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 19, 2021, 09:38:56 PM
Definitely got for FreeCAD.
When I first got it, I kinds gave it the dirty eye. But once I did the short tutorial it all clicked. Now, I wouldn't switch it out for anything.
And best of all, it runs on anything. I use the 0.19 Pre-release version and it's very good
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD/releases/tag/0.19_pre

I use the Conda file like was recommended to me on their forums.

One of the things I like is that if you want to extrude some complex shapes, you can initially draw them in Inkscape, save as SVG and then directly import it into Freecad to do the extrusion. That's how I do some text and markings on my designs.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on February 07, 2021, 04:09:13 PM
Another chop job from me. This started out as a KF-M1, a camera made by Phenix in China for MAP Camera in Japan. It had a Nikon mount and, unusually, no branding. It's a well made mechanical camera with a top speed of 1/4000. Originally designed to compete with the Nikon FM2 though probably had little impact. The same camera was available as a Kenko KF-2N or, in China, as a DN-66. I've converted it to a Contax/Yashica mount which is more appropriate to my needs.

(https://i.imgur.com/OnV6EVI.jpg)
Nikon out and Contax in.

(https://i.imgur.com/To6IiiD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gkdcjwP.jpg)

More on my blog if anyone is interested.
https://contax139.blogspot.com/2020/11/yashica-fx3-super-4000-anyone.html (https://contax139.blogspot.com/2020/11/yashica-fx3-super-4000-anyone.html)
https://contax139.blogspot.com/2021/02/yashica-fx-3-super-4000-part-ii.html (https://contax139.blogspot.com/2021/02/yashica-fx-3-super-4000-part-ii.html)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 07, 2021, 05:03:30 PM
woah! that is definitely camera surgery...

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on February 08, 2021, 10:11:30 AM
Nice job! Does that mean that you now have a Yashica FX3 with a Nikon Mount?  :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on February 08, 2021, 03:43:41 PM
Nice job! Does that mean that you now have a Yashica FX3 with a Nikon Mount?  :)

No, quite the opposite. It originally had a Nikon mount and I've replaced it with a Contax/Yashica mount.

The camera was made by Phenix who also made the Yashica FX-3 and Phenix utilised the FX-3 chassis for a number of other cameras using Nikon, Minolta, Pentax K and Yashica mounts. But this is the only one they made (AFAIK) with a 1/4000 top shutter speed. The last FX-3 had a 1/2000 top speed so I've finished up with a FX-3 with a top speed of 1/4000, something that doesn't otherwise exist. Also, the top and bottom plates are brass compared to the FX-3 plastic.

If you want an FX-3 with a Nikon mount, just look at the Kenko KF-1N as that's what it is. They turn up on ebay periodically.

And an FX-3 with a PK mount is otherwise known as a Vivitar V3800N.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on February 08, 2021, 06:32:31 PM
Sorry, I might have misunderstood, but where did the C/Y mount come from?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on February 08, 2021, 07:03:07 PM
Is that just a straight swap or did you have to do any modifications?  The housings look almost identical. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on February 08, 2021, 08:21:51 PM
Sorry, I might have misunderstood, but where did the C/Y mount come from?

A scrap FX-3.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on February 08, 2021, 08:32:35 PM
Is that just a straight swap or did you have to do any modifications?  The housings look almost identical.

They are 'almost' identical. I've swapped Pentax K mounts and replaced them with Yashica mounts in the past and it's very little work. Swapping the Nikon for a Yashica was a more of a problem. The flange to film distance of the Nikon is quite a bit shorter than the Yashica (PK is almost identical) and the mount seems a bit wider. So there were a few mechanical differences. Plus, because the M1 has a metal top plate, it's constructed differently and didn't mate with the Yashica front plate so there were some modifications to do there. And the metering circuit was different - same in principle, but some different component values and it was easier to swap the complete circuit out. Although, the FX-3 circuit is designed for one less shutter speeds which is another issue I haven't totally fixed.

The object was to use the improved shutter and it might have been easier to just put the shutter in an FX-3 but I wanted to retain the M1 body and top and bottom plates too hence why I did it this way.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 19, 2021, 09:09:06 PM
Well... I guess this is what happens when you apply the following formula:
Boredom + Lust for a new camera + 3D printer = Over-engineered madness

So, I present to you a cardboard tube can pinhole camera. With two shutters (one on the side and one on top) for two types of anamorphosis, a custom press-on lid and a built-in Manfrotto compatible tripod mount.

It's not fully completed as I still need to make some hold-downs for the lid, just in case.

Did I need to build it? Not really. Did I need another camera? Not really. Is it practical? Not the slightest.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on March 19, 2021, 09:39:36 PM
Well... I guess this is what happens when you apply the following formula:
Boredom + Lust for a new camera + 3D printer = Over-engineered madness

So, I present to you a cardboard tube can pinhole camera. With two shutters (one on the side and one on top) for two types of anamorphosis, a custom press-on lid and a built-in Manfrotto compatible tripod mount.

It's not fully completed as I still need to make some hold-downs for the lid, just in case.

Did I need to build it? Not really. Did I need another camera? Not really. Is it practical? Not the slightest.

Looks yummy!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 19, 2021, 09:42:15 PM
The fun thing is that even if I cleaned it pretty well, you do get a whiff of cocoa powder every time you pop the lid :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: irv_b on March 20, 2021, 12:46:52 PM
Well... I guess this is what happens when you apply the following formula:
Boredom + Lust for a new camera + 3D printer = Over-engineered madness

So, I present to you a cardboard tube can pinhole camera. With two shutters (one on the side and one on top) for two types of anamorphosis, a custom press-on lid and a built-in Manfrotto compatible tripod mount.

It's not fully completed as I still need to make some hold-downs for the lid, just in case.

Did I need to build it? Not really. Did I need another camera? Not really. Is it practical? Not the slightest.

That looks so good Francois, a neat little thing to keep the brain ticking over.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 20, 2021, 02:21:23 PM
I still need to make some hooks to really secure the top with rubber bands.
And yesterday I measured the interior and to my surprise I takes a full sheet of 5x7 paper without any trimming!
When does something like that ever happens?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on March 22, 2021, 02:08:33 PM
Some time ago I purchased a Mamiya RB67 set in a metal case (1st picture). The equipment was set in some old and yellowing foam, so I decided to make something better out of this otherwise nice case. First I stripped all the foam from the case and set to work on a divider framework. For this I used 8 mm plywood screwed together with countersunk screws, the resulting maze can be seen in the 2nd picture. Then I covered the framework with 4 mm wool felt, and this is the tricky part. I used some felt that I had left over, ideally it should probably have been slightly thinner. I used contact cement to fix it, and that means you will get just one chance to get it right. Anyway it turned out quite acceptable, at least if you don't look too closely. Finally I put new foam into the lid and into the cells of the maze. The good thing is that I now have space for three extra lenses in this case. But it comes at a price, the loaded case now weighs in at 15.5 kg.  :o
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 22, 2021, 02:50:42 PM
That's pretty neat.
All you need now is to fit it with a skateboard truck and some type of extending handle.
Check this out for some inspiration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mou13GpMxIw
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on March 29, 2021, 04:29:09 PM
As mentioned in another thread I have a couple of Yashica FX-2 cameras with different issues. I contacted Peter about this and he set me thinking more clearly, thanks Peter!  :) One of the FX-2 had a meter that was 2+ stops off, and checking the assembly manual I could see there was an adjustment pot on the CDS meter circuit board. I popped off the top of the camera, and here is a warning if you do the same. Under the on/off switch there is a metal plate with three holes as shown in the first picture (marked "Watch this!"). Underneath the rightmost hole there is a tiny steel ball, about 1 mm in diameter. It's sitting loose on top of a tiny spring. This is the click stop of the switch, so be very careful when you take the top off this camera! First I tried the meter adjustment shown on the right, but that was not enough to get a correct reading. On the same circuit board as the on/off switch there is a pot which I assume is a voltage adjustment. I gave it a try and it works! So now I have a meter reading that seems OK, I just need to shoot a test roll to verify it. I added a picture of the second FX-2 as well (with a higher serial no.), here you can see that the meter pot is gone, and now there are two pots beside the on/off switch. I assume they have just moved the meter pot for some reason. The second FX-2 will go back into the drawer again as it has an erratic shutter + a non-working frame counter. If any of you need parts for an FX-2, just contact me.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 29, 2021, 09:19:01 PM
I have a similar frame counter problem on my old FR.
There is a small nylon gear inside that is cracked and won't hold tight against a shaft anymore.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on March 29, 2021, 09:51:09 PM
I have a similar frame counter problem on my old FR.
There is a small nylon gear inside that is cracked and won't hold tight against a shaft anymore.

