Ensign Autorange 820 issues

[ericzhu]

Just have an interest in a friend's Ensign Autorange 820. But I find there are 4 faults with the camera:
1\ for the slow shutter speed, it is a little delayed, sometimes even hanged;
2\ It seems there are some clouds inside the lens when looking through the rear elements against the light;
3\ the 2 images in the rangefinder are not completely merged ( horizontally merged, but not vertically);
4\ the viewfinder seems not bright, little cloudy inside.

Is it easy to clean the lens and adjust the shutter speed by an experienced repairman? To adjust the rangefinder and clean viewfinder also easy?

By the way, when rotating the shutter ring to chang the shutter speed, it seems the whole lens moves vertically on the bellow panel/racket. Is this normal? (I doubt the whole lens a little loose on the racket.)

 

[jnoir]

What shutter does it have? Epsilon shutters are reportedly unreliable, but they are perfectly serviceable, as most other shutters. The lenses faults will require further investigation for a proper diagnosis (e.g. has it affected coatings?). Realigning the rangefinder is easy and a minor task, as is cleaning the viewfinder.

 

[ericzhu]

What shutter does it have? Epsilon shutters are reportedly unreliable, but they are perfectly serviceable, as most other shutters. The lenses faults will require further investigation for a proper diagnosis (e.g. has it affected coatings?). Realigning the rangefinder is easy and a minor task, as is cleaning the viewfinder.

Thanks. The clouds inside seems not affect the coating, which is light violet. The shutter is Epsilon.

 

[jnoir]

Then I'd say that, based on your description, it's a perfectly serviceable camera. And a very good one, indeed. Ensign is one of my favorite camera makers, they never even made a prototype for a 35mm camera, convinced as they were of its inferiority versus 120 film. And I am as convinced as they were 😉

 

[ericzhu]

yeah, well ensign put thier bucks into 120 folders, good for us, bad for them eh!

amazing that someone thats apparently novice is enjoying (or about to) the virtues of a very rare if not a very prestigious camera.....someone spent a LOT of money eh!!! send me cigar befor i give a slap on the back huh 😎

because of the value of the camera it shouldnt be touched by yourself, not trying to sound critical but its obvious it needs expert attention, you however seem to know enough that you recognise what needs fixing....my advice is carry on with this gut feeling and put the camera in the hands of someone that can service and put it right

unfortunately you might loose some coating

I don't worry about coating, but cleaning inside element clouds may scratch the inside glass if not CLA by a professional serviceman.