Canon 7 small front curtain loose?

[santaclack]

Hi,

I'm in a real trouble here and maybe someone could help me.

I live in Brazil and my brother in the US (he is in a doctoral program at Urbana, Illinois). He will be visiting me by the next month, so I took advantage to buy a Canon 7 at Ebay from an american seller and he would send it to my brother that would bring it to me next month. Right now the camera is with my brother, but he doesn't understand anything about it, he could only say to me that it's on good condition by it's cosmetics standards. So, I will ask him to probably look for some repairman to take a look, after all.

...but...anylizing the auction, I've found a problem.

Maybe someone could give me only a preview, a simple opinion? I'm new to film cameras - I only have a Contax IIIa that doesn't have this part or if it has isn't like it, so I don't know what it is:

- The seller told that everything in the camera is just fine and working properly; but, after buying it, I saw that, on the front, there is something loose between the viewfinder and the lightmeter (right in the middle), something like a small white/vanilla curtain that is loose; could someone tell me only what is this and if it's possible to be very problematic? I will send the link to see it...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281034557586?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I would really appreciate if someone could help me first on that opinion, since I have to contact the seller soon...


Thank you,

Guilherme Giuliano Nicolau

 

[Classique]

Hello and welcome to the RFF forum.

The opaque window is the frame-line illumination window. It lets in light to light up the different frame lines that appear in the viewfinder.

Looks like the window has come loose (appears to be common problem with Canon 7) and in order to put it back, you would need to open the top. Although it did not happen to me, I have read that loose frame line window may get in the way of changing the frame lines on Canon 7. I would recommending having it repaired unless there is a good repairman in Brazil. It shouldn't be a major work so if you have savvy with tools, you may be able to fix it yourself.

 

[Mackinaw]

I wouldn't call it a common problem, but with cameras that are now 50+ years old, stuff can happen.

It is a loose frame-illumination window. The camera may work just fine the way it is, or the window may, eventually, end up someplace where it doesn't belong. Whatever, if you decide to keep the camera it will eventually have to be fixed.

Maybe contact the seller and bring this up?

Jim B.

 

[airds]

It was easily visible in the auction pics - so hardly the seller's fault :-(

 

[randolph45]

I wonder if it is loose or wedged in place? If loose would it be possible to place some tape on the surface and move it to the correct position ? Hold it in place with the tape until you can have it repaired.

 

[Frontman]

It's a simple plastic light diffuser which is glued in place. These often come loose and are sometimes lost. You need to remove the top cover to properly glue the diffuser properly. To do the job properly you need a couple of screwdrivers and a pair of pointed tweezers. I can tell you how to do the repair if you wish to try it yourself.

 

[santaclack]

Hey, guys! This was my first post on my first day here and I'm AMAZED on how fast it took to receive A LOT of GREAT feedbacks! This forum is just great, about everything it has here, it's a real rangefinder community.

Thank you for the welcome, Classique!


...So, Mackinow, i've just contacted the seller and let's see what he says.

Unfortunately I've accessed the auction with my Iphone so I couldn't see that loose window (the picture was too small) - but I should have looked closer. But I think that should be on the description too, so I agree with Airds: "It was easily visible in the auction pics - so hardly the seller's fault :-(" (yes, I get sad too...).

As I see, I may fix it with some tape, like Randolph45 said - but I would like to fix it "like new" (I hope you all understand: I just got the machine, and it's so beatiful).

I would be really glad if you teach me how to repair it, Frontman, thanks! But I think I don't have the necessary tools (must be specific ones, right?).


