Phantomas
Well-known
Hello people! I don't post here, you might even call me new, but I've been lurking for quite some time and find this site great with wealth of information.
Here's my probably first question here. I own quite a few rangefinders, mostly old Russian cameras due to direct and cheap (or free) access to them and some German and Japanese stuff in between, nothing too fancy like Leica though
A couple of my Russian friends are acting less perfect than desired and while this doesn't effect me negatively (more cameras than I can use daily) I'd still like to fix them. The value of these cameras doesn't justify third party CLA cost, and even after fixing I'd probably not use them much. So I decided to try to do it myself.
Because I own so many cameras (and more to come!) I think it would be a good idea if I can dig into them and be able to at least perform some basic maintenance/tuning. Plus I've got two to experiment with - a Zorki 2c with sticky short shutter speeds and a Fed 2 with stuck rangefinder lever. I've also been able to pick up an old (1961) Russian rangefinder fixing guide on a flee market on my recent trip in Ukraine. I can read Russian so no problem. It's a thick book with detailed explanation of all pre-61 Russian cameras and their parts. It also gives a good insight into rangefinder class camera innards in general. Score!
I consider myself fairly handy, always trying to repair stuff, but lack experience with small fragile objects like cameras. I'm confident I'll be able to handle them though. What I do need though is the right tools. I have a few but none that will handle small parts of cameras.
I'd like your advice - is there any resource out there that gives a list of essential tools required for camera fixing? Obviously I can imagine the basic screwdrivers, tweezers and such. But what are other basic tools I need to safely start opening up a camera? Lubricants? Maybe some sites that sell "camera fixing essential tool sets". Any tips or experiences you've had with some really handy stuff you've used?
Any such info appreciated!
Here's my probably first question here. I own quite a few rangefinders, mostly old Russian cameras due to direct and cheap (or free) access to them and some German and Japanese stuff in between, nothing too fancy like Leica though
A couple of my Russian friends are acting less perfect than desired and while this doesn't effect me negatively (more cameras than I can use daily) I'd still like to fix them. The value of these cameras doesn't justify third party CLA cost, and even after fixing I'd probably not use them much. So I decided to try to do it myself.
Because I own so many cameras (and more to come!) I think it would be a good idea if I can dig into them and be able to at least perform some basic maintenance/tuning. Plus I've got two to experiment with - a Zorki 2c with sticky short shutter speeds and a Fed 2 with stuck rangefinder lever. I've also been able to pick up an old (1961) Russian rangefinder fixing guide on a flee market on my recent trip in Ukraine. I can read Russian so no problem. It's a thick book with detailed explanation of all pre-61 Russian cameras and their parts. It also gives a good insight into rangefinder class camera innards in general. Score!
I consider myself fairly handy, always trying to repair stuff, but lack experience with small fragile objects like cameras. I'm confident I'll be able to handle them though. What I do need though is the right tools. I have a few but none that will handle small parts of cameras.
I'd like your advice - is there any resource out there that gives a list of essential tools required for camera fixing? Obviously I can imagine the basic screwdrivers, tweezers and such. But what are other basic tools I need to safely start opening up a camera? Lubricants? Maybe some sites that sell "camera fixing essential tool sets". Any tips or experiences you've had with some really handy stuff you've used?
Any such info appreciated!
Last edited:
Phantomas
Well-known
Keith - perfect! The fact that they have euro distribution makes it even better. They've got a lot, will start browsing. Thanks!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Keith's right. ALL my specialist tools are Microtools!
Cheers,
R.
Cheers,
R.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Hello people! I don't post here, you might even call me new, but I've been lurking for quite some time and find this site great with wealth of information.
Here's my probably first question here. I own quite a few rangefinders, mostly old Russian cameras due to direct and cheap (or free) access to them and some German and Japanese stuff in between, nothing too fancy like Leica though
A couple of my Russian friends are acting less perfect than desired and while this doesn't effect me negatively (more cameras than I can use daily) I'd still like to fix them. The value of these cameras doesn't justify third party CLA cost, and even after fixing I'd probably not use them much. So I decided to try to do it myself.
Because I own so many cameras (and more to come!) I think it would be a good idea if I can dig into them and be able to at least perform some basic maintenance/tuning. Plus I've got two to experiment with - a Zorki 2c with sticky short shutter speeds and a Fed 2 with stuck rangefinder lever. I've also been able to pick up an old (1961) Russian rangefinder fixing guide on a flee market on my recent trip in Ukraine. I can read Russian so no problem. It's a thick book with detailed explanation of all pre-61 Russian cameras and their parts. It also gives a good insight into rangefinder class camera innards in general. Score!
