Canon 7 Frame Lines

Arved

Arved

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A Canon 7 just arrived at my doorstep from Japan via eBay. Fiddling with everything, it all seems to work!

The wheel to change the frame lines seems to be stuck at 35mm. Searching the internet, I couldn't find any mention of tricks on how to change the setting. Does it pull up (mine doesn't seem to)? Anything else I should do before I can change the setting?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!
 
You just turn the dial to change viewfinder frames.

My old Canon 7 had a hard-to-turn dial. I ended up taking the top off and adding some lube to an arm that slides in a channel as you turn the dial. This sliding arm actually change the framelines. Most likely the lube in your camera has dried up, freezing the dial.

Jim B.
 
Thanks, Jim. I'll see about removing the top plate and doing a CLA in there. I found a video on YouTube about cleaning the rangefinder that has instructions on removing the top plate. That should give me ample access.

Thanks again, especially for the quick response!
 
"No walk-through from beginning to end as this fine camera is rather complicated and is NOT suited for a first time camera repair."

While I consider myself fairly mechanically inclined, my only other "repair" was to adjust
the film spacing on a Kiev 60, and that was about 15 years ago. Any place in particular recommended for a CLA?

Thanks,
- Arved
 
Well, when the cost of a CLA is more than twice what I paid for it, it's time to request a return, and find another 7 on eBay in better condition.

Thanks,
- Arved
 
Arved said:
Well, when the cost of a CLA is more than twice what I paid for it, it's time to request a return, and find another 7 on eBay in better condition.

Thanks,
- Arved
Click to expand...

Very wise choice. I use to fiddle with different models of the Yashica RF's, even mastered the POD but shaking hands, poorer eyesight, and just not as sharp cost me the finally two.

David
 
Well, the refund went well, and quick. No return, as I suspect the seller figures the camera is worth less than the cost of return shipping (which I suspect would be high going back to Japan). So with nothing to lose except my mind, I proceeded on a tear down last night.

That long grub screw that needs to be removed before the combination shutter/film speed dial can be removed is missing. Any ideas what size I need?

What's the secret to finding a good camera on eBay? I've bought a Nikon F5 that won't let you rewind the film (had to take it out with a change bag), a Praktica VLC2 with film transport issues (repairman said "send it back" as soon as I started talking about it - Prakticas are hard to work on he said), a Zorki 4K with a sluggish rangefinder coupling arm (where it contacts the back of the lens), and a Zenit 3m with film transport issues and leaked light in all the wrong places.

I thought I'd have a better shot staying away from FSU cameras, and sticking with Japanese cameras from Japan, but the only luck I have is bad luck.

I really like the idea of adjustable frame lines in the 7. A working meter would be marvelous, but I'm seeing so many with bad meters I guess me and my Weston Master IV are going to remain inseparable.

I'd really like a rangefinder a little more "serious" than my Oly XA, but I am discouraged.
 
Probably whoever put the camera together last didn't sync the frameline selector dial to the rangefinder when they put the top cover on. Not a complicated fix - the top cover needs to come off and then you need to set the RF and frameline dial to the same frame, then wiggle the dial a bit to get its pin to fall into the slot on the RF.


cheers.
 
An update...

So I try to buy another 7. Thankfully, this time the seller gives the camera a once-over before shipping it. His message this morning:

"Hello,Thank you for your purchase at my store.
We inspect the item before the shipment if it's a used item.
This is to check if there is no deterioration or any issue during keeping.

"I can not switch the viewfinder viewing angle that was working when listing.
It is hard to understand in the picture, but the plastic plate of the central window is off."

2 for 2, it appears this feature is another one of those things that don't hold up.

I started looking at 7Ss, but the price is up there where I can get a Voigtlander Bessa R for about the same money, and have a more modern body. Unfortunately, the Bessa R is incompatible with my Jupiter 12 35mm/2.8. That lens dives deep into the camera, and will touch the Bessa R's shutter before focusing at infinity. So I'm going to stick with looking for a 7 or a 7s.
 
Arved said:
........"I can not switch the viewfinder viewing angle that was working when listing.
It is hard to understand in the picture, but the plastic plate of the central window is off."

