how to check shutter curtain?

[vic225]

how to check shutter curtain of ltm cameras? i saw this bright silver plated "leica".. well.. clearly leica branded zorky... and kinda interested on buying it.. how can I check the curtain and other stuff if i wanna check before i buy?... im using an M3 right now... wana get a super light camera =]

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Unscrew the lens, inspect the front side of the curtains with both the shutter tensioned and released for the obvious problems; Tears, holes. curtains not capping when tensioning the shutter.

To check the curtain gap I carry a white business card with red diagonal lines drawn on it with a marker. I insert that in the film slot behind the curtains and look at the curtains from the front. You can spot the lines as the gap flies past on pretty much all speeds up to 1/500th. If you don't the curtains are capping.

Pinholes are going to be difficult to spot without actually putting film in the camera or taking the shutter crate out of the shell and holding it up against the light.

I've never had any luck with Leica-fied Zorki or Fed's to be honest. Curtain's were alway dried out and torn. 🙁
The regular ones I've bought have been good fun though.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

I am making this up as I go, but how about the following? Load camera with film. Wind film on. Remove lens in regular room light. Let sit 10 minutes. Replace lens, with lens cap on. Fire two blank frames. Without re-cocking the shutter, remove the lens again. Let sit 10 minutes. Replace lens with lens cap on. Expose two blank frames. With lens and lenscap on, place camera in direct sun with the front of the camera facing the sunlight. Wait 10 minutes.

Rewind film. Develop. - you will see if there are any pinholes in the front curtain, the rear curtain and any light leaks from the front of the camera where all the holes (screws, castings, etc.) are.

 

[vic225]

so no way to tell without loading it i guess?

 

[vic225]

it looks so cool hahaha it will match my canon 50 1.5 =]

 

[Benjamin Marks]

With a camera where you could remove the back, you could go into a dark room and shine a flashlight at the curtains. With a copy of an LTM Leica, not so much. Besides, wouldn't you rather know the results of the test before you take a real photo?

 

[wolves3012]

No certain way to know it has no pinholes without loading a film or taking the shutter crate out of the bodyshell. You can check the curtains from the front and if you look carefully you can see the other side as they wrap around the drum and roller, winding slowly. If the back looks cracked or split then they are likely shot, or at best won't last long. Otherwise, you have a reasonable chance they're ok.

By the way, a fake Leica is probably not your best bet. It's common for them to made from several parts cameras or ones that were, ahem, cosmetically challenged and hence of low value. If you're happy with a Zorki, buy one with the Zorki name on it.

 

[MaZo]

In my IIIf in the very place where the shutter had pinholes (which was revealed later after taking the shutter crate out) the curtain fabric was not perfectly even and upon delicate touch with your fingertip you could tell it was rather hard, not smooth. Not a perfect examination but worth trying anyway.

 

[vic225]

another question... how compatible is the zorki 1 for non russian lens?

 

[gb hill]

another question... how compatible is the zorki 1 for non russian lens?

Russian camera's have a hook shaped cam instead of a roller shaped cam like a Leica. Any lens that has a tongue like the Canon 135 & 85mm Canon lens may get caught & won't come off unless you take the back off, set the shutter on B, hold down & stick your finger in to pull the cam back,unscrewing the lens. On a bottom loader you take the camera apart or maybe run a thin blade kife through it. Thats why my canon 135 never gets screwed onto my Zorki 2s.

As far as I know any other canon lens from 50 wider is ok. CV lenses ore OK too.

 

[Thomas78]

Also keep in mind that there may be a problem with the different "standard" focal lenght of Leica and western (japanese) LTM cameras (51.6 mm) and Zeiss (Contax) and FSU LTM cameras (52.3 mm).

Here is an article about it:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/compat.html

This may give you problems if you want to use the lens at full aperture and close distance, but others report that they have no problem at all with their FSU lenses.
(This may be a result of SU quality control.)


Regards,
Thomas