New guy with a Canon IIF

[homergreg]

Hi! I picked up a Canon IIF this weekend at an estate auction, at first hoping to make a quick turn on ebay. But after wiping the dust off of it, and finding it in incredible cosmetic condition and realizing what a hefty nice camera it really is, I realized I wanted to try this out, at least for a while to gain a little knowledge on this and have a little fun.

I do have a question about these fine old rangefinders; Is it ok for me just to pop film in it and start taking pictures, or do I need to have this serviced to keep from ruining it? Everything appears to be nice and easy to click the shutter and wind and move all the knobs.

I didn't see a FAQ for the forum, so I apologize in advance if this is the type of question that new guys always come in and ask without looking.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[payasam]

You could start, Greg, by removing the lens and looking at the shutter while it's being being cocked and while it's being fired at all the speeds available. A friendly camera dealer could also check it out and load it for you: but you shouldn't expect a young person to know the camera.

 

[Charles Woodhouse]

Hi Greg, you could try loading the camera with a roll of twelve exposure 100 ASA colour negative film and trying all the shutter speeds from 1/25 to 1/500, but if you have had no experience with bottom loading Leicas and their copies, you MUST cut the film leader four inches long (rather than standard two inches) or you will have great difficulty getting the film in. And once you have the film threaded into the take-up spool and the spool and casette in their chambers,make sure the sprockets are in the film sprocket holes.If you are a beginner at this it would probably be advisable to wind the film on one frame before replacing the bottom plate just to make sure the sprockets are engaged.It also helps to tension the film in the casette by winding the rewind knob,so you can check the film is running through the camera by seeing the rewind knob turning backwards.
I just don't have a lot of faith in anyone in a modern camera shop being able to give a sound opinion on a Barnack Canon,and one of the most common faults with these cameras is the shutter curtain material. The rubber can either perish due to heat,and glue the curtains up,or it can dry out and flake away from the fabric. Or it can be in perfect condition and give years more of good service.
Good luck,Charles.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Look at the various forums for "Stickies".

This one is "Load a Bottom Loader". Follow the same instructions for your Canon IIf.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22421

 

[homergreg]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm guessing no need to lubricate, at least at my skill level right? I'll do some practice runs with this then.

Thanks again,
Greg

 

[John Shriver]

Unless it is making horrible "skreee" noises when you wind and take pictures, you're not in any danger of damaging the camera. But, if the shutter speeds prove to be inaccurate or uneven, that's the sign that it needs a clean/lube/adjust.