I think the FX-2 counter is different. But the FR one is fixable. I've fixed a few of them.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 30, 2021, 02:05:14 PM
I've tried pretty much every type of glue I can get my hands on but never managed to get gear to stick together properly...
It's split on one side. I find it pretty sad in a sense because it was my first SLR camera.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on March 30, 2021, 02:23:57 PM
I've tried pretty much every type of glue I can get my hands on but never managed to get gear to stick together properly...
It's split on one side. I find it pretty sad in a sense because it was my first SLR camera.

Not sure how big the gear you're talking about is, but if you're willing to try something a bit different I might have a solution for you. I've used this on stressed broken plastics before with some success.

Find a piece of steel that is suitably shaped to bridge the crack - in this case something like a heavy-duty staple might work. Put a thin coat of epoxy into the crack, then clamp the gear around the circumference so it's the right shape and the epoxy is compressed. Remove any excess epoxy, heat the steel piece with a propane torch until it's red hot, then press it into the plastic (I usually hold it with needlenose pliers for this step). It should melt holes as you press it in, which will then harden back up as they cool, fixing the steel in the plastic. This reinforcement should allow the epoxy to hold the crack shut under stress.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on March 30, 2021, 05:00:45 PM
I've tried pretty much every type of glue I can get my hands on but never managed to get gear to stick together properly...
It's split on one side. I find it pretty sad in a sense because it was my first SLR camera.

The problem is the gear is pressed onto the shaft and is a tight fit so, once it's split it's impossible to get the split to close up. What I do is to take the gear out and glue the split back together using something to clamp it together while it dries. I use epoxy resin. Once it's dried I drill out the hole so it's easy to put back on the shaft without stressing it. I then fix it in place with more epoxy.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 30, 2021, 09:24:40 PM
I'm going to have to try this next time I feel like digging in that thing once more... :-\
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 16, 2021, 08:40:37 PM
This had been bugging me for some time, so I decided to do something about it.
I have this Voigtländer Vito B that was in serious need of a CLA. So I opened-up the beast only to find some of the most sticky grease I've ever seen!
You know, the type that feels more like duct tape adhesive than actual grease?
Had a hard time taking it all apart, the skin on my thumb is still painful from trying to take it apart.
Now this camera is really strangely designed. I've never seen so many spacer rings and such a strange focusing helix in my live. It has more in common with an Acme threaded screw than anything.
But now everything is cleaned (the insides were not too bad), and re-lubed (including the pivots). Even the self timer works like a charm!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on April 16, 2021, 11:47:06 PM
Those vintage Voigtlander Color-Skopar lenses do magical things with color film. I've never had the 2.8, but I have coated and uncoated examples of the 50/3.5.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 17, 2021, 02:53:40 PM
I don't think I ever tried it with color film. One more thing to do when I get my color processing hat on.

I'm wondering something though, is the focus on yours slightly stiff when compared to other cameras?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: 02Pilot on April 18, 2021, 01:51:25 AM
It isn't. They are a bit annoying to service - at least mine have been - because they are front-cell focusing, and require a special wrench to disassemble. I've been lucky that mine haven't been gummed up too badly. I did have some uneven focus problems due to a bent standard, but that's a folder-specific problem.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 18, 2021, 02:43:05 PM
On the 2.8 it isn't as bad as the entire lens assembly comes out in one piece. But I would really hate to open this module to fix the aperture blades!
On mine I had to put a surprisingly large amount of moly grease on the focusing helix to get it to work somewhat smoothly.
I think it would benefit from having some real helix grease like some Helimax, but I don't have any and this stuff is expensive.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 21, 2021, 05:09:43 PM
Just made something that's so simple I don't know why nobody ever thought of it!
For years I've been drooling over the nice Tiffen Black Pro Mist filters, but I couldn't justify spending 40 USD for one.
When Kai offered some free UV filters, I instantly hatched a plan to convert a clear filter into a black diffusion filter.
The only thing needed in my plan were some nail polish remover to clean the filter (I really needed it to remove the "too much black" I put on the first shot), some lens cleaning paper, tape to protect the filter tread and a can of matte black spray paint.
I opted to spray the inside of the filter so that the paint would be protected if I need to clean the filter.
You just need to barely fume it and judge the effect by sticking it to your eye. If there's too much, just clean it with the nail polish remover (you need to scrub pretty hard), let dry really well and start over again.

Here's what I came-up with.

What do you think?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on May 21, 2021, 08:55:38 PM
Just made something that's so simple I don't know why nobody ever thought of it!
For years I've been drooling over the nice Tiffen Black Pro Mist filters, ...

What do you think?

Looks like the same effect as used to be got with a black stocking stretched over the lens. Such as this...

(https://i.imgur.com/HSfkycC.jpg)

I used to stretch the stocking over the back of the lens as I found it could increase flare if on the front.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 21, 2021, 09:12:06 PM
Probably is a bit similar.
I know the Black Mist is really good for night photos with neon lights, so I'm hoping this does the same.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: LEAFotography on May 21, 2021, 10:24:41 PM
You've got me wondering now whether a light spray of red paint, or red stocking/tights stretched over the lens might work well also? It's a while since I've spayed anything, but a few tests on paper might help me get a feel for how light or fine might be good to start with.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 21, 2021, 10:38:37 PM
What's nice about using black is that it doesn't give any color cast like other colors do.
Also, white tends to lower density while black is more unobtrusive.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Moto-uno on May 22, 2021, 12:11:51 AM
  That enlarger looks awfully familiar , what might it be ? Peter
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 22, 2021, 02:43:27 PM
It's an Omega D II
It's an old version that was made before the D2.
It's pretty much the same thing but without the crank to lift it up. So it's a case of grabbing on to it whichever way you can and pulling.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Moto-uno on May 26, 2021, 05:27:41 AM
  That explains it , I've got an Omega D3 , love it , but haven't gotten off my arse to use it in at least a year .
Shame on me , spending too much time eating and motorcycling .  Peter
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 26, 2021, 02:54:03 PM
I must admit that I haven't used it in ages too. It's usually at the top position to avoid stretching the springs with a clear plastic bag over the head for dust control.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 29, 2021, 08:56:06 PM
How do I call this?
It's a lensed pinhole camera I made out of a Cosmic 35 Soviet camera.
On mine, the shutter instantly broke and it turns out it was not fixable. So years ago I donated it's lens to my FED. But now I was stuck with this body I couldn't get rid of... gruesome isn't it  ;D
So, I decided to fix it and convert it into a mutant pinhole camera. Thing is I wanted to be able to use the viewfinder, so I found in my stuff a camcorder telephoto adapter that roughly re-adjusts the frame to the proper view.
Most people would have just made an external shutter for it. I don't know if it's insanity from my part, but I wanted to have an internal shutter on it. Not the easiest thing to do since the space is so cramped in there. It took me 6 design revisions to make one that actually works!
It's now got an f/134 aperture, custom shutter (complete with curved levers), custom Manfrotto compatible tripod mount, 46mm filter mount (with a nice metal 46-49mm adapter mounted on it). The cable release socket works. The rewind knob is not a thumb ripper anymore as I glued a gear on the spindle and lubed everything with moly grease. The shutter button locks in place to enable the rewind mechanism (that was one of the biggest pains to fix).

