Help me diagnose what is wrong with this SRT-303

[p.giannakis]

Hi Everyone,

I have this SRT which i really like and use but it displays shutter capping at 1/1000.
At 1/500, it all works well - exposure looks accurate enough.




The problem is the 1/1000. Same picture as above, just adjusted to 1/1000



Now, tell me if i got it right and looking forwards to ideas as to how to solve it.

Two things are wrong.
a) both shutters are overtensioned and looks like it is underexposing at 1/1000
b) the second curtain is more tensioned as it is catching up in the begining and creates the dark band on the left.

So - if i got it right - i need to release tension from both curtains but more so on the second curtain.

Is that correct?

 

[Erik van Straten]

When you think the camera underexposes at 1/1000 the problem must be undertensioning of the opening (first) curtain or overtensioning of the closing (second) curtain. However, if all the other speeds are OK, it is better to leave things as they are and simply not use 1/1000. A good top speed of 1/500 is just fine.

Erik.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

A second problem you have is that the image has streaks in it. These are caused by the shutter curtain having bumps in the fabric that wraps around the metal slats at the ends of the curtains. DAG has an explanation on his website, as the problem happens on a lot of screwmount Leicas. This only happens on cameras whose shutter curtain ends wrap around the metal slats; those with the slats on the outside of the curtains cannot have that happen.

 

[p.giannakis]

Thanks for your replies guys.

 

[Erik van Straten]

A second problem you have is that the image has streaks in it. These are caused by the shutter curtain having bumps in the fabric that wraps around the metal slats at the ends of the curtains. DAG has an explanation on his website, as the problem happens on a lot of screwmount Leicas. This only happens on cameras whose shutter curtain ends wrap around the metal slats; those with the slats on the outside of the curtains cannot have that happen.

This phenomenon only occurs at the high speeds because the slit then is very small. So with this type of cameras it is better to avoid high speeds like 1/250, 1/500 and 1/1000. Usually the 1/200 on the early Leicas is OK. These cameras were built in an era without high speed films.

Erik.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This phenomenon only occurs at the high speeds because the slit then is very small. So with this type of cameras it is better to avoid high speeds like 1/250, 1/500 and 1/1000. Usually the 1/200 on the early Leicas is OK. These cameras were built in an era without high speed films.

Erik.

The problem is fixable by replacing the curtains and having the shutter CLAd. There's no reason to use a broken camera; I hate using stuff that does not 'just work.'