Kodak 35 Signet - should there be a light seal?

[68degrees]

Signet just arrived today. DOA as expected. $15. Opened the shutter cleaned the star wheels and their shafts. Got it working. It has 1/300 which I tested at 1/200, 1/100 tested at 1/80, 1/50 tested at 1/40 and 1/25 tested out at 1/22. Can I expect more accuracy with a full overhaul of the shutter?

The Ektar lens is flawless. It would be nice to have a lens cap for it. I wonder what the factory lens cap was like? Or maybe it only came with the case which served as its cap I dont know. Anyone?

Everything else looks good. Im about to put film in it. I noticed there is no foam light seal or rope or anything. Can anyone tell me if they came with a light seal or does it just rely on the baffles in the door/body joint?

 

[Spavinaw]

I have a Kodak Signet 35 collection. I can assure you that they do not have any type of light seals. I have never seen a factory lens cap.

 

[68degrees]

I have a Kodak Signet 35 collection. I can assure you that they do not have any type of light seals. I have never seen a factory lens cap.

Cool. Thanks for the response. Do you shoot these cameras? Good contrast?

I did see a foam seal around the lens gears when looking in from the film compartment? I dont know if its for smoothness or to keep out light from where the lens goes in and out. Can you confirm? Mine is only partially present. There is a channel there.

 

[Spavinaw]

I think I see the foam you are talking about. I had never noticed it before nor have I ever worked on that part of the camera so I really can't comment on it. Sorry. I have quite a few other cameras, and I don't think I have shot with any of my Signet 35's in probably 30 or 40 years.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Don't know about the foam, but I know the Synchro 300 shutter is rather picky about dirt and dust in the works. Luckily, it's easy enough to clean.

On my Signet 35 someone messed with the focus ring. I've tried to calibrate it twice but the didn't like the results enough (while I'm normally an Ektar lens freak) so I haven't really used it more then twice.

Example with Spector 200 Color film.

(click for larger image)

 

[Tiger 68]

I don't see any foam near the lens in mine, and nothing is shown in the parts list. Maybe it was a later modification.

 

[Tiger 68]

I decided to take a closer look at the lens of the Signet 35. I made a tool to remove the locking nut, removed the shutter and the focus ring, and found that there is a foam gasket behind the focus ring! Even more of a surprise is the condition of the foam. Unlike the foam on a typical 30 year old SLR, this looks really good at nearly 50 years.

 

[z.bruce.li]

No foam on my Signet 35. The shutter speed is about right for its simple construction, since I just tested mine as well. I have taken two rolls of family photos with it and the results are very good to excellent: good contrast and good color, quite flare resistant, OoF and sharpness are as expected from a very competent Tessar formula lens.

The close focus distance is quite useful, down to 2ft. And I found the focusing helicoid almost indestructable: heard there are lots of ball bearings in there.

You can also open up the top cover easily and clean up the RF/VF. After cleaning, although small, the RF/VF is very contrasty and easy to focus.

 

[68degrees]

You can also open up the top cover easily and clean up the RF/VF. After cleaning, although small, the RF/VF is very contrasty and easy to focus.

I agree. I was shocked how much improvement there was after cleaning. Its really nice. I took 14 shots today I should have scans ready by the end of the week. Im looking for 26.5mm screw on filters. Id like a red and dark yellow.

 

[Tiger 68]

You may not be able to find a 26.5 filter. I use an adapter (Ednalite 502) which takes Kodak Series V filters. Try filterfinds.net., he has lots of hard-to-find stuff.

Good Luck.
Regards,
BV

 

[68degrees]

...... Try filterfinds.net., he has lots of hard-to-find stuff.

checked it out. There is no such website... is there a typo?

 

[farlymac]

This should be like the Signet 40, and what you actually have there is a Series V mount, most likely missing it's retainer ring. Get a retainer, and some Series V filters, and you're all set.

PF

ps: It could be a Series IV mount, since you say it's 26.5mm. A Series V filter is 30mm across.

 

[Tiger 68]

Sorry for the error. Try this:

http://www.filterfind.net/

Regards,
BV