I consider myself fairly handy, always trying to repair stuff, but lack experience with small fragile objects like cameras. I'm confident I'll be able to handle them though. What I do need though is the right tools. I have a few but none that will handle small parts of cameras.
I'd like your advice - is there any resource out there that gives a list of essential tools required for camera fixing? Obviously I can imagine the basic screwdrivers, tweezers and such. But what are other basic tools I need to safely start opening up a camera? Lubricants? Maybe some sites that sell "camera fixing essential tool sets". Any tips or experiences you've had with some really handy stuff you've used?
Any such info appreciated!
Basic things to get (from Micro Tools or elsewhere), in no particular order:
1. precision screwdrivers
2. lens spanners (1/8 in. tips, 1/16 in. tips and pencil-point tips minimum)
3. lens clamps
4. electrical multimeter
5. hobbiest's pliers
6. lens vice
7. hobbiest's tweezers
8. needle files
9. rotary tool and bits
10. a lot of small containers
11. naptha
12. distilled water
13. many super-industrial-size containers of Q-tips
14. denatured alcohol
15. either Nye or Hoppes oil
16. lithium grease
17. needle oiler
18. dental hooks
19. small "Minimag" flashlight for checking bellows
20. big box of assorted thin scrap leather and leatherette
21. six-inch steel rule
22. vernier calipers
23. circle templates
24. hole punches
25. rivet set and rivets
26. compass (the drafting kind)
27. gallons and gallons of contact cement
28. huge crates of small artist's brushes
29. X-Acto knives
30. sandpaper, crocus cloth, steel wool, and metal polish
31. air brush and lots of little bottles of enamel paints
32. paint sticks
33. cafeteria lunch tray, lined with felt (no, I'm not kidding -- it will save you a lot of trouble working over this because parts won't bounce or roll off the workbench and get lost forever)
34. blue low-tack painter's tape
35. Lots of leather care materials.
Muggins
Junk magnet
Slightly tangentially, anyone care to name a brand or grade of lithium grease? So we know what to look out for. I've just lubed my first helicoid, as the actress said to the bishop, and it's just that bit stiffer than I'd like it (actress/bishop again).
Adrian
Adrian
mooge
Well-known
if it's only sold at Micro-tools, you might not need it. I've got no specialist stuff and I've cracked open a Kiev, Yupiter-8 and a few SLRs.
naptha/lighter fluid is a MUST, you'll need it to fix your Zorki.
good luck!
naptha/lighter fluid is a MUST, you'll need it to fix your Zorki.
good luck!
FallisPhoto
Veteran
If it is too stiff, you need a slicker grease. Rock-N-Roll Super Slick Grease: http://www.rocklube.com/products_detail_superslick.html
bmattock
Veteran
The basics are these:
1-lens spanners from Micro-tools in the appropriate sizes.
2-assortment of tiny screwdrivers from Micro-tools.
3-Q-Tips.
4-Ronsonol, Zippo, or similar liquid lighter fluid.
That will get you through 90% of camera repair issues on classic mechanical cameras.
1-lens spanners from Micro-tools in the appropriate sizes.
2-assortment of tiny screwdrivers from Micro-tools.
3-Q-Tips.
4-Ronsonol, Zippo, or similar liquid lighter fluid.
That will get you through 90% of camera repair issues on classic mechanical cameras.
dmr
Registered Abuser
One thing I might add, and if you can borrow one you probably don't need to buy it since they are kind of expensive, is a good voltmeter, one that has an ohms (resistance) function as well. I'm lucky that I can borrow a very nice Beckman meter from the lab at work, and it saved me all kinds of time and frustration when rebuilding the grunged-out wiring on the one Mamiya.
What's real handy is that you can check the light metering cell with the ohms function, plus make sure all of those little sliders are indeed conducting. LOL, it's almost like you have a light meter with the metering cell and the voltmeter!
What's real handy is that you can check the light metering cell with the ohms function, plus make sure all of those little sliders are indeed conducting. LOL, it's almost like you have a light meter with the metering cell and the voltmeter!
Muggins
Junk magnet
Perfect! I've seen what you can do, and I'll take that as a recommendation. Now, can I face taking that bloody helicoid apart again? Probably, when I get a moment, but this time I'll mark it up before I unscrew anything!
Adrian
dmr
Registered Abuser
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Careful! I posted a link to that webpage here once and people jumped all over me.
MRohlfing
Well-known
FallisPhoto
Veteran
The website you linked to mentions a shutter tester. There used to be a website somewhere that showed how to use a TV set as a shutter speed tester. I haven't needed to use that for a while and I lost the link to it though.