So, here's the monster... not so scary is it :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on May 29, 2021, 11:35:28 PM
Hybrid pinhole, faux pinhole, notapinhole?  I’ll be interested to see what the images look like, I have a similar lens but I think it’s for wide angle. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 30, 2021, 02:52:03 PM
Before building it, I did some tests using a pinhole cap on my slr.
It's going to be just like a regular pinhole, only with added lens flare.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: John Robison on May 30, 2021, 05:41:41 PM
I would think that at f134 the lens+pinhole would not produce an image much different than the pinhole without the lens.

I have a simple, plastic meniscus lens of 110mm focal length that is attached to a 4x5 (well, actually 95x95mm so 4x4) and limit taking aperture to f64 and viewing aperture to f16. The f16 aperture is only to check FoV with a ground glass. Since I’m using paper at about ISO 3-6 then most exposures run from 3 to 30 seconds.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 30, 2021, 08:35:02 PM
Most probably won't. Especially since the lens I use is there only to adapt the field of view so that it more closely matches the viewfinder.
The lens I'm using is an afocal design (it's complete like a small telescope with an eyepiece that is focused on infinity) in contrast to a meniscus which would be a direct objective design.

(useless information courtesy of Edmund Science publications  ;D )
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 31, 2021, 05:19:35 PM
For those interested, here's a look at my internal shutter. This is revision 5, but in the camera I use revision 6 which is slightly different but basically the same.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on August 26, 2021, 08:20:07 PM
Just finished repairs on my new ICA Toska 9X12 camera.  I re-attached the bellows, gave it a good cleaning, re-painted some of the black paint and glued down the loose leather covering.  I also lubricated the rails so the lens standard would move easier.  It takes the same plate holders and ground glass as my Zeiss Ikon Ideal but I ordered some parts to try to make one that I can dedicate to this camera.  My plan is to convert a pack film holder by attaching a ground glass inside it.  I just need to figure out a way to shim it to the proper focal distance. 

I wish I had the instructions for this camera, there are a few things about it that are confusing.  It has a distance scale along the side of the small mirror viewer above the lens.  It goes from 3 to infinity but I'm not sure how that is supposed to be used.  Maybe it's a way to roughly judge distance based on an average person's height.  The other thing is there are two locks when you extend the bellows.  One locks it at infinity as you would expect, the other locks it about an inch further, past the lowest number on the distance scale.  I'm not sure what the purpose of that is.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 26, 2021, 09:11:14 PM
Could the distance scale be part of a parallax compensation mechanism?
I know my old Crown Graphic has one on the eyepiece.
Also, maybe the stops are adjustable?

I don't know about the exact size of the plate holders on this one but for making a groundglass holder you might want to consider using a filmpack adapter. If it fits, those are super cheap as there hasn't been any film made for them in the last 60 years.
Else, 3D printing always saves the day  ;)

If you're still near Albuquerque, you can get in touch with Ethan at Cameradactyl. He runs a printing farm and he's pretty good with stuff like that. He already knows Becky, Joe Van Cleave and me, so you shouldn't have any problems getting him to either print or laser cut something.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on August 26, 2021, 10:59:58 PM
Could the distance scale be part of a parallax compensation mechanism?
I know my old Crown Graphic has one on the eyepiece.
Also, maybe the stops are adjustable?

I don't know about the exact size of the plate holders on this one but for making a groundglass holder you might want to consider using a filmpack adapter. If it fits, those are super cheap as there hasn't been any film made for them in the last 60 years.
Else, 3D printing always saves the day  ;)

If you're still near Albuquerque, you can get in touch with Ethan at Cameradactyl. He runs a printing farm and he's pretty good with stuff like that. He already knows Becky, Joe Van Cleave and me, so you shouldn't have any problems getting him to either print or laser cut something.

It could be parallax but it seems like too much compensation for that.  At 3 meters it would put the subject completely at the top of the frame.  The scale just slides side to side across the viewfinder. 

I have a film pack holder coming, that’s what I plan on using.  I’m home for a week, heading back to Gallup on Sunday, hopefully my parts come before I leave so I can take it with me.  If not it’ll be a fall project. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on August 27, 2021, 04:37:25 PM

I have a film pack holder coming, that’s what I plan on using.

That pretty much answers your question I think. One infinity stop will likely be for using a sheet film holder, and the other for a roll film holder. You should be able to test this by comparing the distance between the rear of the body and your ground glass, and the rear of the body and the film position in the RFH.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 27, 2021, 09:29:10 PM
That would make sense. If that's the case, they would be close together.
If they are far apart, it's a stop for close focus and one for infinity.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on September 24, 2021, 09:25:39 PM
I didn't take any pictures this week but I id make something!
I printed and assembled the PINH5AD 4x5 pinhole camera from Todd Schlemmer.
I also modified it quite a bit by adding a filter holder and a custom Manfrotto compatible tripod mount.
It's got a 90mm focal length.
I still need to give it a better viewfinder clip.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 22, 2021, 07:24:40 PM
OK, here's my latest contraption!
Born out of my obsession with wide aperture lenses and my innate desire to prove that with a bit of clever engineering you can make a square peg fit in a round hole, this was born: The Magnalux-Delta II
A few years ago I had made version 1. But after finding another rear projection TV by the side of the road, I was set on creating a better version of it.
Like the Bionic Man, I set to make it lighter, faster, stronger. It wasn't until I got a 3D printer that the project really started to take shape.
I have made a custom adapter plate, custom infinity spacer, custom focus knobs and even a custom lens cap.
The camera is attached using a lens reversing ring that fit in a printed thread.
I roughly estimated the F.L. to be at 85mm. Aperture: a whopping f/1.0
As expected, it doesn't like contrasty scenes. Depth of field is about as thin as a hair. But the lens is surprisingly lightweight allowing me to do night photography handheld. Highlights bloom like crazy with this one giving the photos a look as unique as the lens that produced it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: John Robison on October 24, 2021, 01:42:25 PM
Does that monster focus to infinity? You know, if you already have all the usual darkroom stuff you could test it using photo paper as a load in the darkroom, one shot paper negative. That would give an idea of image qualities without loading a whole roll of film.

Edit; I should have read your post with more care.
“…custom infinity spacer.”
Answers my first queston.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 24, 2021, 02:38:41 PM
Yesterday I recalculated the aperture using a much more precise technique and came up with an f stop of 1.3 and a half
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 29, 2021, 03:15:56 PM
Here's another contraption that had been on the back burner for some time.
I have had for years an old broken Chinon CM-4 camera that had an issue (the mirror had skipped a notch and refused to move up). I tried to fix it but in the process of taking the camera apart I broke a few wires and couldn't figure out where they went. So, it was time for plan B.
I had an old Ansco Viking camera that took 620 film and that was in pretty rough shape. But the shutter and lens were flawless. So, what to do? I guess you know where this is going!
It took me a month to figure out how to dismantle the Chinon while keeping the frame counter working. I cut the interior film window to make it more of a panoramic. Made a custom lens cone for it. Light sealed the whole thing. Made a custom viewfinder for it. Custom lens mount.
So, here is the DX-Pan.

