Oly 35SP - advise needed

[Igor.Burshteyn]

Well, I have my 35SP for a few days. I got used to its feeling and ergonimics. I even like its shuttuer sound - not exactly quite but without distracting metallic component. Happy till I notice that after some inactivity period shutter sounds off. So I inspect carefully shutter blades. Guess what? Bad news - there is fair amount of oil on them, which fellow Israeli seller forgot to mention and which I hadn't figured out when bought camera. Too bad. Now to the point - camera looks promising as a street shooter (it's on the level of instincts, you know - it just feels right), and I want to bring it back to normal life. I need to get to shutter blades in order to clean them. Is it possible DIY or professional CLA is the only option? Does anybody have dismantle instructions and tips?

 

[ruben]

Hi Igor,
sorry for your troubles with your newly purchased SP. Perhaps it is not the best time to tell you that, but I have a golden rule, I painfully learned and seems to be as powerfull as the law of gravitation: NEVER EVER BUY AN USED CAMERA IN ANY ISRAELI SHOP. There is no local culture of respect for used cameras. Not the same about used lenses.

Furthermore, once I purchased a Canonet from an Israeli eBuyer ("D-Ely") and went screwed too ! :bang:

Cheers,
Ruben

PS: Aussie sellers at eBay - the best on Earth !

 

[Igor.Burshteyn]

Ruben, I must agree. I too follow this rule - and this one was from the private seller. And I did ask him whether he himslef used camera recently (that's my golden rule. Actually I believe that people are honest enough to tell truth). Never had problems before btw bying in Israel from private sellers.

 

[Xmas]

It it is the aperature blades it should not be a problem, the shutter might cope with a fine oil on its blades for a long time if you use the camera a lot.

Noel

 

[Igor.Burshteyn]

Xmas - not in my case I think, looks like after shutter opens one time, it opens and chops off right exposure every successive shot. But when not used for a few minutes, it takes a few frames to get it open. Btw, in 35SP there are aperture blades controlled by aperture ring, not AIed as in SLRs, oil on them probably is not an issue till them follow aperture ring movements, and shutter blades that are jumping to chop off right amount of time. My SP has oil on shutter blades, not on apperture blades. So, nobody has information on 35SP lens dismantle/cleaning? Bad sign. Probably it's not DIY project for rainy day.
Btw http://www.olyfix.com looks like them out of business. Too bad...

 

[Bill58]

Xmas - not in my case I think, looks like after shutter opens one time, it opens and chops off right exposure every successive shot. But when not used for a few minutes, it takes a few frames to get it open. Btw, in 35SP there are aperture blades controlled by aperture ring, not AIed as in SLRs, oil on them probably is not an issue till them follow aperture ring movements, and shutter blades that are jumping to chop off right amount of time. My SP has oil on shutter blades, not on apperture blades. So, nobody has information on 35SP lens dismantle/cleaning? Bad sign. Probably it's not DIY project for rainy day.
Btw http://www.olyfix.com looks like them out of business. Too bad...

That IS bad news--they are (were) good guys. Maybe Jon Goodman also in Dallas can tell us why.

 

[Trius]

I would say it's not a DIY job unless you are OK with not being able to complete it. To get at the shutter I think you have to remove the rear element, which looks to me to be tricky. Flushing the shutter blades with naptha (lighter fluid) would probably do the trick, but I'm not sure if the shutter then needs to be dry or if it needs some light lubricant. Greyhoundman may be able to advise.

If Clint (Photosphere) is suspending new orders, he may be simply trying to catch up. I would suggest John Hermanson at Camtech: http://www.zuiko.com.

 

[shadowfox]

Igor, I'd send the camera for a CLA to John at Camtech (zuiko.com). As Trius mentioned, Clint (Photosphere) may just be suspending his operation to catch up with his orders. I currently have 2 cameras with him.

 

[Igor.Burshteyn]

Today sticky shutter problem was fixed by local repairman (CLA it's not, but now shutter works every time) . I will post some results from 35SP as soon as I finish film.