Newbie's First Vintage Find

[oftheherd]

Nice find and good restoration. I wouldn't worry about the shutter release button if it is working well as is. I dropped my first SLR, a Yashica TL Super off a chair and bent my shutter button. That was thousands of photos ago and it still works well.

 

[the.ronin]

Look out for vivitar lenses with serial number begining 28. Those are made by Komine and are incredible performers and very well made.

Thanks for the heads up John. As soon as I read this I did a quick search on fleabay and there were at least two that I spotted!

Nice find and good restoration. I wouldn't worry about the shutter release button if it is working well as is. I dropped my first SLR, a Yashica TL Super off a chair and bent my shutter button. That was thousands of photos ago and it still works well.

Thanks oftheherd, but I don't know that I would call this a "restoration." Heavy cleanup maybe lol. I'd just hate to take away from the true restorers out there that actually take these things apart and really make them run better. I just made this look better lol.

And, yes, the bent shutter release does still work - and also with a remote shutter release!! 😀


I am sad to report that while the light meter appeared to work immediately after installing a fresh battery (1.5v alkaline), it stopped working before I could even get the shot lined up on a tripod. 🙁 I'm comfortable using my light meter though and am practicing sunny 16 more and more.

Will post more photos of this first roll once it's done and also as accessories and lenses arrive lol.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

My cars always run better when they have a fresh coat of wax and my cameras are more fun to use when they're clean.
Nice work.

 

[farlymac]

Good job of cleaning up the TLb. Looks great with that chrome nose 1.8.

PF

 

[the.ronin]

Good job of cleaning up the TLb. Looks great with that chrome nose 1.8.

Thanks for noticing that, PF. I had to look a little harder and spring a little extra for it but I thought it was worth keeping to the original.

So I cleaned up the battery compartment and either that or tightening down the compartment cap did the trick in getting the meter to work again. The metering took a while for me to finally get but wow that's clever way to do priority mode. I do use sunny 16 but wanted to see if the meter was still working.