Bessa RF door latch.

[Jbennett68]

So my new besa rf has one issue. Door latch is sticking. I had a bear of a time getting it open then it just popped open and I stupidly shut it. Now I can’t open it again. It’s like it’s not fully releasing. I put a drop of oil in the release slider to see if that helped. Any suggestions? Pic of camera and latch for reference.

 

[p.giannakis]

Is there any tension on the button when you pull it? Probably the spring has lost its shape and doesn't fully pull the latch.

 

[p.giannakis]

When you pull the button, does the door move at all giving you any leeway to pull the latch with a thin wire or something ?

 

[Jbennett68]

Is there any tension on the button when you pull it? Probably the spring has lost its shape and doesn't fully pull the latch.

There is tension. It seems appropriate.

 

[Jbennett68]

When you pull the button, does the door move at all giving you any leeway to pull the latch with a thin wire or something ?

Other than the one time it popped open it doesn’t seem to move and it pulled right to the body.

 

[p.giannakis]

Other than the one time it popped open it doesn’t seem to move and it pulled right to the body.

The only other thing I can think of is pull the button whilst pushing the door as much as it can go into the body (to remove any friction between the door and the latch) and give a couple of gentle taps hoping that the latch will move 🤷

If this works, you'll need to oil the moving parts of the standard. I did it with my Isolette as it was stiff opening.

Considering the rarity of this camera, I would take it straight to the doctor.

 

[Jbennett68]

The only other thing I can think of is pull the button whilst pushing the door as much as it can go into the body (to remove any friction between the door and the latch) and give a couple of gentle taps hoping that the latch will move 🤷

If this works, you'll need to oil the moving parts of the standard. I did it with my Isolette as it was stiff opening.

Considering the rarity of this camera, I would take it straight to the doctor.

Yeah. I’ll need to find someone I guess.

 

[p.giannakis]

If you are willing to take some risk (and taking for granted that there is a filter on the lens, you can try to push the standard from the back. Open the back, pull the latch button and give a gentle push to the rear of the lens assembly. Risky behaviour though.

 

[WoodallP]

Hi,

They are not easy to open at best I find. I have to slide it and simultaneously give the leather strap a good tug though I can't see a lot that can go wrong. I hope you sort it out as they are great cameras and the shiny black even gives early Barnacks a run for their money in the cool-look stakes.

 

[Jbennett68]

Got it. Yes. Someone recommended squeezing where the wire strap holders attach and that did it. I so t see what could need adjusting g. The slider looks like it’s traveling the full distance but I’m scared to close it again.

 

[p.giannakis]

Got it. Yes. Someone recommended squeezing where the wire strap holders attach and that did it. I so t see what could need adjusting g. The slider looks like it’s traveling the full distance but I’m scared to close it again. View attachment 4879737

Oh you meant the back door ! I thought you were talking about the standard door to erect the lens assembly 😖

 

[Jbennett68]

Oh you meant the back door ! I thought you were talking about the standard door to erect the lens assembly 😖

Yes. Film door. I should have been more clear. I can’t tell why it’s sticking. Now that it’s open I can see the release seems to travel its full path when I move the slider. Squeezing the body at those points helped. One guy in Europe Czech Republic told me they are often finicky. That may just be the way it is but I’m still hesitant to close it again. If anyone know of a source for a pdf of the manual I’d appreciate it. I can’t seem to locate this exact one.

 

[Jbennett68]

I just got a pdf of the manual in English if anyone needs one.

 

[Muggins]

Yes. Film door. I should have been more clear. I can’t tell why it’s sticking. Now that it’s open I can see the release seems to travel its full path when I move the slider. Squeezing the body at those points helped. One guy in Europe Czech Republic told me they are often finicky. That may just be the way it is but I’m still hesitant to close it again. If anyone know of a source for a pdf of the manual I’d appreciate it. I can’t seem to locate this exact one.

I know from experience with other cameras that those releases, with the two dogs on one side engaging in two on the other side, can be awkward, but I've never known one jam as thoroughly as yours had. Definitely a design weakness of the period.

Unfortunately, if it matches either of mine, the latch assembly is rivetted in, so will be a PITA to do anything with. My guess is that the dogs still overlap by a tiny fraction when the button is pushed sideways. Possibly carefully applying dry lube might help? Or jiggling the back gently as you try to pull the two sides apart? Certainly avoid applying BFI* on something in as nice condition as yours!

*Brute Force and Ignorance

 

[WoodallP]

I see you were lucky enough to get the 645 plate, I don't know how useful they are really but mine came without it.

 

[Muggins]

I have one* with and one without the mask, the latter came with a piece of card cut to act as a mask so people obviously used them.

How does the RF version account for the frame sizes - does it have frame lines? My pop-up vfs have ingeniously engineered masks, but that won't work in the RF version.

My Super Ikonta has frame lines printed on the viewfinder, but they just turn into a smear when you put it to your eye, it's like looking through chicken soup.

*much lesser standard models sadly

 

[Jbennett68]

I have one* with and one without the mask, the latter came with a piece of card cut to act as a mask so people obviously used them.

How does the RF version account for the frame sizes - does it have frame lines? My pop-up vfs have ingeniously engineered masks, but that won't work in the RF version.

My Super Ikonta has frame lines printed on the viewfinder, but they just turn into a smear when you put it to your eye, it's like looking through chicken soup.

*much lesser standard models sadly

There is a very small button on top that you turn to change the field of view. I assume there is an internal mask.

 

[Jbennett68]

I know from experience with other cameras that those releases, with the two dogs on one side engaging in two on the other side, can be awkward, but I've never known one jam as thoroughly as yours had. Definitely a design weakness of the period.

Unfortunately, if it matches either of mine, the latch assembly is rivetted in, so will be a PITA to do anything with. My guess is that the dogs still overlap by a tiny fraction when the button is pushed sideways. Possibly carefully applying dry lube might help? Or jiggling the back gently as you try to pull the two sides apart? Certainly avoid applying BFI* on something in as nice condition as yours!

*Brute Force and Ignorance

I’ve got pretty adept at opening g it the last couple days. It’s almost like that sturdy handle was part of the procedure. Handle need a tug away from the body and up to relieve the pressure and it opens right up.