24x60mm frame. 90mm lens.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on November 28, 2021, 07:54:41 PM
I slapped this abomination together with Gaffers tape yesterday to make some prints from 9X12 negatives.  I repurposed a 4X5 camera and an old Kodak darkroom light.  I had to corp the photos a little since the darkroom light is not quite large enough to cover the whole negative.  It vignettes on the corners so it will be worse with a 4X5 negative.  I have a 161mm Kodak Projection Anastigmat enlarger lens that I tried to use but I didn't have enough extension to raise it high enough.  I was just barely able to use a 135mm Graflex Optar lens which isn't an ideal lens for an enlarger.  It's also too close to the tripod post so I can just barely make an 8"X10" print.  This was mostly just a test to see how well it works.  The prints look good but before I try this again I need to get a better light source and a block to kick the camera out away from the post.  I may also figure out a way to raise it higher so I can use the Kodak Projection lens.  I have a few ideas for that. 

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 28, 2021, 09:15:34 PM
This so reminds me of my first DIY 4x5 enlarger!
I used a Burke & James monorail and a hand made light box...
To use the longer lenses you will want to make a lens cone to get the glass further away from the negatives. That's the way they do it on my Omega D-II.
For the light you might want to look into an LED panel or something like that. But be aware that the paper relies on an incandescent bulb for the grade calibration. So drifting from that will mess things up. In my enlargers I use some warm white 100w equivalent LED's and have had no problems so far.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on November 28, 2021, 09:56:14 PM
This so reminds me of my first DIY 4x5 enlarger!
I used a Burke & James monorail and a hand made light box...
To use the longer lenses you will want to make a lens cone to get the glass further away from the negatives. That's the way they do it on my Omega D-II.
For the light you might want to look into an LED panel or something like that. But be aware that the paper relies on an incandescent bulb for the grade calibration. So drifting from that will mess things up. In my enlargers I use some warm white 100w equivalent LED's and have had no problems so far.

With the longer lens I can get the lens far enough away from the negative but that puts the lens too close to the paper.  I'm going to look for an LED panel light that I can plug into my timer.  The panel light I have right now is battery powered so I would have to use the shutter on the lens.  I didn't want to do that because it could cause some shake with my rickety setup.  Another option would be to build something to get the lamp a little farther from the negative.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 29, 2021, 02:10:06 PM
Or just custom build something out of cardboard.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on December 04, 2021, 12:19:16 AM
A friend gave me a dusty locked Nikkor 13.5/3.5 from the early 60's. The glass was a mess and it was obviously in need of some care. So off to Richard Haw's site I went and followed his instructions to breathe some life into this old beauty.
Half way done...
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NABqr9NpF8m-k4IaDCvDgPg-HVmeT6UfqtXW8F4fAtTnTt-dni4qKKTGcG5IjLmc39bSMIL0YJgx1rqieEUvgvFguCwU5P4jrU9NEcHsI6b50njF1qpCKocOJIBsKqh3eikOX8zn5ZUnc-g1NezZ5TLn8rrQ3DJ7GNaPqKlMZnfxgwYAd870-JgaH8zq5555RuuqtbenyeArftQJd_ZFzS02lsO3N0gC-MT4wYqqgMuCCn84mDoStzifqJQ0vqzt0XW8stFc9GhGNHewWw521rlf8LO8ou1-YgjnPpLew_lD8pSBt_y6fs4E4R3mCJUUE7QUrb-b0hmmci96Y3XcHgyfJRASPUPkpuehWz97fwa1Ye23-PP9jrYXZYRolttJ67Vh7N_DL187_n7wXIwf_kAic9S2jajnvdj1T8CYVz8sfGVlEHY12CJKiklOvj4mAjw_qUKJJIkh3lN8--9yfnSBFCZ2Qrq9FMhNfnKJUXsFxveSu-QL2jZOcCjRLe5TOJ8ipCgG_0AIPTlmlUa-wmKXqeb64Wo4ytqVfFJT_5QHQiueVSiCqIiIGoEZ-6ycKjWrFiwpnCCR6rpe1KEOiq6UaFdu16RByFCMQBOrjnIDQa8vTPO_pgh7_xhXlN9lBy0flqNfG1b4F_dlIth5AhAeMQquIivXs1RJO-I3SJHjZQ9ICiLVTQaiTQK4pEGBexPirhw79FjbLYM6icK0SEU=w1011-h758-no?authuser=0)
The instructions left out some important details, but with some fiddling, I got everything back together and working. I shot a roll of old Tasma on the F2 with this lens mounted, so hopefully I will have something for the weekend thread.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/AM-JKLUvU-r8l_CG9e9Fjm_ZxmBUMnZyVTaLvt5OCiSfYRropctARHC40ul9YF4kYvzrZRjBScnbiygnWaC8Qh9qHVNGibePCbLwGRclqNYGoSI65Gi34ZO8tMr4JGUixprANyc4ca7a431B33_Jesdbbbnw=w569-h758-no?authuser=0)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 04, 2021, 03:07:41 PM
Nikon lenses are definitely not obvious when it comes to fixing them.
I once repaired a 50/1.8 and it threw me a few surprises.
But luckily I didn't have to dismantle the aperture for cleaning.

I just hope you didn't encounter their fabled glued on screws... These are a real pain.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on December 04, 2021, 03:58:59 PM
Nikon lenses are definitely not obvious when it comes to fixing them.
I once repaired a 50/1.8 and it threw me a few surprises.
But luckily I didn't have to dismantle the aperture for cleaning.

I just hope you didn't encounter their fabled glued on screws... These are a real pain.

I didn't get any glued screws. I did however strip one and had to drill it out. It was one of three holding a sleeve on, so I didn't bother re-tapping the hole and finding another tiny screw for it. It's a $50 lens after all. If it falls apart, I will put it in the parts box and buy the 2.8 version which is quite a bit better lens.

I did have the aperture apart on this one. At least all of the blades are identical. When I overhauled my Isolette III, I had the aperture blades out before I realized there were 3 different types!! That was not a fun puzzle to put back together.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on December 04, 2021, 06:01:54 PM
Wait, that's actually a 135/3.5, right?

That said, I'd love to see a 13.5 in any format  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jharr on December 04, 2021, 06:14:05 PM
Wait, that's actually a 135/3.5, right?

That said, I'd love to see a 13.5 in any format  ;D

Yes, the early versions are marked 13.5 cm. They later switched to the standard mm designation.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Indofunk on December 05, 2021, 02:38:10 PM
I have a lot of lenses that are marked in cm. Never bothered figuring out if there's an age correspondence.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Cadha13 on December 20, 2021, 06:55:23 AM
I had an itch for a field camera and started to look at some Press Cameras, but then I got reminded of the Toyo Field 4-3/4 X 6-1/2 cameras.

So I got one for a song that needed some work, but had some nice accessories with it.

I also had a Graflok back that I had bought for my Toyo D45M, and it fits!

As seen in the photos, I plopped on the 90mm lens for the photo, but it shows how bad the bellows were. Every time I moved the lens or folded the camera more of the bellows flaked off.

