Bessa R shutter problem

[wallace]

I have just purchased a Bessa R from the bay. I was very impressed by the viewfinder but then came the disappointement.
The shutter won't close at 1/60sec. The only way to close it is to turn the speed dial to 1/500sec. Is it repairable for a reasonable price or would you return the camera?

Wallace

 

[pesphoto]

If it was sold to you as working perfectly than I would return it for a refund. Do you realy want to have to pay for a repair?
There are and have been R's for sale here on RFF that I would trust before any ebay purchase.

 

[wallace]

I bought it together with a Skopar 35/2.5 for a very good price. The seller didn't use it for a long time and claims he didn't know about the defect.
He offers return or partial refund. I tend to give back. But what I really like to know: Is this a common problem with the Bessas?? In decades I never had any shutter problems with my SLRs. ...

 

[itf]

I never had any problem with the shutter on mine, I've had other problems (my fault) but the shutter has kept going through probably 10000 clicks, plenty of knocking around, a couple of drenchings... and it had had several owners before me. I almost damaged the shutter once by starting to wind on before the shutter finished the previous shot. Luckily it only jammed momentarily.

 

[Spyderman]

AFAIK it tends to jam when you try to advance before the second curtain of the second shutter closes completely. This usually happens at slow speeds (on fast ones you don't have time to jam it)

But what wallace is describing sounds like a different problem - it only happens at 1/60. If you're in the US I would ask Stepen Gandy how much the repair would cost. Otherwise return it for a refund.

BTW: would you mind telling us how much the Bessa with Skopar cost you ? If it's a price of only the Skopar then get the camera repaired and you still have a bargain...

 

[wallace]

Ondrej, I paid some 180 Euros which is about $270. The Camera looks weel used, with a lot of the black paint missing (I don't care). The Skopar is almost minty.
Pixtu: very interesting photos. Same fault? Only the 1/60sec ?

 

[wallace]

Having noticed that I put my thread into the wrong forum, I hope that some more Bessa lovers read this.
Meanwhile the seller of the Bessa offered a refund of 50 Euros. I'd take the camera if I knew that it is unlikely that more of the shutters speed will fail in the future. What do you think?

 

[vdonovan]

Yes, this is a different problem from the film advance jam. I would return the camera.