Moskva 5 - shutter fires on its own?

[iamzip]

I just received my first Moskva 5, straight from the FSU. Looks to be in pretty good shape, some paint missing and worn leatherette, self timer button is missing - but the RF seems close, it has the mask and case, and even the slow speeds work! However, there is one minor problem - the shutter fires on its own. It seems to happen only on the fastest setting (1/250), or at least more often on the fastest setting. The button does not move when this happens, neither does the actual release on the shutter. Other than that it seems ok. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[fidget]

Spooky!
I can verify that the spring setting at the fastest speed is quite strong.
It seems that the tension is so high that it could break before it gets cocked.

One possible upside is that it may have been difficult to keep steady when using this speed. Mine is much nicer to use and, I think, a little sharper on slower speeds.

Before you spend money or a great deal of time on it, give it a go on the speeds that do work. It may seem not worthwhile to fix it....
Dave...

 

[Muggins]

Take this advice with a pinch of salt - I have a Moskva-4 with a Moment-23 shutter, and I believe that the 5 has a Moment-24, so I am speculating!

The shutter, at least on the earlier Moskvas, was heavily based on the Compur, which had a separate spring for the fastest shutter speed. If the Moment is built the same way, you should be OK using the other speeds because you are never engaging that one truck-strength spring. Give it a go and see. I seem to end up using mine at about f8 & 1/100th, so you may not need to use 1/250 all that much.

ETA I've checked my 4 and the Moment 23 does indeed have a seperate spring for 1/250th - the extra tension is very noticeable. If the 5's shutter is the same, you may be OK.

Adrian

 

[CuS]

yup - two springs

yup - two springs

The shutter, at least on the earlier Moskvas, was heavily based on the Compur, which had a separate spring for the fastest shutter speed. If the Moment is built the same way, you should be OK using the other speeds because you are never engaging that one truck-strength spring. Give it a go and see. I seem to end up using mine at about f8 & 1/100th, so you may not need to use 1/250 all that much.

ETA I've checked my 4 and the Moment 23 does indeed have a seperate spring for 1/250th - the extra tension is very noticeable. If the 5's shutter is the same, you may be OK.

Adrian

Yes, I think you are correct about the two separate shutter springs - also, I hardly ever use the 250th setting. Most of my shots (using 100 ISO film) are usually stopped down (f11 to f32) so 100th of a sec usually does the trick.