Sticking shutter on Oly 35SP

[OlyMan]

The shutter on my Olympus 35SP has started to stick open for the first few exposures when the camera hasn’t been used for a week or more. This is regardless of whether the camera is used in manual or auto mode. To release it you have to depress the shutter-button again. Is this something that is likely to be cured by a service/CLA? If so, and accepting that there aren’t many UK-based members on this forum, could anyone recommend anywhere in the UK which would be willing to do this? Alternatively is it likely to be something I could fix myself?

This 35SP is by far my favourite RF in my meagre collection, has the one of earliest serial-numbers of any 35SP I’ve seen (#185639) and is in otherwise perfect condition so is far too good to just scrap. Even the case is virtually 100% mint!

 

[OlyMan]

Update: just had another go with the camera and can now see that it's not that the shutter is sticking open, it's that the button doesn't always trip the shutter, regardless of how slowly you press it: there's a faint "click" (which is what I thought was the shutter opening - never thought of actually looking into the lens just to confirm that - doh!) but then the shutter only actually trips when you press the button a second time...any ideas?

 

[OlyMan]

Hi G'man

Most times, but not always. It's like whatever it is that's supposed to trip the shutter doesn't *quite* do it first time round (if that doesn't sound too weird)

 

[OlyMan]

How difficult would it be to tackle myself? I've got visions of old mechanical cameras like the 35SP exploding to pieces in a shower of tiny springs and cogs as soon as I release any of the cover-screws...

 

[OlyMan]

How does it come apart? (why can I see myself making a right FUBAR out of this)

 

[Kim Coxon]

PM sent.

Kim

 

[OlyMan]

There is a very thin ring that holds the lens bezel in. It has two small notches.
Then the bezel comes out. Then you can remove the lens itself.

OR You could beg Kim to work on it when his wife is up and around again. 🙂


*** No hate mail Kim. LOL

Sounds a bit complicated for my inept fingers connected to an incompetent brain...funnily enough I have just had a PM from Kim and I have asked him for a quote for a full CLA.

 

[former member]

I just got the old Fujica 35ml working. Blades were jammed 10 years ago when I bought it. Also popped the top and cleaned the viewfinder. The focus is via a wheel on the back of the camera, like a Voigtlander Vitessa, the distance scale is a dial on top of the camera. It is keyed to the focus wheel. It had a pretty big spring between the distance indicator and the wheel, flew pretty far.

Back together now, put all the little wheels and dials in the upside-down top plate and dropped the camera into place.