Canon LTM A35F trouble

[schow]

Hi Everyone!
Well, first of all, let me say that it's a pleasure to find this forum! 🙂
However, I wish our meeting could be under pleasanter circumstances.

Let me explain. I recently dug up my mother's old Canon A35F with the hopes of using it again. It had been in its case for years without use. So anyway, I replace both batteries and loaded up the film, and noticed that the light meter wasn't working. It's on perpetual underexposure. I flipped it up side down to see if the meter would just drop, but it stayed at underexposure. 😕

The batter that I'm using is 1.35V from Wein. It says it replaces the PX 625, which is what the A35F used run on. Is it concievable that the battery I just bought today was faulty?

Anyways, that' my dilemma. I'm not too happy about it because this is the camera that I learned on. Like I said, it was my mom's, and she even bought it before I was born!

Is there anything that I, as an amateur amatuer, can do? Any suggestions? Maybe I missed something? I would really hate for it to be just a conversational piece for guests...


Thanks for the time.
Sherm

 

[schow]

Hmm. maybe I will try and find someone to look at it. Anyone know of any good camera repair shops in the Tampa Bay area?

 

[John Shriver]

Might be cheaper to buy a working one on eBay. Cheap film cameras are amazingly cheap now.

 

[schow]

Hi John,
You know, I did look for them on ebay. I actually lost an auction on one of them. It went for about 30.00. There is a broken one up for sale as well.

 

[zuikologist]

The Wein cell sometimes does not produce enough current for some cameras. It migh be worth trying the 1.5v modern px625 to see if it helps.

 

[schow]

Hmmm...I popped a 675 hearing aid battery in there and still no go. I do notice that the 675 batteries are much smaller than the 625. Do I have to do anything special or minor tinkering to get the 675 working "properly"?

Are the 625 alkalines sort of rare? I just called a few camera shops and walmarts etc. and they don' t have them. The camera shops only had Wein.

Additionally, I just looked and the contacts are a little splotchy with dark spots. I think some vinegar and a qtip might clean that up?

Thanks for the time
Sherm

 

[zuikologist]

Cleaning the contacts might do the trick. Even a little corrosion can block the battery current.

 

[schow]

It Works!

It Works!

So I just cleaned the contacts 10 minutes ago, and I popped the battery in, looked through the rangefinder, and BAM! the meter is working!

I'm so happy because this is my mom's camera from before I was born!

Thank you, zuikologist, for giving me last bit of support! *90 degree bow*
I admit, I was a little hesitant because they were merely pinhead sized dirty spots, but it did the trick!

sherm

 

[zuikologist]

Another RF camera lives!I hope it works well. Hopefully the Wein cell gives the correct metering.

 

[schow]

Damn. Now I seem to have a problem with the flash not working. New battery and the compartment is clean. When it's underexposed, I pop out the flash, and I still can't take a pic.
Anybody ever repair an A35F with this problem? Maybe a loose to gooses wire or something...?

Sherm

 

[schow]

Heya G'man,
well, I can hear the capacitor charge up, and the ready light is on if that makes any difference. I do however hear that constant humming noise when the flash is popped out. Does that mean anything?

Sherm

 

[schow]

"The contacts for the pop flash head may be corroded. If they don't make contact, it can't fire."

The contacts in the flash battery compartment don't look corroded. Wouldn't vinegear do the trick?

Any ideas other than that? I'm sure flash photography is its strongpoint, but still....

Appreciate the time
Sherman

 

[schow]

Golly, if you're saying that, it's not a job for me!

Sherm

 

[Dradis]

I know this thread is long dead, and I believe Sherm may have already solved his problem, but I wanted to provide an answer for anyone who stumbles upon this post as I did. I had the exact same problem yesterday and had followed the exact same steps right down to the type of battery, but never found a direct answer. Later I found in one person's general disription of the camera that the shutter speed and aperture are both coupled to the focal distance. If the camera is focused to far away, such as 50m or inf., then the shutter will lock.

I spent a long time trying to figure out why my shutter was locked while the flash was on and all I had to do was focus closer. Since I wasn't actually trying to take a picture I had never bothered to focus it.

 

[FrankS]

Excellent information, thanks!

 

[Danny_]

I own an a35F but just got into.street photography. Will it work without batteries?
I think the battery died because the aperture blades are closed and only rarely will the film advance.lever move. Can anyone help?

 

[FrankS]

That camera cannot work without a battery.

 

[Janz]

Get a cheap LR44 and pop it in, metering works okey. Seems to underexpose by a little.

 

[mortalenema]

The 1.4v zinc air hearing aid batteries work great. U675? Pretty cheap, too.

 

[grapejohnson]

Just got a free one of these today, albeit rife with problems.

-The contacts for the meter were blue and cruddy, and the meter always reads underexposed even with a fresh battery. I need to go over it again with a Q-Tip. I have some LR44s lying around so they ought to work for now. I had an old wein cell, but then I remembered that it was DOA when I bought it.

-The flash charges and goes off every now and then, but other times it just has the tiniest hint of light in the right corner otherwise -- is it coupled to the meter somehow? I know the flash only goes off when you're to a certain distance based on previous posts here. I'll clean the contacts for the flash battery as well again and see.

-Mine has the infamous Canon squeak, both in the shutter and the advance, but it only happens about nine out of ten times. Does this effect the shutter speed, or is it fine if I can live with it? How does one go about lubing the shutter without destroying the lens?

Does anyone work on these? My friend who gave it to me bought it for about $15, and has taken a few really good pictures with it, but he didn't feel like giving it the TLC to get it back into working order. Any help would be nice, the 40mm lens seems awesome!