Canon Model 7 - issues? or me to fault?

[frlrubett]

I have had a model 7 for about six months now and really love it. Have had a number of issues which have been solved. Shutter bounce, light leeks had a full CLA calibration etc - as you can see its been back and forward to the camera shop. Light meter was initially working but now its gone quite inaccurate, so have been using an app light meter.

So camera was FINALLY working and went to south of France and shot some Ektar, 90 percent of shots were great exposure. Voigtlander 35 1.5. See below..



Returned to UK and shot some XP2 and had this haze/grain all over 80% of shots. Canon 1.8 See below..



But in the same breath, there are one or two good shots. Canon 1.8 See below..



So, I get all my shots developed in the same lab and the guy is amazing and never had any issues in years. I am new to range finder and new to using an external light meter. Are these shots potentially another issue with the camera? I know the 1sec shutter speed is very off.. and what I shot in UK was in quite low light with 30/60 shutter speed in comparison to the French shots which were bright sunlight, 250/1000. Or am I expecting too much from XP2 shooting in lower light?



Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Swift1]

The middle (2nd) images looks to me to be fairly typical of underexposed XP2 and maybe poor scanning.

 

[Timmyjoe]

I'm in agreement with Colton here, that second image looks underexposed. If it's exposing properly in bright light (which I must also assume means higher shutter speeds) and underexposing in low light (which I must also assume means slower shutter speeds), sounds like your slow shutter speeds are off on the camera.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Steve M.]

You're either going to have to buy a shutter speed tester, or shoot a roll of film at different speeds and keep accurate notes to know what's up with the camera. I agree, it looks like an exposure problem to me too. Shutter accuracy can be an issue on these cameras (or at least it was on mine). This is the type of stuff that made me throw up my hands with old cameras and CLA's and just buy a Bessa R. Every one I owned had a very accurate meter and shutter, and always delivered perfect exposures. The downside was the shutter sound which could be a little loud, but slipping one into a half case took care of that mostly. For what a CLA usually costs, it's light years better to just buy a more modern camera.

 

[Goody]

You will get a much better idea of whats going on if you look at the negatives and compare to some "normal" negatives where you are happy with the quality of the prints. If the shots are underexposed the negatives will be thin (ie very light or faint image); if overexposed they will be thick (ie dark). You can test the relative accuracy of the shutter by shooting the same scene at various f stops and the corresponding shutter speeds -- then examine the negatives to see the results. For example if the exposure was f8 at a 60th then shoot f2.8 at 500th, f4 at 250th, f5.6 at 125th and so forth down to f22 at an 8th. If the camera isn't totally steady at the very slow speeds it's not a big deal as it's the density of the neg you're looking at. Needless to say they all should be the same density if all is working correctly. It helps to put a sign in the frame reminding what exposure was used -- don't ask me how I know that!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

had a full CLA calibration etc
its been back and forward to the camera shop.

Light meter was initially working but now its gone quite inaccurate.

So camera was FINALLY working


I know the 1sec shutter speed is very off..

Light meter was working before "service" and it is not full service, nor CLA if 1 sec is not accurate after it.

My advice. Forget about this "shop", they are morons. And get rid of this camera, most likely they trashed it.

 

[Goody]

BTW if you do decide to get it properly serviced DAG is highly recommended for Leica and Canon RF.

 

[frlrubett]

Thanks for your replies have been out today doing shutter speed tests and by the looks of it, the speeds are way out. Also there is some sort of weird shutter thing going on also.

.

Been reading these forums and I think its a shutter tension issue?

Good news is, I spoke to the guy who previous serviced it and he is going to re service it as part of his warranty.

 

[frlrubett]

You're either going to have to buy a shutter speed tester, or shoot a roll of film at different speeds and keep accurate notes to know what's up with the camera. I agree, it looks like an exposure problem to me too. Shutter accuracy can be an issue on these cameras (or at least it was on mine). This is the type of stuff that made me throw up my hands with old cameras and CLA's and just buy a Bessa R. Every one I owned had a very accurate meter and shutter, and always delivered perfect exposures. The downside was the shutter sound which could be a little loud, but slipping one into a half case took care of that mostly. For what a CLA usually costs, it's light years better to just buy a more modern camera.

Thanks for the Bessa R tip, have sourced one and I am going to get one anyway as a backup and if this model 7 still gives me problems will retire it in favour of the bessa.

 

[aoresteen]

The Canon 7 is a solid camera. But like all mechanical devices they need service. I hope your repairman can sort it out.

If if doesn't work out, ask here for reputable repair shops. I use cameras from the 50's & 60's all the time and your Canon 7 should be no exception. Good luck!