Konica Auto S3

[wintoid]

Some time ago, I bought an Auto S3 from a dealer. I ran a few rolls through it, and found a few light leaks and some scratches on the film. The meter is good, as is the self timer, so it's fully functional, but I basically decided I couldn't be bothered and didn't really like it anyway, so it has sat on "the shelf".

I've got a few days off, and my thoughts have turned to the S3 again. It's a shame not to be using such a nice lens. I have an Interslice light seal kit, so I will probably have a go at sorting out the light seals myself (although I have no documentation for the S3, but how hard can it be?). As for the scratches, presumably this is something to do with the pressure plate.

How should I start to attempt a fix for the scratched film?

 

[zuikologist]

It might be worth cleaning out the whole film chamber with a blower brush, to clear out any scraps off film and dust. Not sure about the pressure plate - perhaps a good clean with a micofibre cloth? The scratches may also have come from dust on the film canister slit.

 

[wintoid]

Thanks for your input.

I'll certainly clean out the insides whilst I'm doing the light seals. Looking at it this morning, I can see that the light seals have actually been done reasonably recently, which is strange. I wonder whether perhaps the way the light seals were done is related to the scratching, as it seems the foam is quite deep.

I doubt it could be the film canister slit as it happened with 2 films in a row, although not all frames on each film.

 

[btgc]

On which side of film are scratches? This would help to narrow field of inspection. I'd also check pressure plate with earbud - gently move over plate and see if there spots where bud drags not slides or even leaves "trace".

 

[wintoid]

Ah, I threw the rolls away a long time ago. I'll have to run another film through to see, but not until I've tried your earbud trick, thanks!

 

[btgc]

You can even start roll, shoot couple of frames (say, until 1 or 2 appears on counter) and then check leading part of film....I hope there is no tricky problem when scratches appear starting from midroll as result of tension or vice versa.

 

[wintoid]

Do you think I will see the scratches without developing the film? I am not sure if it's a scratch in the base, or a scratch in the emulsion.

 

[lawrence]

Whenever the Auto S3 is mentioned I get all misty eyed because I used one for many years and it was a cracking little camera. I took some of my favourite photos with it too...

 

[fotobiblios]

Hi -- response to last post - I was using an S3 (also Konica SLR) at about the time of your linked Blondie pix - I also saw Blondie on this tour (Sheffield) and had a coffee with the group before the concert. However from memory, weren't Blondie supporting Television?? I may be wrong on that. Or was it a New York punk/CBGBs show with equal billing?

Back to the S3 - I always had fantastic results, and agreed with Modern Photography who put the lens just above the contemporary 40mm Summicron - however the camera dust sealing and general sturdiness are not so good.

rgds
Danny (still Sheffield but, another link, once at Eltham Green school, but 8 years before the Squeeze or Boy George connection).

 

[btgc]

If I see scratches on scan I see them on film too. If you don't see them on undeveloped film and seen on developed, then I'd try another place to process film. Yeah, on developed film it maybe can be easier to identify scratches because of transparency, though on that small strip you should see scratches if they are there (at least I think so).

 

[lawrence]

I also saw Blondie on this tour (Sheffield) and had a coffee with the group before the concert. However from memory, weren't Blondie supporting Television??

It's possible but thirty years later I can't be sure! Anyway, it's good to find someone else who owned an S3 and got to socialise with the band. I remember how jet-lagged DH was but she didn't mind me snapping away anyway. Funnily enough the S3 played up and half of the film didn't come out -- something to do with the wind-on. I just had the same problem with my M6 TTL so we mustn't be too hard on the little Konica.

 

[LorenzoS]

i want to ask which thickness of the foam seal it is necessary for a konica auto s3 ? 1 or 1,5 mm ?