Paralyzed GIII update

[MelanieC]

As I mentioned before I have a Canonet with a sticky shutter and misbehaving film advance lever. After some great advice from the folks here, I set off on my quest to fix my little camera.

My boyfriend owns many tools, and I own but few, so I brought the Canonet to his doorstep and presented him with my problem. Being someone who loves to fiddle, and loathes reading manuals, he immediately set about taking apart the lens to get to the shutter, occasionally asking me what "the camera people" on RFF had told me to do. I simply got out of his way and supplied the necessary information, but we hit a snag.

So, the front ring is off, and the black plastic thingie, and the first lens element, but the collar that's holding the next one in won't budge for love or money. He tried a number of ingenious and resourceful tactics to get it off, but no dice. So, my Canonet remains in pieces and as far as I know, still paralyzed.

At some point I broke the news that it is possible cleaning the shutter will not fix the camera, and that we will then have to start removing leatherette and getting into the Canonet's innards another way, but he was nonplussed.

I will get a few pictures of the current status and post them later. Thanks for the help thus far, and I'll keep you informed.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Use a little Ronsonol to soak the stuck lens. Some people have resorted to drilling little holes on the metal of the mount. I have used thin-ling needle nosed pliers to read into the slots on the mount and get it out.

Be VERY CAREFUL putting the front element back in. I started using rubber blocks to righten the ring after having one snap in half on me. The front rim is thin, and will put a lot of force on the glass.

 

[vrgard]

Great signature, Brian!

Great signature, Brian!

Can't help Melanie with her Canonet problem, but just had to comment on Brian's great sigline. The truth hurts... 🙂

 

[dmr]

but the collar that's holding the next one in won't budge for love or money. He tried a number of ingenious and resourceful tactics to get it off, but no dice.

Here is the way I got mine off, and trust me, this is far easier to do than it sounds. 🙂

You will notice that the thing that holds that second lens element has a slanted surface facing inward.

I very carefully drilled (don't get scared by the D word) 2 very small very not-so-deep holes perpendicular to the slant of that collar. I used a Dremel tool and a very small drill bit, I think it's the 1/64 out of the Dremel drill set.

These holes are just to let a standard lens spanner get a grip.

BINGO, it unscrewed very easily and came out in one piece.

I did hear horror stories of this coming out in 2 (or more) pieces by some of the people here, but think positive, and it will come out in 1 piece just fine for you. 🙂

Then you can see the exposed shutter and iris blades.

Hope this helps. 🙂

 

[MelanieC]

You are the greatest. Thanks guys -- I'm going to take this info back to the boyfriend and see what he can do. Maybe I'll even get to fiddle with the camera myself, heh.

In lieu of Ronsonol, is it possible to clean the shutter blades with (a) acetone or (b) ethanol?

 

[Fedzilla_Bob]

Acetone bad- Especially around lens coatings, wires - good stuff like that.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have had the best luck with Ronsonol. Every 7/11 carries it that I've seen.