I bought new bellows and attached it using some old Pliobond and I can wait to do some Fuji Intax Wide film in it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 03, 2022, 04:49:05 PM
This must be a 4x5 year for many of us!
About 30 years ago, I got a chance to get an old Burke & James view camera that was in really bad shape. It had been set fire to on one side (probably put too close to a photoflood), the bellows looked like they had been chewed-up by a rottweiler and it was missing some parts.
I got it and put it on a shelf as I didn't quite know what to do with it.
At some point, I got the chance to get a nice bellows for it from Sandeha, so I began restoring it. I stripped the battleship gray paint that was on it, sanded the burn marks the best that I could, stained and varnished it. I made a new support block for it (I still need to re-do this as it's not perfectly straight), but it had been missing one thing all along: a lens.
So, pandemic helping, I got the idea to turn a set of close-up lenses into a lens for the Burke. I had this set of 46mm lenses that fit nothing that I have. I got them for cheap at a garage sale thinking that one day they might become helpful. It was their time to shine.
I 3D printed a special holder for two of them complete with waterhouse stops. I still need to print the stops.
In the end, I have a 209mm f/6.1 lens. Not too bad for what they are. Now I need to build a front mounted shutter for the lens... another hard thing to do. But at least I can now use a black card shutter with it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: John Robison on January 03, 2022, 05:58:53 PM
Looks gorgeous Francois. Keep restoring cameras like this and you will lose your ‘Miroslav Tichy’ award.

Edit; It also looks like you have a plus diopter close up lens mounted, good job. Simple one element lenses, suitably stopped down, can often produce interesting photos and don’t break the bank.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 03, 2022, 09:18:55 PM
I've actually got two!
The other one is mounted on the lock nut inside the camera  ;D
On the front I put the +2 and on the inside the +3.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 03, 2022, 11:20:22 PM
Looking good Francois, I can't wait to see what those lenses do. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 04, 2022, 02:44:17 PM
Me too.
But so far it looks promising. Coverage is good for about an 8x10, infinity should be reached.
Only thing is that it's definitely a studio camera, this thing weighs a ton!
The monorail is made from a solid bar of steel and the tripod that it's mounted on is an all aluminum heavy duty model that was designed for an RB67.

edit: I just weighted them and tripod and camera weigh a whopping 15lbs together!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Sandeha Lynch on January 04, 2022, 10:26:21 PM
Super cool that those bellows fit Francopis, as you've now got the rig looking very smart.
Packard shutters come up from time to time and you can even rig a PC flash sync on it if it doesn't have one.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 05, 2022, 02:15:10 PM
I know, but they're expensive.
I've been looking at a book I have that has many illustrations of vintage shutters including some of the inner workings.
I'm in the process of choosing the most promising one and redesigning it to fit.

I've also got an idea for a new model that could be a bit revolutionary... But will it fit? I don't know until I play with the cad drawing.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 23, 2022, 08:17:24 PM
I just completed another set of bellows for a Kodak Vest Pocket Special Autographic 127.  I purchased this a while back for practice knowing the bellows were shot, I already have a pattern made for this camera.  This time I used a fabric that Sandeha Lynch recommended.  It's called BK5 and you can get it online from a company called Thor Labs.  I purchased their minimum order which is enough to make a lot of bellows so I'm set for a while.  The nice thing about this fabric, besides being light proof, is how thin it is.  That makes it ideal for these small bellows.  I just used two layers glued together with thin paper ribs between the layers.  It folds up really nice and fits perfectly into this compact little camera.  For the first one I did I used fabric from an old changing bag.  The fabric was a bit thick, I was barely able to squeeze it into the camera. 

This Vest Pocket Special has the 85mm Kodak Anastigmat f/6.9 lens that is made by Bousch & Lomb.  The lens looked hazy when I got it but it cleaned up really well.  I also re-glued some loose leather. 

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 23, 2022, 08:48:07 PM
Pretty sweet little thing.
Cameras that use a clap style extension always make me smile as they remind me so much of the proverbial cartoon boxing glove on an extension  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 20, 2022, 09:16:56 PM
I found this project on Thingiverse and thought it was so cool that I needed to build it!
It's a lens in a cap with a focusing helix for M39 cameras.
The lens is a Kodak Ektanar from a 35mm Kodak Cameo that I got for really cheap because it was really damaged.
The corner was melted (don't ask me how this happened, I just got it like that) and some of the internal gears were completely stripped.
So I took it apart and saved the screws and the lens.
It focuses from about 9 feet to infinity. Aperture is probably about f/5 (I don't know the exact focal length so it's hard to calculate).
Focus is a bit on the stiff side, but what do you expect from something like that?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on February 21, 2022, 04:42:22 PM
I always like your contraptions Francois. Looking forward to some pictures from this camera. 8)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 21, 2022, 09:30:42 PM
I think I've found myself a new hobby: re-using super crappy lenses to put them on a nice camera :)
Now I need to make some device for collimating those lenses without having to take the camera out every single time.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on March 22, 2022, 07:53:21 PM
While going through my grandfather's stuff, I stumbled on five Minox cassettes.
And to my surprise, one of them was exposed... that is mysterious.
So, I'll have to break out my C-41 kit and develop the roll. Only problem: it's Minox film.
This stuff is really small, so I went hunting on thingiverse for accessories.
I found a spiral reel for the format. Granted it's very different from the original Minox tank, but it'll have to do.
I also found a slitter. I thought it would be a great idea to practice in the dark before committing to processing that roll of 1970's color film.
So, here is my new spy camera gear...
I'm getting to be really curious.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: jojonas~ on July 09, 2022, 03:15:12 PM
francois: how did you get on with the minox stuff? You got me curious :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 09, 2022, 03:52:52 PM
I still haven't tried it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on July 22, 2022, 06:56:36 PM
My new Crown Graphic came with a lens board with an odd size hole.  Since I have a few lenses that I want to use with it I started looking for lens boards.  It turns out the lens boards for this camera are scarce.  This camera takes the metal Graphmatic lens board so they are not easy to make. 

https://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=6181.msg139759#msg139759 (https://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=6181.msg139759#msg139759)

I went to TAP Plastics and purchased some silicone mold material and some Polyurethane resin.  I used the lens board the camera came with to make a mold.  I had to plug the hole so I could drill my own hole sizes.  This is not an easy mold to make and my mold making skills are very limited.

Though they are a bit rough I'm happy with how they came out, they seem much more durable than I was expecting.  I made as much of the front as I could a little thicker to make sure they don't bleed light through and to give them more strength.  They fit into the camera quite easily and secure down nice and tight.  I made one for the Kodak Ektar 127mm f/4.7 which is the proper lens for this camera.  I also made one for an Ilex Paragon Anastigmat 140mm f/4.5 in an Ilex No. 3 Acme Syncro shutter.  That's a big shutter and it just barely fits this camera, can't close the camera with it though.  Lastly I made one for a Kodak Ektar 101mm f/4.5.  I wasn't sure if this lens would give good coverage but it does and allows for some movement. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 22, 2022, 09:35:33 PM
That looks mighty good. I just 3D print mine, so I'm stuck with low temperature PLA that can warp if left in the car on a hot summer day.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 25, 2022, 03:23:00 PM
francois: how did you get on with the minox stuff? You got me curious :)
Yesterday I developed the only roll I had that was taken by my grandfather. Sad news, the film was fogged beyond the point of no return.
With the scanner, I could crank-up the contrast to see that there were people like shapes in some of the photos, but I simply couldn't say more than that.
But on the up side, the spool worked very well despite having to deal with the springiest piece of film I've ever seen in my life!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on July 28, 2022, 04:46:12 PM
Nice job on the mold, looks like the lensboard came out perfect.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on July 29, 2022, 12:04:29 AM
Nice job on the mold, looks like the lensboard came out perfect.

