Hmmmmm.....should I, or shouldn't I....

[fishtek]

Over the past several months, I've become increasingly interested and acquisitive concerning fixed-lens rangefinders. As a result, I've got a whole shelf full of functional FL RF's...mostly Canonets. They're neat, and although a couple needed minor repairs (re-glue rangefinder mirror, replace front glass), I've been hesitant about taking my maintenance program any deeper.

A couple months ago, I got a Minolta 7s for basically shipping charges, because I negotiated a partial refund when I discovered that the aperture blades didn't open when the shutter was cycled. Bummer...it's pretty nice.

Now, I'm thinking about the feasibility of getting into the thing to see if I can make the blades function properly again. I've seen a couple articles about getting into the body of the camera, but I really don't want to have to manufacture tools, and if I factor in the cost of buying tools, I'm starting to get into the range of having a professional CLA done.

Your thoughts, please?

Regards!
Don

 

[Gumby]

... but I really don't want to have to manufacture tools, and if I factor in the cost of buying tools, I'm starting to get into the range of having a professional CLA done.

Your thoughts, please?

Don, I think you've constrained the question to a single answer -- you shouldn't.

 

[fishtek]

Even a turtle wouldn't get anywhere unless he stuck his neck out, eh?

I'm gonna see what I can concoct and at least familiarize myself with the insides of the camera.

Regards!
Don

 

[canonet17]

Best way to learn to walk is walking......Ummmm, really think it must be something like this. Anyway is better to learn with a cheap camera so......Must say I've a carboard box full of stripped cameras in various states of disrepair (dismantling is easy!), but once upon time I've performed a miracle with a new knowledge and voila.....back from the dead! Besides I'm able to dismantle and put together again a fed or a zorki with a swiss army knive! All luck for you, 'cos I knew you'll try, jeje

 

[charjohncarter]

Don't. Those little parts have a way of falling out as you are opening some area. And you don't know where they came from. Or even worse there are little springs under some screws that you will never get back correctly. That doesn't even take into account how difficult it is to remove the ring that holds the bezel for the lens. Which is just about as difficult as those screws that only have two pin holes as a method of removal.

 

[Tuolumne]

Those willing to do their own camera repair at home should also consider home dental work.

/T

 

[ben lloyd]

Do it, the worst that could happen is your non-working camera may not work. I'd bet you could find a working 7s for less than a pro CLA...

 

[fishtek]

I DO appreciate all your answers, guys! I haven't worked out how to make the tools, yet, so I expect this project might have a loooong run-up before launch. Because I have 7 or 8 other FLRF's, I'm not TOO concerned if I end up with a pile of parts. Won't be the first time I've wreaked havoc on a machine (a certain mechanical watch comes to mind...).

Stay tuned.....

Regards!
Don

 

[usagisakana]

I have a 7s with the same problem, and I decided against taking it apart... ordered another which is on its way.. eventually if I am bored/have the desire to fix it, I'll give it a go, simply because it's not working anyway... what could i do that would make it worse? worth a shot- however a lot of effort by the sounds.

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Do it, the worst that could happen is your non-working camera may not work. I'd bet you could find a working 7s for less than a pro CLA...

Exactly. Professional CLA makes sense only if a working camera is worth more than the purchase price of the camera and the CLA added together, OR if for some reason you must have the camera repaired no matter what.

As for dental work; some simple CLA operations are as simple as brushing your teeth and using a floss. Now, would you go for a dentist for those?

 

[RayPA]

Do it. God forbid you might learn something along the way. Try to find some kind of repair/disassembly documentation to keep it from being a complete waste of time. Also, use a digital camera or a video camera and take a lot of photos as you go. Good luck.


.

 

[Cale Arthur]

Do it. God forbid you might learn something along the way. Try to find some kind of repair/disassembly documentation to keep it from being a complete waste of time. Also, use a digital camera or a video camera and take a lot of photos as you go. Good luck.

Truly sage advice - every single word..

Also worth mentioning: go slow and work on a large towel to prevent small parts from travelling to distant & unknown locales.

--c--

 

[shadowfox]

Do it, it's amazing when you actually dive into it, it changes from the realm of "Mysterious oodles of little tiny things that are irreplacable" to ... "ooh, I see now"

 

[bcostin]

I made the same plunge a couple months ago. I've been going through a box of misc dead cameras from my father's collection and some of my own less successful ebay acquisitions. So far I've been pretty lucky, and if I can do it it must not be that hard. There are some very helpful repair resources on the web nowdays.

I already enough to get started. A simple set of small jeweler's screwdrivers from Radio Shack, a set of cheap needlenose pliers, and my Leatherman tool. A digital camera to take progress photos is also handy when you need to put everything back together again. Oh, and some Q-tips, Windex, and the mandatory bottle of Ronsonol.

Last month I was got annoyed by some internal haze on a couple old lenses that I just could not get apart. I finally broke down and bought the cheapest $35 set of lens spanner wrenches from Micro-tools.com. So far that's the only special-purpose tool I've needed. And but for being lazy I probably could've improvised something instead.