Rollei 35 S shutter release stuck down unable to retract lens!

[RBruceCR]

Well today my R35S's shutter release stuck down. So if I advance the film the at the full extent of its race the shutter fires without pressing it, thus making impossible to press the lens retraction button.

The lens looks fully out, however, listing to one side, using the maritime description as I went to the sea today.

If I keep advancing the film lever after quite a few times, the shutter release comes back halfway, but it will not return to the normal firing position and will not allow the lens to retract!

Any pointers as to what procedure should I do before mailing my camera to Krimar in NJ?

Regards,

 

[ZeissFan]

There is always the tried-and-true method of turning the camera upside down, holding it firmly and smacking it against the palm of your other hand.

My own feeling that it probably would be best to have the camera serviced. It might be something very simple.

There are a few arms on the front of the camera just under the top deck, and it's possible that one arm has slipped behind another arm.

Or it could be something else.

 

[RBruceCR]

Thanks Zeiss fan I've contacted Krikor at Krimar in NJ to determine how does he like to be payed and how to ship the camera!

 

[RBruceCR]

Today out of sheer luck I found the culprit: the superior lens holding screw, seen from the back open, became loose and moved to the area of the shutter. It doesn't seem to have scratched the back of the lens.

I started loading and firing the camera and suddenly the shutter returns to its position, and the screw dislodges from the side of the diaphragm levers becomes loose. I can now lock or unlock the lens, but cannot retract the lens to its closed position. Then I see like a small arm moving from the right hand side bottom of the camera.

So I grab my Swiss Army knife tweezers and dislodge the screw. However, the camera lens wobbles and moves when the shutter fires. So I say to myself that the screw is needed (remember on the old TV's that there was a legend saying, that there where no user parts inside), so I start looking for pictures of the lens from the rear, but find nothing.

I decide to make a fine point screwdriver and put a moist with IPA cotton on top of the rear lens element, to prevent the screw from damaging the lens in case it falls and I screw down into the only hole left without a screw. Now the lens doesn't move and I feel the camera is free to lock down the lens or to retract the lens.

Still, the lens wobble when being retracted and the focus ring feels spongy but this is not new. The camera came this way. Perhaps I would still send it for CLA instead of repairing.

Any comments are welcome!

 

[ZeissFan]

Can you post a photo to show what screw you mean?

 

[RBruceCR]

Can you post a photo to show what screw you mean?

I am running a roll right now but I will post picture as soon as I can!

 

[RBruceCR]

Can you post a photo to show what screw you mean?

If you have the repair manual, the illustration of the screw is located on page 12-73 illustration 1.05.0200.

I downloaded the manual by googling "When should I CLA'd Rollei 35":

http://www.philewar.org/download/Rollei_35_Service_Manual.pdf

Regards,