My Moskva 5 shutter release won't release

[John B]

After shooting two perfectly good rolls of film with my Moskva 5, the shutter release button fells like it's locked. The problem is with the button itself - if I open the camera it appears everything else is working properly. THe shutter release lever works, the mechanism on the front door of the camera properly lifts the shutter release lever.

My guess is that (1) there's a locking feature I'm not aware of, or (2) there's a mechanism that locks the release button on the top of the camera when the camera is shut, and for whatever reason that mechanism is sticking.


Does anyone have experience with either the Moskva 5 or the Zeiss Ikonta cameras who could point me in the right direction?

Or, should this question be posted in the Russian RF forum?

Thanks,
John

 

[dazedgonebye]

The first suspect must be the double exposure prevention feature.
The film advance must be in just the right place to enable the shutter button.
Looking at the top of the camera, there is a tiny window next to the film advance. When a red dot shows in that window, the shutter should be enabled.
Give that a try.

P.S. I had that feature removed from my Moskva 5 because of how crunchy it made the release. It was much smoother afterwards.

 

[John B]

yes...

yes...

You are correct. I am embarrassed.

Thank you for your help.

 

[dazedgonebye]

No problem John.
I hate that feature on the Moskva. At least on my copy, it usually did not allow me to actually take a picture when the right number was showing in the window.
Learning to trip the shutter from the front is often the only way to salvage a frame.

 

[Buze]

On the other hand, tripping the shutter from the front is sometime a lot more stable than using the trigger on the body... I know that is one of my favourite feature on the Super Ikonta C; a nice trigger at the front, very soft and stable.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Buze,
I don't know what certo6 did to disable that multi-exposure prevention, but it made all the difference in the button feel. It was smooth and easy.