2 for 2, it appears this feature is another one of those things that don't hold up.
Click to expand...

If I read this correctly, the little clear, plastic meter window has become dislodged. It does happen, it was only glued on, and if pressed on, it would come loose. But I don’t know if I’d call it a common. The 7s fixed this problem, by incorporating a plastic lip around the window, which secured it to the top plate. Live and learn I guess.

Jim B.
 
Well, "...cannot switch the viewfinder viewing angle..." sounds to me like the frame line selection knob (is there a better term for this?) is frozen. From what I understand, the central window lights up the frame lines, and isn't part of the meter. To me, it sounds like two different problems.
 
Arved said:
Well, "...cannot switch the viewfinder viewing angle..." sounds to me like the frame line selection knob (is there a better term for this?) is frozen. From what I understand, the central window lights up the frame lines, and isn't part of the meter. To me, it sounds like two different problems.
Click to expand...

They are two different problems. I was just commenting on the dislodged meter window. And I don’t know if I call the stuck viewfinder dial a common Canon 7 problem. I’ve handled many over the years and they all worked fine. The dial on my personal 7 was somewhat balky, which I fixed myself. These things are now 50+ years old, so stuff will happen.

Jim B.
 
Sounds like you are bottom feeding and expect perfect cameras. If you buy cheap, you can't expect them to work 100%, so either learn how to fix them or get one that is guaranteed and pay for it, unless you can get lucky. Lots of them out there though, so you might get lucky if you are patient.

Canon 7s are great cameras. Nearly equal to the Leica in my opinion, and better in some ways. Totally worth finding a good one. I had one years ago and I regret selling it. I would buy another one, but I no longer have any lenses that would fit it. If I could get an M mount on a Canon 7 I would buy a handful of them! Someone should seriously figure out how to do that. Still lots of great LTM lenses out there and the prices have gone down on them in the last year or so which has me thinking again about getting one.

Good luck to you! You will eventually find one that is worth it.
 
PRJ said:
Sounds like you are bottom feeding and expect perfect cameras. If you buy cheap, you can't expect them to work 100%, so either learn how to fix them or get one that is guaranteed and pay for it, unless you can get lucky. Lots of them out there though, so you might get lucky if you are patient.

Canon 7s are great cameras. Nearly equal to the Leica in my opinion, and better in some ways. Totally worth finding a good one. I had one years ago and I regret selling it. I would buy another one, but I no longer have any lenses that would fit it. If I could get an M mount on a Canon 7 I would buy a handful of them! Someone should seriously figure out how to do that. Still lots of great LTM lenses out there and the prices have gone down on them in the last year or so which has me thinking again about getting one.

Good luck to you! You will eventually find one that is worth it.
Click to expand...

I saw a modified Canon 7 in Contax mount last year on eBay. The seller is based in HongKong and the price was very high. I think I saved a picture of it but can't find it now.
 
PRJ said:
Sounds like you are bottom feeding and expect perfect cameras. If you buy cheap, you can't expect them to work 100%, so either learn how to fix them or get one that is guaranteed and pay for it, unless you can get lucky.
Click to expand...

Ouch! Sorry mate. I didn't mean to come off sounding like a spoiled brat. I'm more disappointed, and somewhat frustrated, rather than safety-wired in the pissed off position about the experience so far.

However, when a camera is described as Exc+++ condition, and everything working, my expectations are for a camera in usable condition. I'll admit, my expectations for buying a name-brand Japanese camera from a Japanese seller are a bit higher than buying an FSU rangefinder from an FSU seller. I guess that's an unfair prejudice to the Japanese sellers.

“Expectations are resentments under construction.” ― Anne Lamott

Another 7 is on the way. I paid a bit more, avoiding the cheaper offerings, and the seller has checked out the camera before purchase. He assured me of a working camera, including the working frame lines. I'm crossing my fingers. I now have more hope than expectation.🙂
 
mooge said:



I've been working on it. It's not trivial, but I'm pretty sure it can be done.

I'd be interested in seeing the Contax mount canon 7, Nukecoke, if you ever find the photo.
Click to expand...

I'd love to know more about this. do you have a thread about it? Any information anywhere?
 
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