Thanks, the back side looks great, the front face was rough around the edges where I made it thicker.  I cleaned it up a bit with a Dremel tool.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on October 09, 2022, 04:59:45 PM
Just an excuse to bump the thread...

I finished this GX today (finally) with some laser-cut fabric covers. Something I'm experimenting with. I modified it to use current lithium batteries instead of the obsolete ones it was made for. It has a 40/1.7 lens which I've heard good things about. I just need to get a film in it now.

(https://i.imgur.com/3MnKTVLl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/g1lJwQpl.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on October 09, 2022, 06:25:45 PM
Just an excuse to bump the thread...

I finished this GX today (finally) with some laser-cut fabric covers. Something I'm experimenting with. I modified it to use current lithium batteries instead of the obsolete ones it was made for. It has a 40/1.7 lens which I've heard good things about. I just need to get a film in it now.

Nice work Peter!  How did you do the battery modification.  I know that can get kind of complicated like what this guy did: ][https://ludens.cl/Electron/mercreg/mercreg.html] (http://[https://ludens.cl/Electron/mercreg/mercreg.html)  At least for me that's complicated, may be simple for someone with some training in electronics.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 09, 2022, 08:29:01 PM
I know that converting a camera to use a silver cell is often just adding an inline diode to the battery, so that's easy.
Using lithium, that's something I never really thought about.
I'm really wondering what kind of lithium cells fit in an Electro?
That probably involves adding adding a step-up voltage converter somewhere in the camera...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on October 10, 2022, 09:36:02 AM
Battery mod was pretty simple because the Electros are very voltage tolerant so you don't need to worry about getting the exact voltage. The Lithium is 3V so one battery replaces the original two. The battery is smaller diameter but the same length so fits in the existing socket. I added a bit of foam to stop it moving around. So to modify it for use with a single battery would just need a wire moved or fill the gap of the second battery with a a spring or something to short across the contacts. I thought it would be useful to be able to have two batteries as the capacity of the lithium is smaller than the original batteries. It's not recommended to put two batteries in parallel due to the possibility of one charging the other if they have different charges. A Schottky diode in series with each stops that. The only other thing I did was to alter the battery label to show the correct orientation of the two batteries.

Note that the GX uses different batteries to the earlier Electro series so this doesn't apply to them.

(https://i.imgur.com/5C73etXl.jpg)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 10, 2022, 03:39:07 PM
That's pretty much what I can see from that. My Electro35G uses a round battery that's about the size of a CR123A, so I was really puzzled at how you could get 5.6v out of one of those.

I'm starting to wonder if there isn't a better way on mine to make a good mod other than using a rare 6v alkaline...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on October 10, 2022, 04:41:25 PM
That's pretty much what I can see from that. My Electro35G uses a round battery that's about the size of a CR123A, so I was really puzzled at how you could get 5.6v out of one of those.

I'm starting to wonder if there isn't a better way on mine to make a good mod other than using a rare 6v alkaline...

An adapter with a 4LR44, or similar, will usually work with the older Electros. The problem is the 4LR44 type batteries can't supply sufficient current so the actual voltage you get, on load, is a lot less than 6 volts. But the Electros can usually cope with it due to the bridge design of the circuit. But you may find the battery check lamp doesn't work. 2 x CR1/3N can also be used and the lithiums can deliver more current so the voltage doesn't drop off quite so much on load.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 10, 2022, 09:00:39 PM
I could 3D print a sleeve to hold them.
I just hope that the voltage won't affect the exposure meter too much...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on October 10, 2022, 10:35:26 PM
Hi all,
Recently I made some lens boards for my Rittreck 5x7 out of old phenolic sheet.  Also made an adapter board for Graflex, as most of my lenses are on Graflex boards anyway. Considering it took me two days to fabricate and paint it...perhaps it wasn't such a good deal to make my own.... but I needed something to do :-)

A new Bellows is next,

Cheers
Jonathan
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 10, 2022, 10:47:07 PM
Why not?
'Cause in the end, when you buy commercial stuff, you're essentially just buying something other people made themselves.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on October 11, 2022, 02:26:02 AM
I hadn't considered that.... I suppose your right :D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on October 11, 2022, 02:57:08 AM
Those lens boards look great.  That will be a really nice camera when you're done with it. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on October 11, 2022, 10:55:02 AM
I could 3D print a sleeve to hold them.
I just hope that the voltage won't affect the exposure meter too much...
It won't. I wrote this sometime ago. Might be worth a read.

https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series (https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 11, 2022, 03:11:30 PM
I could 3D print a sleeve to hold them.
I just hope that the voltage won't affect the exposure meter too much...
It won't. I wrote this sometime ago. Might be worth a read.

https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series (https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series)

I'm going to check it out. Thanks!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on October 12, 2022, 07:07:41 AM
Thanks Bryan,
Have been working on the bellows this week and got them installed today. Hopefully no light leaks....fingers crossed! :o


Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 13, 2022, 03:47:14 PM
I could 3D print a sleeve to hold them.
I just hope that the voltage won't affect the exposure meter too much...
It won't. I wrote this sometime ago. Might be worth a read.

https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series (https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series)
I checked it out last night and I'm starting to wonder if replacing the lamps by LEDs would be a good idea?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on October 13, 2022, 03:53:39 PM
I could 3D print a sleeve to hold them.
I just hope that the voltage won't affect the exposure meter too much...
It won't. I wrote this sometime ago. Might be worth a read.

https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series (https://www.contax139.co.uk/replacement-battery-for-yashica-electro-35-series)
I checked it out last night and I'm starting to wonder if replacing the lamps by LEDs would be a good idea?
That would reduce the drain on the batteries and make them last longer but wouldn't have any effect on the voltage during exposure as the lamps are off during the exposure.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 13, 2022, 07:47:02 PM
Do you think it's worth the hassle?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on October 13, 2022, 10:05:30 PM
Do you think it's worth the hassle?
Is what worth the hassle? Changing the lamps to LEDs? No, not in my opinion. The early Electros are usable with a modern 6V battery and an adapter. The battery check light may not work and the exposure lamps may be dim but they are usable. Just use it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on October 13, 2022, 11:14:53 PM
Pretty much what I was thinking. Besides, I might not be able to get LEDs with the proper size...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 26, 2022, 08:18:38 PM
Finally I won!
This project has been kicking my butt in every imaginable way. Finicky fit, blind measurements, design mistakes and everything in between.
But now, it's finally over!
I've had this Burke & James Grover 4x5 for over 20 years. When I got it, it was in really bad shape. At some point it had been set on fire (there was a spot of charred paint), the bellows looked like they had been chewed by a rottweiler, it was missing some parts. But on the up side the lens on it was good. So I moved the optics to a hand made Graflex lens board. But I just couldn't leave a broken camera alone, so I restored it. But I was still missing a lens. So I decided to make an adapter.

So, I can now mount those Graflex lens boards on it. It took me 5 versions of the frame to get it right... a far cry from my usual "get it done in 3 or less" mode of operation.

