Nikon rangefinder in need of cleaning and testing

[Clooze]

Hello! I’m new here and am seeking recommendations from you experts out there for someone to clean and test my Nikon rangefinder with curtain shutter. Repairs to the shutter or replacement may be needed. Thank you so much! -Claudia

 

[boojum]

Which model Nikon? Where are you located? CONUS or abroad?

 

[Clooze]

Located in Wisconsin. I believe it’s a Nikon S from mid-1950s.

 

[splitimageview]

Does the shutter fire? Can you determine the condition of the curtains? Do they look brittle or supple?

Precision Camera in Austin, call and ask for Noel Rankin, service manager

 

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[Timmyjoe]

I've had Don Goldberg, right there in Wisconsin, service Nikon rangefinders for me before. Not sure if he's still doing them, but you can check. His work is top of the line.

DAG Camera Repair

Best,
-Tim

 

[Clooze]

Does the shutter fire? Can you determine the condition of the curtains? Do they look brittle or supple?

Precision Camera in Austin, call and ask for Noel Rankin, service manager

Shutter fires and “sounds” ok at high speeds but slower speeds it is sluggish. So there is a difference in speeds between shutter settings. If my finger lingers on the shutter release the curtain will stay open. The fabric appears ok. Thank you for your reply!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

This sounds like the camera needs a general clean-lube-adjust. The slow-speed mechanism is most likely "gunked up".

 

[Clooze]

Thanks!

 

[splitimageview]

DAG doesn’t work on Nikons as he is too overloaded with Leica.

Precision Camera is the go-to. Last Nikon I sent there for cleaning was $120. Good that the curtains appear to be ok.

 

[Timmyjoe]

That's a bummer, he used to. He did two different Nikon S2's for me over the years.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Ken Ford]

Yeah, I was sad to hear that from him last month when I asked about his installing titanium shutter curtains into a S3 or S4. That’s how I ended up buying an Olympic instead.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I've used Precision Camera- they were very good.