Repair help for Vivitar 35es

[amhildreth]

I've owned this little beauty for a while, and have taken some great photos, but a problem has finally arisen. I went to take it out of the case the other day, and noticed a thin piece of brass dangling in front of the viewfinder. I flipped it down, loaded some film, and noticed the piece had disappeared. It seems to be directly related to the aperture, as the camera now stops down to F16 in all lighting and setting conditions. Any ideas how to repair, or is there anyone I can send it to for repair and CLA? I love my Vivitar, and don't want to delegate it to "display model" status.

- Andy

 

[Gwazda]

Repair help for Vivitar 35es

I know this is a really really old post, but I'm having the same problem and I can't find an answer anywhere. Rather than start a new thread, I thought I'd just give this one a bump.

The blades are not stuck, and the light meter is working. It always goes to f/16 when I hit the shutter, regardless of what the meter reads or how the lens is set.

If I'm doing a bad job explaining, here's a video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86msQGxV7rg


Thank you!
-Chester

 

[splitimageview]

Is the dial set to Auto, or to one of the guide number settings?

 

[Gwazda]

It doesn't work on either setting, auto or GN.

 

[Brian Legge]

Given its connections with the Minolta 7sII, this may be related:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81281

Granted that bar is tiny - it may be too small to be what you saw - but it sounds similar.

 

[Gwazda]

Thank you Brian, that will definitely get me started in the right direction!

I'll report back once I get around to disassembling it.

 

[splitimageview]

If you put the dial on GN = 7, and vary focus from close to infinity, do you see a difference in the stop down aperture when the shutter button is pressed?

 

[Gwazda]

Brian, you were right! The bar that catches the aperture control is missing. Your pictures were very helpful.

I superglued a tiny piece of guitar string to replace the missing piece, although I'm still having trouble. There are two toothed moving parts that interact with the needle. One pins the needle in place when the shudder is pressed halfway, and the other actually controls the exposure. This second piece doesn't seem to be moving correctly, and I'm guessing that there is a missing spring. Might require a parts unit.

 

[amhildreth]

Mine was in need of some cleaning, so I had it CLA'd. Problem was repaired when it came back to me. Thank you for reviving this thread, as that is good info to know in case it happens again.
- Andy