Fixing up a Pen EES

[Mikeds80]

So my new (to me) pen EES needs some loving. I got about 3 shots out of it until the meter stopped registering any light at all. Now It refuses to shoot in automatic mode and I'm assuming it's the meter since it will still shoot with the flash settings. The shutter also likes to stick in the open position every few times and probably needs to be cleaned. Finally, the whole lens assembly wiggles considerably, probably some loose or missing screws.

I've looked up how to disassemble the Pen and work on the shutter but it looks a little daunting to me since I have no experience repairing cameras.

Should I even bother trying to fix it myself or just bring it to a shop?

Any advice is much appreciated!

 

[camera.bear]

If you have good instructions and take your time, it should be possible for you to clean the blades and get the camera back in order. I am not a good camera repairman and I have fixed both my Pen EES-2 and my Trip. The main thing is to go slowly and not get frustraited. It is worth it to have and shoot these cameras.

 

[ChrisN]

Here's a page on the repair:

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/penees2repair.html

 

[Mikeds80]

Are their any special tools I would need? I was looking at a guide to taking the top off and the person doing it had to improvise a few tools which had mixed results.

 

[Muggins]

If you can, I'd get hold of a set of JIS screwdrivers - japanese screws have a different standard to everyone elses. I've dismantled a Trip 35 with them (and another without), and they really make a difference on tight screws. I have to say, though, that I've never tried getting into a Pen, so I can't really help with anything else.

If you are in the US, I think I got my JIS set from a company called Moody Tools. They've no UK distributor, so if you are over here, you may have to resort to subterfuge via RFF to get a set...

Actually, having gone back and checked the article, I think every screw in the Pen is slot- rather than crosshead, so JIS tools aren't needed. A decent set of screwdrivers would still be good, though - my other set are Wiha Picodrive, and they are very, very good.

Adrian

 

[Mikeds80]

How exactly do I get the selenium cell out? I have the outer lens and ring out but can't find a way to get the cell to come out. The guide says that there are 3 screws holding it in but it doesn't say where and I don't see any.

EDIT: So I got the top off and tested the meter needle and it doesn't move at all in response to light. I got out my voltmeter and hooked up the prongs to the positive and negative wires on the camera. There was a pretty decent jump in the voltmeter's needle when I put some light into the selenium sensor, but the camera's needle remained stationary.

Would this mean that the selenium sensor has degraded enough as to be unable to move the needle, but still detect a little light? Could there be a fault in the needle mechanism? When I first took the camera out of the box it fired off a few shots and the meter appeared to be working in response to light. It seems odd that it would quit so suddenly if the selenium sensor has indeed degraded (I would assume that degradation would be a gradual process).

If the meter is actually dead then how useful would my pen be without the automatic features?

Thank you all for your help so far!

 

[ampguy]

I don't have this model, I have the fixed focus EE2 (not S) so I'm just guessing.

I don't think the camera would be that useful if the meter is dead, but are you sure it is dead? Have you tried a roll through it in auto mode by setting the ISO only?

If the meter is dead or intermittent, I guess you use the flash manual mode for setting aperture, but I think you are then stuck with the slow speed (1/30th, or 1/40th) ?

The way I check my meter is by verifying the red flag comes up in the dark, then goes off in brighter light. Can also notice slightly that the selected aperture opens or closes, but this is harder to see. I kind of think of the metering as a black box type of thing, like the Yashica GSN, fortunately it just seems to work, when the film comes back.

 

[Mikeds80]

When I took it out initially the meter would flag me in the dark and let me take a picture if it was pointed at light (out a window). Then I took the camera with me to work in the sunlight and it started flagging me all the time. This was all in auto mode.