Here are the photos.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: rotarysmp on November 30, 2022, 02:29:53 PM
You made a really nice job of that restoration Francois.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 30, 2022, 02:53:37 PM
Thanks!
It was one of those projects that drags on forever.
Thing is that this is a quite heavy studio camera for which I don't have much use. But I simply couldn't get rid of it as it had so much potential. Now I need to figure out a way to make it a nice stand that doesn't take up as much space as that huge tripod that I have.
I guess I'll have to make a studio stand for it...
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: rotarysmp on November 30, 2022, 09:05:13 PM
"...camera for which I don't have much use..."
I can relate to that :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on November 30, 2022, 10:47:05 PM
I guess we can all relate to that  ;)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on December 02, 2022, 05:46:32 PM
Beautiful job on your restoration Francois, ;D and kudos on your adapter lens board!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 02, 2022, 06:16:56 PM
Thanks   :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: irv_b on December 02, 2022, 07:57:09 PM
Finally I won!
This project has been kicking my butt in every imaginable way. Finicky fit, blind measurements, design mistakes and everything in between.
But now, it's finally over!
I've had this Burke & James Grover 4x5 for over 20 years. When I got it, it was in really bad shape. At some point it had been set on fire (there was a spot of charred paint), the bellows looked like they had been chewed by a rottweiler, it was missing some parts. But on the up side the lens on it was good. So I moved the optics to a hand made Graflex lens board. But I just couldn't leave a broken camera alone, so I restored it. But I was still missing a lens. So I decided to make an adapter.

So, I can now mount those Graflex lens boards on it. It took me 5 versions of the frame to get it right... a far cry from my usual "get it done in 3 or less" mode of operation.

Here are the photos.

Great work there Francois, that looks so tasty, that would be a real conversation started if you manage to get out on the streets with it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on December 02, 2022, 09:11:31 PM
It would definitely attract crowds that's for sure.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 30, 2023, 12:14:49 AM
Continuing to work on lens boards for my Crown Graphic 34, originally posted about it here: https://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg139760#msg139760 (https://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=8655.msg139760#msg139760).  I made a new mold and figured out a few ways to make some improvements.  The one on the left has an aluminum face, stronger, flatter and looks better.  I have a 170mm f/6.3 Kodak Anastigmat mounted in it.  The one on the right has an extension since the 30cm f/9 Zeiss APO-Tessar was just slightly out of the range of the full extension of the camera.  I used a section of 2 inch PVC pipe to make the extension and poured the plastic around it.  I can focus as close as about 2 meters with it. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 30, 2023, 03:04:01 PM
Looks pretty good.
You don't have problems with air bubbles when doing the epoxy?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 30, 2023, 04:46:13 PM
Looks pretty good.
You don't have problems with air bubbles when doing the epoxy?
The Polyurethane resin I'm using is quite thin right after it's mixed so bubbles aren't a problem.  You have to work quickly, it hardens kind of fast.  The mold is quite tight where the lip of the lens board is so I inject the resin into those areas with a Pipette.  Then I massage the mold a little to force any air out.  The only place I really had problems with bubbles was when I made the mold.  The silicone material is thick and it has to be mixed thoroughly, hard not to make bubbles.  One way to do away with that is to put it in a vacuum chamber after pouring the mold.  I didn't have that so I do get a few bumps from those bubbles, they are easy to cut off with a razor knife. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on January 30, 2023, 06:19:23 PM
Nice job Bryan, those look great !! :)

How do you like the old Kodak lens? I have one of those and Ive always wondered how it would perform on 4x5. :o
Just a thought....But one other thing you may want to try for mold making is "Dental Lab Stone".  Ive used it on several mold projects and its useful stuff.  Amazon even sells it... ;D

Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 30, 2023, 08:56:06 PM
Looks pretty good.
You don't have problems with air bubbles when doing the epoxy?
The Polyurethane resin I'm using is quite thin right after it's mixed so bubbles aren't a problem.  You have to work quickly, it hardens kind of fast.  The mold is quite tight where the lip of the lens board is so I inject the resin into those areas with a Pipette.  Then I massage the mold a little to force any air out.  The only place I really had problems with bubbles was when I made the mold.  The silicone material is thick and it has to be mixed thoroughly, hard not to make bubbles.  One way to do away with that is to put it in a vacuum chamber after pouring the mold.  I didn't have that so I do get a few bumps from those bubbles, they are easy to cut off with a razor knife.
I know that model makers often use pressure to shrink bubbles instead of out-gasing them using a vacuum. I figure it's something that would be fairly easy to do using an old pressure cooker and a compressor. But I don't know how well it would work with silicone.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on January 30, 2023, 09:40:12 PM
Nice job Bryan, those look great !! :)

How do you like the old Kodak lens? I have one of those and Ive always wondered how it would perform on 4x5. :o
Just a thought....But one other thing you may want to try for mold making is "Dental Lab Stone".  Ive used it on several mold projects and its useful stuff.  Amazon even sells it... ;D
I've had that lens sitting in a drawer for years and have never used it.  I don't even know what camera it came from.  Doing a little searching I think it was from a No. 3A Autographic Pocket Kodak which had a 3-1/4" by 5-1/2" film format.  From what I have read it's a great lens and should be able to cover up to 5X7.  It's often used on 4X5.  I'm looking forward to giving it a try. 

I used to have something similar to the Dental Lab Stone but I don't think it would have worked well for this mold.  I needed it to be flexible so I could get it out of the mold without doing damage.  The silicone can be re-used many times.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on January 31, 2023, 04:23:16 PM
And silicone is what is used in the modeling industry.
Sometimes they do an alginate mold first that they encase in silicone, but that's only useful for very precise details.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on February 08, 2023, 02:45:13 PM
Since I wear glasses I always try to find diopters for my cameras viewfinders. It's easier to find the newer the camera is, but some of the old ones are difficult to find. Nikon made diopters for the Nikon SP, but if you are lucky enough to find one today you have to be prepared for some considerable pain in your wallet. But things can be modified, and I found a solution on the Nikon Historical Society. You will need a diopter for the Nikon EM, some small files, a slide caliper, some fine sandpaper (#200 to #300) and a bit of thin cardboard (postcard) to protect the glass while filing. If you are a bit careful it will fit very nicely and it's hard to tell that it's not original. Some of the round Nikon diopters will fit on other cameras too, I've used them on Zeiss and Fuji cameras.
The pictures below show the diopter + before and after.
NB! Diopters are the same as correction lenses.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 08, 2023, 03:21:50 PM
And it's probably a lot easier to do than my usual 3D print and cut custom cut lens to fit.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Kai-san on February 08, 2023, 09:48:28 PM
I spent about an hour on that job, so it's quickly done. Still trying to find diopters for Exa and Exakta, not sure if there ever was any. I might try to modify something that looks similar.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on February 09, 2023, 02:31:43 PM
Personally, I'd go for the modification route, especially if you can find something really cheap that almost fits.
If not, there's no other choice but cutting up a pair of cheap reading glasses and printing a custom adapter for it.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on February 16, 2023, 06:51:56 PM
Nice job!! and great idea on sourcing available diopters.  I think I'm going to give this a try  :)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on April 09, 2023, 10:31:12 AM
I just made myself a low tech UV light box. It is a crude design and took less than half an hour to put together with a Eurobox and some cable binders, but it does the job. The first test cyanotype looks good, only a stop overexposed.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 09, 2023, 05:28:05 PM
That's going to be a good printer  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Pete_R on April 09, 2023, 05:47:59 PM
I just made myself a low tech UV light box. It is a crude design and took less than half an hour to put together with a Eurobox and some cable binders, but it does the job. The first test cyanotype looks good, only a stop overexposed.

What light source are you using? Looks like LEDs?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: ManuelL on April 09, 2023, 07:32:39 PM

What light source are you using? Looks like LEDs?