...Then, I've contacted some repairmen in the U.S, and Don from DAG Camera Repair (Oregon, Wi) just answered me, look what he says:

"
GGN

The loose window in question on your Canon 7 camera is the illuminating window that brings in light so you can see the frame lines in the rangefinder. This window is loose in your camera & would be nice to put it back but if you want you can “keep” it in position by placing scotch tape over it as seen in photo attached. Tell your brother to remove the lens or body cap from the camera if it has one on, set the speed dial to the highest speed- 1/1000, open the back door of the camera have some light in front of the camera & look through the shutter while shooting to see if there’s at least light coming through. Then set the shutter to 1 second & listen to the sound of the slow speed gear train, it should sound clean & even. If he has a lens with the camera tell him to focus on something that’s at least 1/2 mile away & the rangefinder should look good when the lens is focused to infinity. If you want me to look at the camera your brother can ship it to me but if the camera passes these easy tests there’s a good chance the camera is in good working order & you can leave the loose window taped with scotch tape as seen in photo.

If you send to me I can repair it too, but you should see if it's worth of it. The problem with this “simple” repair is that the main work is to remove the top to repair the loose window & then put the top back on, so all in all the cost is $50.00 plus shipping,


regards,

Don
DAG Camera Repair
2128 Vintage Dr
oregon, Wi 53575
USA
"

 

[santaclack]

Hey, Frontman! Thank you for the tip! Could you tell me more on how to repair it?

It's a simple plastic light diffuser which is glued in place. These often come loose and are sometimes lost. You need to remove the top cover to properly glue the diffuser properly. To do the job properly you need a couple of screwdrivers and a pair of pointed tweezers. I can tell you how to do the repair if you wish to try it yourself.

 

[Frontman]

Hey, Frontman! Thank you for the tip! Could you tell me more on how to repair it?

Here is the step by step. You need a small screwdriver, I believe its a 1.1mm, you can use micro screw drivers from the Dollar store. You also need a pair of tweezers with sharp points, or needle nose pliers with the same. The points should be able to fit into the holes on the winding lever screw.

Prepare a work area. A small white towel on the middle of a table is best. Don't work near the edge of the table, screws and such may fall on the floor and be hard to find.

To start, set the shutter speed to 1/15, and set the ASA to 400. The meter should show the indicator pointing at the orange 2.8. Use the small screwdriver to loosen the three screws which attach the shutter speed knob. Try not to remove the screws, just loosen them until the knob lifts off.

Remove the winding lever by loosening the large screw with your tweezers. There will be the screw, a washer the winding lever, and winding shaft drive. These will lift off.

Next, set the collar around the shutter button to A, and back out the three set screws until the collar lifts off.

Next, use your tweezers to remove the flash socket. You'll see the two holes toward the center, unscrew counter clockwise. Once the center piece is out, you can pull out the outer part. Sometimes it is stuck, you may need pliers to pull it out, be careful not to scratch anything.

Set the viewfinder frame lines to 50, and look through the viewfinder to make sure you see the 50mm frame showing.

Remove the chrome screw between the windows on the front of the camera, and the small screw on the right side of the top cover. The cover should now lift off.

With the cover off, you'll be able to see where the diffuser window is glued in place. Clean the area where the glue will be applied with paint thinner.

You can also clean the rangefinder while the cover is off. Use cotton swabs and lens cleaning fluid to clean the frame line window, and the rear window of the viewfinder. Be careful, the coating is thin, and can be easily scratched.

Around the big glass window on the front you'll see a sheet metal cover glued on. Gently pull the cover off, you can then clean between the elements with a cotton swab. The the swab is too thick to fit, flatten it a bit with your pliers. Glue the cover back into place.

Before putting the top cover back on, make sure the meter is still showing the orange 2.8. If not, turn the brass gear until it does. Slide the top cover down carefully until it is full seated, you may have to wiggle the frame line knob on the top of the camera for the pin to line up. Once the cover is on, turn the knob to make sure the frame lines switch.

The rest is the reverse of the disassembly instructions. The shutter speed knob may also need a bit of wiggling to get it to engage the meter gear.

Let me know if you have anymore questions.

 

[Ranchu]

It looks great, you'll hack the advance lever screw getting it off at the very least, you might kill it dead. Send it to DAG! 50 bucks is cheap compared to 250 for another one plus the 200 you spent on the dead one!