Newbie-removing top of Vivitar 35 ES

[Raindogs]

Hello everyone, 😉 i have been given a Vivitar 35 ES and i am really taken with this non digital,non flashing basic camera.The problem is the veiwfinder/rangefinder is a bit foggy and the black foam inside is sticky .I have taken out the four screws that holds the hotshoe and the small screw on the right hand side but how do you take off the rewind lever ?and the wind on lever?where would i buy new foam seals?I think this is a great site with a high standard of photographs and i would like to have a go at using one of these cameras as i am getting into photography at a late age,but they say you are never to old to learn, thanks in advance 🙂

 

[lubitel]

Welcome! Its a very good quality camera, but I've never taken it apart. Hopefully someone here will know. When you do get it apart, post some pictures. I'd like to know and see how you did it.

good luck!

 

[lubitel]

Hmm. Looks like nobody knows.

search in this forum, there might be some tips there
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If the 35ES is made the same as the Minolta H-matic 7s-II, Konica S3, and Konica C35 (Cosina made all of these cameras), the rewind knob comes off by simply unscrewing it. Hold the rewind shaft still with a screw-driver. With it in place, unscrew -by hand- the rewind knob. I use very-fine tip needle nosed pliers to unscrew the wind-lever. There should be some nothces in the retaining screw. It is not necessary to take off the hot shoe to open the top. On the other Cosina made cameras mentioned here, all that I've taken apart, there is a wire soldered from the camera to the top plate. Be careful not to yank the top plate, and have something like building blocks ready to set the top plate on, to keep the wire relaxed.

 

[Raindogs]

top plate removed

top plate removed

😀 Thanks for that info Brian.

 

[ray_g]

Now that you've removed the top plate, I would recommend cleaning the VF and RF windows (I use Windex and q-tips), but DON'T rub the small yellow square - that rubs off easily and would make your rangefinder patch either too light or non-existent.

There are foam seal kits available. I just bought an 8 1/2 x 11" piece of black "sticky foam" (the thinnest available) from the craft store. I cut that up with an exacto knife, into 1/8" strips as needed. One sheet should be enough for MANY cameras.

Have fun.

 

[zuikologist]

Hope the repair goes well. I think the 35ES has one of the best lenses I have ever used.

Jon Goodman of this forum sells excellent foam seal kits with good instructions.

 

[Raindogs]

Thanks for the replies,great site

Thanks for the replies,great site

Thank you for your help everyone,i will check out the craft shops for the foam seals,but the readymade one sounds good. 🙂