Is my R2 shutter locked up ?

[ijonas]

Hi folks,

I think I've discovered something terrible this morning. Walking to work I wanted to take a photograph of something and I found there was no response from the Bessa R2's shutter. As if the button was not connected to anyting. You can press it, and it popps back up, but not clickity-click sound.

First I thought the film inside had come undone and wasn't catching the film advance mechanics. But the film's come out easily.

I've taken the lens of and discovered the 18% grey shutter curtain is fixed in the "up position", with the black shutter behind it clearly visible. (see my attached photo taken with my cameraphone).

Is this what's known in the trade as "shutter lock up" ? Is it fixable my a layman such as myself, or am I looking at a CLA ?

Cheers,
Ijonas.

 

[ijonas]

I took the R2 to Quiggs in Glasgow. Their camera repair guy is usually pretty good, having fixed my 50mm Nokton in the passsed. He'd never seen an R2 with a shutter problem like mine and said he'd have to sent it away for estimate, noting it might be very expensive. Ouch.

Not a happy bunny,
Ijonas.

 

[rover]

By chance is it possible that your wound the film advance quickly on your last shot before the shutter had closed from the prior exposure?

 

[Nikon Bob]

Ijonas

Boy, don't you just hate the word "expensive" . Let's hope it is not. I had a quick look at Glasgow Parks and really liked the photos. I hope that was not your only camera and if it was that the turn around is quick.

Bob

 

[ijonas]

Hi Rover,

I think that might have been the case, at least it sounds like a plausible explanation. I find out next week what the estimate is going to be...

(Its funny how attached you can get to your favourite camera)

Ij.

 

[rover]

I only mentioned that because it is the only user warning offered by Stephen Gandy. I had not heard of many problems with the R2 shutter at all.

 

[chug]

Its the same shutter as the R I belive. I took a look thinking it might be like the R2A and R3A. But how wrong I was. Its really gotta suck having a shutter get stuck. Do you have another rangefinder which can take the R2's place while its gone?

 

[Bill K.]

Why dont you email Stephen Gandy at Cameraquest.com . There may be a quick fix.

Good luck

Bill K.

 

[ijonas]

Hi Chug,

I'm stuck for the next couple of weeks (most likely) without an RF. That really stings because I've been looking forward to doing some film-based RF stuff, having just bought some new chemicals.
I've just come from a year of being in the DSLR wilderness wanting to return to a "simpler life". I think I'll dust off an old Canon AE-1 and take that out this weekend, rather than the DSLR behemoth.

Ij.

 

[ijonas]

Bill K.,

I was too impulsive and forgot about Stephen as a "wise man". The R2's in the shop now and I'll found out Monday, what the damage is mechanically and financially.

Ij.

 

[Peter]

IJ, I must say that you have an excellent body of work in your gallery! Do not worry about the shutter as Dr. Yao from Hong Kong told me that R2 shutters are easy to repair compared to electronic shutters.

 

[ijonas]

Thanks Peter,

for the vote of confidence and reassurance. if I may add you certainly know how to get the best out of the R2, judging from your gallery. In fact the quality of work of everyone on this site seems be a cut above the average photo website.

Ij.

 

[MCTuomey]

ij, very nice work/play in your gallery! I like your B&W people perspectives a great deal.

 

[daveozzz]

Hi there... I think I've just done exactly the same thing to my Bessa-R shutter :-(
How did you get on with having this fixed?
Did you find someone local (I live over in Edinburgh)..?
Thanks in advance for any info!

 

[ijonas]

I tried Quiggs in Glasgow, but they said it was "beyond economic" repair due to the chassis being twisted. Yours probably isn't so your mileage may vary with Quiggs.

I've now sent it on to these guys http://www.johnsons-photopia.co.uk/serviceRefurb.htm. It arrived at their workshop today so hopefully I'll get a quote in the next week or so. They are the official Voigtlander distributor in the UK.

I'll keep posting to this thread with any further updates.

Good luck,
Ijonas.

 

[daveozzz]

Cheers for the quick response Ijonas!...

I should definitely not have a twisted chassis since it's virtually a brand new bessa with only 4 rolls of film through it.

You said back on the 2nd you were waiting for the estimate - did it take that long for the workshop to get to yours out of interest?
If that's the case I may well be goosed cos I bought this to go away travelling and leave in the next few weeks 🙁

 

[daveozzz]

Just been looking at your Flickr gallery - taken my mind off this for 15 mins!... great shots in there.

 

[ijonas]

Quiggs have an in-house and an semd-away repair department. The in-house dept has fixed lenses for me in the passed, but the shutter problem had to be sent away which had a two week response time to tell me they weren't going to fix it.

If they had fixed it, it might have taken longer due to supply of spare parts. But if you've only put 4 rolls of film through, can you not just ask for a replacement. Its a bit premature for the Bessa to start failing this early in its lifespan.

Ij.

 

[daveozzz]

This is when I start thinking it wasn't such a clever idea to buy it from the US after all! Currently the vendor's away and won't be looking at emails until near the end of March so I can't even find out what my options in that dept until then.
Have to admit I'm a quite suprised at this happening this early on - I'm still hoping it's something trivial and there's a quick fix!

 

[ijonas]

Not knowing when you're on holiday, but I don't think a quick fix is possible. Wether its Quiggs or the American vendor. If you do send it to the states, you need to get an export note from the courier company, and the vendor needs to write something like something like "O.R.L" on the parcel, otherwise Customs and Excise will charge you duty. Recommend giving them a quick call for the exact details.

Good luck,
Ijonas.