Hi Giorgio
mine is the zeiss ikonta C 6x9, I am not exactly sure what is the problem and how to check it as its my first encounter with a folder camera. I do also suspect its some issue with the linkage from the shutter button to the trigger beside the lens, as since i encounter this problem, the folder keeps pop open easily when its close.
i should prob show some pictures which will be easier to diagnose .
thanks
eddy
Hi Eddy,
Any luck? If not, PM me and I'll pull out one of my C's and walk you through my problem so you can see if it is your problem.
Even without my help, you can determine whether this is the problem by looking at the linkage -- most of it is visible, no disassembly required.
You wil see a linkage that translates the shutter button action from the left of the camera to the right (this is below the bellows), another linkage that translates the action from the rear of the bellows to under the lens. It is the position of this linkage relative to the shutter actuating lever on the lens itself that is sometimes the problem. Sometimes the little flange on the back to front rod ends up on the wrong side of shutter actuating lever attached to the lens. When this happens, you cannot trigger the shutter.
This is easy to determine. Open the camera, cock the shutter and fire it by moving the shutter lever itself. If that works, you know that the shutter is functioning and you also see which direction the shutter lever needs to move. Now look at the linkage below the lens while you push on the shutter button and you will see if the end of the rod from back to front is positioned correctly.
If not, this sometimes fixes itself by closing the camera and then opening it slowly. If this does fix it, you can sometimes fix it by opening the camera part way and looking at the linkage. If it is opening wrong, helping it by inserting at semi rigid object like a file card can help the linkage move to the correct position.
None of this requires any force -- DO NOT force anything.
Good luck.
Giorgio