Instruction Manual for Iskra

[wpb]

First, the shutter button should have about 1/8 of an inch play; even with the camera collapsed. It should be able to be pressed down and then return as there is a spring in the camera body. Next there is a long metal rod that runs parallel to the film plane and it has a 90 degree angle near the bottom of the camera. It is actually two pieces of metal joined by a rivet and it looks like a "L". This then lifts up on a metal bar that runs parallel with the bellows. If any part of the linkage isn't working properly you'll have a problem. One of the most common problems seems to be the last piece that is parallel to the bellows... it gets caught under the silver shutter release on the lens when the camera is opened causing it to push up (rather than down) on the shutter release. Looking from the front of the camera, the linkage should be on the left side of the silver shutter release on the lens.

Upon further review... you could also be pressing the shutter button and making the last piece of the linkage slip under the shutter release on the lens (after it has activated the shutter). You may need to rotate the lens slightly to adjust for this if it is the problem. If that is the case I can provide instructions.

 

[RichC]

Although I've managed to jam my shutter 🙂bang🙂, I know that the rest of my camera work's fine - yours is not working as intended.

This is what should happen: cock the shutter, wind on until the advance knob stops, press the shutter button all the way down. As the shutter button is pressed, you will hear two clicks, the first is the shutter releasing; the second is the double exposure lock engaging. When you release the shutter button, it returns to its raised position, ready for the shutter to be cocked again.

From your description, it sounds as if the shutter release button/linkage is not engaging the shutter lever on the shutter assembly. A related problem is the non-return of the shutter button.

I suspect that if you watch the shutter lever on the shutter assembly when pressing the shutter button after cocking, the linkage to this lever won't move or is not pressing the lever.

As to why, perhaps the linkage from the shutter button to the shutter lever is gummed up or bent - if so, you may be able to clean this yourself.

(As a side note (nothing to do with your problem, as such): if you only press the shutter just far enough to release the shutter but not further to engage the double exposure lock, you can cock the shutter and fire it with the button - so, a bit of a flaw: the double exposure protection is only partial!)

 

[Apostata]

Thanks guys - I think I may be missing the linkage from the shutter release. I will post pictures. Is this to say that the sliver shutter-release on the lens is triggered by the linkage from the shutter release button on top?

 

[RichC]

Is this to say that the sliver shutter-release on the lens is triggered by the linkage from the shutter release button on top?

Yes - a metal rod pushes the shutter lever, forcing it downwards.

Are you sure it hasn't somehow become disconnected?

 

[Apostata]

OK - I've uploaded some photos of the camera. I've tried to focus on the shutter release mechanism on the lens to show that I can't find anything attaching to it.

Basically, I can't see anything connecting from the shutter release button at the top of the camera to the trigger on the lens.

 

[wpb]

The actuating lever isn't physically attached to the silver shutter release on the lens, if it were the camera would not be able to be collapsed. When looking from the front of the camera... the black lever, that runs parallel to the lens bed, should be to the left of the silver shutter release on the lens. If the black piece is under the silver shutter release it will not push down on the shutter release. If you can push down on the silver shutter release and the lens fires your problem is, most likely, in the linkage and easily fixable.

 

[LOOP]

To Apostata

To Apostata

When you explain how you try to make it work I feel I have to help.
With the Iskra it is very important that you operate following a precise order and not 1-2-3 but 2-1-3.
First thing to do: let the film avance, if your camera is a good one, it will go to number 1,
Second: set the right EVS aperture speed combination
Third : set the lever on the lens ( do not press the trigger before doing this
if you do so, it will go wrong)
Fourth: press to shoot
After this go back to first. You'll do it 12 times after this advance the film a long, long time you cannot be wrong even if you turn for 5 minutes, but normally turning 5 times is enough. Do it a long time to be sure that when you'll open to unload it is safe and the roll is a real roll. Take care when getting the film out not to let it drop on the floor, it would be a shame.. Keep it as a tight roll. Use your tongue to wet the paper and past it tight.
Sorry for my poor english it is not my language...