Yes, I used some black light LED lamps I got from Amazon. There is a bit of a gap between the lamps, but as long as they are more than 20cm from the print frame this is not an issue. The lamps are getting quite warm after a while. This is the reason I used a this basket like box and not a solid one.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on April 09, 2023, 09:11:56 PM
The good thing about blacklights is that they fall smack-dab in the middle of the sensitivity curve for cyanotype.
And as a bonus you can use them at your next party 😁
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 08, 2023, 05:37:43 PM
Finally!
This has got to be the longest, most annoying, most crushingly depressing thing I've ever built.
Last December, I began to want to have a new camera. But I didn't want to spend, so that left me with no option other than the DIY route.
I began thinking about a 35mm pinhole camera. But I didn't want to just repurpose something I have in a drawer, I wanted something completely new.
I wanted something that would do square format on 35mm. So... that's how it all began.
I thought to myself "hey! I know FreeCAD, I have a 3D printer, it can't be that hard!"
yeah, right. :-\
I must here quote a wise man who said:"We embark on such projects not because they are easy, but because we're too stupid to really know how hard they really are."
So, I embarked on what would be the biggest nightmare project I've ever built, complete with sleepless nights, doubt, and the perpetual feeling of failure that was coming back to smack me in the head at every revision.
And revisions, there were. The initial design had 7... and I had to abandon it because it was too hard to maintain. Then, the second design got 10 revisions before this. Lots of parts that didn't work, some that couldn't be printed at all. I had to go through more than half a spool of filament just to get to this point.
So, now that it's complete and seems to be working, I'm done with it.
I did a test with some paper and there aren't any light leaks. The frame advance counter actually works (I didn't want to use a clicker like everybody else does).
So, here's the camera and the first test. Now I need to figure out how not to put mu knuckles in the frame  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Adam Doe on May 09, 2023, 05:02:25 PM
Nice work Francois! I started on a few 3D printed pinhole designs. One, quite simply a box you can fit a 4x5 film holder on, works OK. Then when I attempted to create a compact design for 120 film... well let's just say I was too stupid to know how hard it was going to be  ;D
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 09, 2023, 07:29:59 PM
Welcome to the club  ;D

I must say that going for 35mm is extra hard as you need some way to measure the frames without letting light in.
Most designs use a clicker, but to me that's just bad design.

120 has the advantage that the frames can be counted through a simple hole.

But if you want some really nice designs, check out the work by Todd Schlemmer.
(https://www.thingiverse.com/schlem/designs)

I printed and modified two of his 4x5 cameras and they work well. Granted they needed a bit of help to make them light tight (painted hockey tape) and plenty of cyanoacrylate glue, but they're worth printing.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: astrobeck on May 23, 2023, 05:47:09 PM
"We embark on such projects not because they are easy, but because we're too stupid to really know how hard they really are.'
That could be the motto or mantra for most of us here at times.
In my case it's just pure stubbornness. I think it should work, when it obviously wont! EVER!
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on May 23, 2023, 09:26:14 PM
It's funny because in the workshop I have a copy of this poster that was made by Austin Kleon
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/ddda721acabb839724280c7b9d9f4c95/tumblr_ney6ezjCoL1qz6f4bo1_640.jpg)

I feel that it fits this motto to a tee 😊
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on June 30, 2023, 10:50:13 PM
I've had this lens for a long time and used it on my Rex Laboratories camera a few times but haven't been able to use it on my Crown Graphic.  The lens is a G. Rodenstock Munchen Doppel Anastigmat Eurynar 24cm, f/6.8.  The Rex Laboratories camera is not a very good camera and I have it converted to use as a 4X5 enlarger right now.  The problem with the Crown Graphic is it has no built in shutter like the Speed Graphic and there is no room to use a Packard shutter behind the lens board.  I could use the lens cap but that limits me to very long exposures.  I think I can get up to around 1/15 with the Packard shutter.  So my solution was to build this adapter that allows room for the Packard shutter behind the wood lens board. 

This setup also gives me some extension for the long 24cm focal length.  The bracket that holds the lens on may get changed to something better at a later time.  It seems to work pretty good with the elastic cord. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on June 30, 2023, 11:03:40 PM
Packard shutters are really nice for those applications.
But a bit out of my budget... but I plan on eventually making this instead (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6033871).
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on July 01, 2023, 05:28:43 AM
Packard shutters are really nice for those applications.
But a bit out of my budget... but I plan on eventually making this instead (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6033871).

That’s an interesting project, someone needs to come up with a modern Packard shutter like that.  I’m sure my box could have been 3D printed but I’m still working in the Stone Age. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 01, 2023, 03:14:04 PM
I’m sure my box could have been 3D printed but I’m still working in the Stone Age. 
Don't worry about that, lots of things are more rapidly done in wood than 3D printed plastic.
I've begun using 3D printing mostly for the parts that would be a pain to do by hand. I must say that 6 months of designing a pinhole camera had a definite impact on me.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: EarlJam on July 01, 2023, 04:27:31 PM
Many (many) years ago I played around with a guillotine shutter. The one described here is similar in concept to the Graflex focal plane. I think it would be reasonably simple to make a set with different slot heights for various exposure times, and at minimal cost.

https://richardman.photo/2020/05/guillotine-vs-packard-shutters/ (https://richardman.photo/2020/05/guillotine-vs-packard-shutters/)
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on July 01, 2023, 10:22:41 PM
I've already done that with two handmade cameras.
They are quite lovely as they are both silent and smoother than anything I've ever encountered.
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: collodion on August 17, 2023, 05:25:13 PM
In the spirit of DIY,


Last year we had a pretty hard winter and a number of trees fell.  So not wanting to let good lumber go to waste.  I decided to use some Madrone wood, a hardwood common here in California. 


This January I came across an old Tachihara  6"x10" format back and film holders on the bay.  My thought was to adapt it to fit my old 8x10 view camera, and try out this odd...panoramic format. :o

For anyone that is interested.....Below is a link to a folder on my flickr page...since when ever I try to resize stuff for here, it looks like a hot mess! ;D
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100047767@N04/albums/72177720310559844 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/100047767@N04/albums/72177720310559844)

Cheers,
Jonathan
 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 17, 2023, 11:00:06 PM
Now that is a fine looking reducer back.
I had never seen wood like that before. It does have a pretty nice grain structure.
Is it really hard like persimon or softer like balsa (which is in the hardwood category BTW)?
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Bryan on August 18, 2023, 03:05:54 AM
In the spirit of DIY,


Last year we had a pretty hard winter and a number of trees fell.  So not wanting to let good lumber go to waste.  I decided to use some Madrone wood, a hardwood common here in California. 


This January I came across an old Tachihara  6"x10" format back and film holders on the bay.  My thought was to adapt it to fit my old 8x10 view camera, and try out this odd...panoramic format. :o

For anyone that is interested.....Below is a link to a folder on my flickr page...since when ever I try to resize stuff for here, it looks like a hot mess! ;D
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100047767@N04/albums/72177720310559844 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/100047767@N04/albums/72177720310559844)

Cheers,
Jonathan
Nice work, it looks great!  We have a lot of madrone trees up here in Washington.  It’s a very hard and dense wood.  If you pick up a log you’ll swear it was made of lead.  It’s the best firewood, high BTU value and burns for a long time. 
Title: Re: I just made/fixed ...
Post by: Francois on August 18, 2023, 04:16:51 PM
Here, we mostly have maple, oak and sadly no more ash as it's all being eaten by bugs.
You can still find a bit of birch here and there, but all the rest is pretty much pine and spruce.
So, anything other than that feel pretty exotic to me.