Canon LTM New to Canon VT - Problem

[dabevalem]

Hi to everyone,

I just bought last week a canon vt and everything worked fine for a couple of rolls.

Then suddenly, the slow speed times (1/30 and below) do not work anymore and the shutter behaves as if it was in B mode.

I changed from 1/30 to any other faster speed and it seems to work but anything from 1/30 and below set the shutter mode in B.

I'm just wondering if I may have done something wrong, if eventually this is a known issue or if it needs to go for repair...

Thanks in advance for any hint.
Stefano.

 

[laptoprob]

So the slow speeds are stuck in B? And the rest still works fine. Sounds like a possible repair thing.
I have a full functioning one in the Classifieds. Don't spend too much on a slow speed repair.

 

[dabevalem]

So the slow speeds are stuck in B? And the rest still works fine.

yes.

Sounds like a possible repair thing.
I have a full functioning one in the Classifieds. Don't spend too much on a slow speed repair.

bad luck... I shoot mostly in ambient (low) light so 1/30 is mostly used... I'll try to dig this out...

Thanks.

Stefano.

 

[harry01562]

Probably just gummed up lubrication on a 50+ year old camera. Not really a big deal, but it should go in for a CLA. Try Youxin Ye for good service and fast turnaround, and reasonable prices as well.
You can give him a call at 781-830-9141, evenings are best.

Harry

 

[airds]

Just a thought - the shutter speed dial hasn't slacken off and just rotating - but not actually changing speeds is it? Think there is maybe 3 very small grub screws securing it ...

 

[peterm1]

Sticking slow speeds are a problem with many older mechanical cameras and not just rangefinders. Old and classic SLRs often suffer from this at the slow end of the scale. Look on the bright side. More often than not all that is required is a clean, lube and adjust (CLA) which is usually not very expensive. You may even find that the camera will fix itself with a little use (I have had this happen) - although I would still book a CLA with a competent camera repairshop as it seldom lasts. People here may be able to advise you on who is good in your location.

Whatever you do, do not decide that a squirt of WD spray will fix the problem, it needs some specialised knowledge, tools and lubricants. Canon VLs have a separate slow speed dial on the front. This indicates that the slow speeds are all on a separate set of mechanicals from the higher speeds and it is these that are gummed up.

If you bought this from a reputable camerashop, did it have any kind of warranty? One reason you tend to pay more at camera stores is that they often (supposedly) have their technicians check cameras before they sell them and will sometimes have a short warranty period even for classic gear like this.

 

[jlw]

Hi to everyone,

I just bought last week a canon vt and everything worked fine for a couple of rolls.

Then suddenly, the slow speed times (1/30 and below) do not work anymore and the shutter behaves as if it was in B mode.

I changed from 1/30 to any other faster speed and it seems to work but anything from 1/30 and below set the shutter mode in B.

I'm just wondering if I may have done something wrong, if eventually this is a known issue or if it needs to go for repair...

Thanks in advance for any hint.
Stefano.

Apologies for suggesting it... but you do have the fast-speed dial (top) set to the "30-1" position and the slow-speed dial (front) set to the desired speed, don't you?

I realize this is almost too obvious to suggest... but many of us have gotten so used to having all the speeds on a single dial that sometimes it's possible to overlook the obvious!

 

[dabevalem]

Thanks to everyone for the advices. I try to answer to your suggestions here below:

1- the problem doesn't happen all the time. I just tried now and for a couple of
shots the 1/30 worked fine, then the 3rd shot it goes in B mode. I just took the
camera, it was already set to 1/30 on fast speed dial and 30 on slow speed dial.
I didn't touch anything and tried...

peterm1, you wrote
"You may even find that the camera will fix itself with a
little use (I have had this happen)"

... it looks there's room for my hope... ;-)

2- airds, you wrote:
"the shutter speed dial hasn't slacken off and just rotating -
but not actually changing speeds is it?"

the fast speed are changing well (I can see/hear the difference between 1/60
and 1/500. The slow speed dial seems to rotate well and as noted in point 1
above, the problem is intermittent (but most of the time there) even without
touching any dial. During the few shots when problem disappeared I'm sometime
even able to change to 1/15, 1/8, ... with no problems... and then the shutter
block itself on B mode for any slow speed.

3- jlw, you wrote:
"you do have the fast-speed dial (top) set to the "30-1" position and the
slow-speed dial (front) set to the desired speed, don't you?"

Indeed... but your point makes sense... you can't imagine how many times I
found myself stuck in ridiculous situations... ;-)

4- Finally, I bought the camera on ebay from what I still consider a valid/serious
vendor. A camera of that age can have problem at any time so responsibility of
vendor is limited (especially if the camera remained unused for years).

5- Btw, just while re-reading my post before sending it, I tried once more... problem
vanished for one shot... and then back again...

I didn't mention (and just notice it's not on my profile) that I live in Rome, Italy,
so thanks for the CLA suggestions and will have to find someone here in town.

Again, thanks to all of you for your suggestions and help.

As probably already stated many other times: this place is a goldmine!


Thanks.

Stefano.

 

[los]

i have canon VT and the slow speeds stick at 1/8 and slower. i had a CLA two years ago, and the problem is back. you need a CLA.

 

[Peterjc]

I know this post is an old one but it may help others if they have the same problem. I have repaired many cameras and the Canon L2 is driving me crazy. The slow speed unit was cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner. everything was working fine and the same thing happened to me the slow speeds act like B setting. It turns out there is a lever that swings around on the top high speed dial and maybe old grease is preventing it from hitting the arm for the slow speed shaft that goes down to the base of the camera and moves the slow speed mechanism. No my problem is to remove all the high speed parts and give them a good cleaning but i will need to make a tool to unscrew it and im not sure if its right or left handed thread. Turning camera upside down and giving it a squirt of lighter fluid cures the problem until the fluid drys out. So as long as you have cleaned the slow speed unit the problem lieu not there but at the top of the high speed dial.

 

[MarkWalberg]

I've been into a lot of Canon rangefinders, mostly all IVSB2 or older. Gummed up slow speed mechanism is a very, very common problem for them. The slow speed mechanism is a bunch of clockwork gears between brass plates, very roughly 1.5 x 3 cm, located near the bottom of the camera. It is not very hard to get to. It can be unscrewed, taken out of the camera, and cleaned. Usually, the mechanism looks fine, but just doesn't turn well. Cleaning the mechanism well with solvent, then lubing the gear posts with a tiny bit of light oil such as NyOil will get it working again. If you've done that, and it still doesn't work, then the next place to look is where Peterjc points out, above. Gummed slow speed mechanism is by far the most common, though.