Repair Olympus 35 RC (as of 2012)

[alphonse2501]

I received my 35 RC today. After inspection I found 35 RC has not normal dings as seller stated: right corner of top plate has out of shape caused by impact so its right side fall into the gaps for winding lever. I suspect this damage may effect shutter release and speed dial, shutter release a bit sticky when I pressing it...

Otherwise, body mechanism operating well. This 35 RC needs service (replace aging light seal) and repair. I was surprised it still contain old, slightly leaked EPX13 mercury battery. I searched who can repair Olympus 35s and all information I get is John from zuiko.com, however I already he no longer to do this type of camera when I sent my OM-1 to him this spring...

Now I wonder is there have any other repairman or shop can fix my 35 RC?

 

[charjohncarter]

I heard he doesn't do 35RC any longer. I guess I had my RC done at the end of his run. But I'll bet John would give you a name of someone; Email him.

 

[alphonse2501]

John replied he do not know anyone can do this work.

However, I finally found one: Essex Camera in New Jersey.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-66234.html
http://www.essexcamera.com/
Price looks like high, but I will make a try with them.

 

[DerekMiao]

John replied he do not know anyone can do this work.

However, I finally found one: Essex Camera in New Jersey.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-66234.html
http://www.essexcamera.com/
Price looks like high, but I will make a try with them.

Have you got your camera repaired at Essex? Can you please let us know your experience? Thanks!

 

[68degrees]

I received my 35 RC today. After inspection I found 35 RC has not normal dings as seller stated:

are you serious? The camera from an Ebay seller was not as described? I didnt know that happend on ebay. You mean people deliberately dont tell you things that, if you knew them, you wouldnt bid? No.

 

[DerekMiao]

I tried to call Essex Camera Repair today, but it directly went to voice mail. I heard that they are out of business. I hope it's not true...

 

[DerekMiao]

Does anyone know where to CLA a 35RC? Thanks.

 

[wallace]

it is not hard, any good repairman should be able to service the RC.
In Germany I had mine CLA'd by Frank Timmann (www.om-doktor.de)

 

[oftheherd]

I tried to call Essex Camera Repair today, but it directly went to voice mail. I heard that they are out of business. I hope it's not true...

That would be a bummer. I was about to call them about sending in a camera for repair.

 

[newt_on_swings]

I heard Essex closed after they got flooded by Sandy and returned loads of cameras unrepaired.

The rc is pretty standard and if you have a bit of camera repair knowledge and tools you can do it yourself. You can clean out the battery leak with a bit of diluted white vinegar. Check with a new battery and see if it powers it up. If not then remove bottom plate to check if the wiring has come loose off the plastic battery holder, this is common. Resolder it if it has. It isn't hard to take out the front element and carefully clean the shutter and aperture blades with naphtha and work the mechanism. Then lube with some graphite/moly. The meter isn't a big deal if it really is gone, they work great on manual. Foam is a piece of cake, search here or apug and you'll find loads of info. I prefer the foamies adhesive backed brand.

 

[wallace]

in case you want to do it yourself, the following link might be helpful:

http://www3.telus.net/public/rpnchbck/Oly_RC.html

 

[Orbiter]

CameraTechs in Seattle repaired a couple of Olympus rangefinders for me, including an RC. You might contact them to see what they would say about repairing your camera. http://www.cameratechs.com/

 

[DerekMiao]

Thanks! I followed the instruction to do CLA for 35RC. However, after reassembling everything, it does not focus at infinity (at least rangefinder does not overlap). There are three screws in the lens that controls focus. I understand that I can loose these screws and rotate the lens to adjust focus at infinity, but I don't know how to judge whether it is focused or not.

One possible solution is to rotate the focusing ring to make infinity overlap in rangefinder. Then loose the screws and rotate the focusing ring to infinty (without rotating the lens this time). This way I can at least make the rangefinder focus at infinty, but the focus of lens is still uncertain.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Tiger 68]

How I Did It.

How I Did It.

I'll try to explain how I have adjusted lens focus, not on an RC, but the principle should be the same.

Cut a small piece of clear plastic to fit where the film rests behind the lens (the filmplane). Put a piece of scotch tape (frosted type) on the plastic piece, and attach the plastic piece in place with the taped side facing the shutter. Open the aperture fully and open the shutter using a cable release to hold it open. Point the camera at a target as far away as possible, 200+ feet should be OK, and using a loupe, look at the image on the tape "filmplane". If you move the lens back and forth you can see the focus change. This sounds a little crude, but it worked really well for me.

Hope this makes sense.

Regards,
BV

 

[DerekMiao]

Thanks for your help. This forum is incredibly helpful!

I think I have make the lens focus accurate, by using another SLR camera with split-image focus screen as a collimator.

However, once I receive battery from B&H, I found the meter of my 35RC not accurate 🙁 It consistently over exposes by 2 stops. I removed the button of of 35RC and tried to adjust meter, but I found it's very hard to do. I need to take a meter out, rotate it (it's very tight!), re-assemble everything and test if the meter is accurate. If not, I need to do this again... Because I'm turning the meter by my finger, I feel that I'm just trying my luck to make it accurate.

 

[Sid836]

Try a higher asa setting to compensate for the overexposure.