omega
Newbie
Having a strange problem with the viewfinder on my Electro 35 CC. There's something rattling around inside of it which will cover up parts of the frame lines and RF patch, depending on which way the camera is tilted. The finder itself is completely unobstructed, it's only the translucent frame lines and patch which are affected.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
b1bmsgt
Yeah, I still use film...
There is a mirror in the viewfinder that reflects the frame lines. Sounds like it has come loose...
Russ
Russ
Frontman
Well-known
It could be several things. There is a little pin which fits inside the flash synch socket which often comes out, there is a foam seal under the rewind knob which deteriorates and gets all over the rangefinder assembly. There is a thin metal plate which is glued to the top of the rangefinder assembly which may also be loose, and last but not not least, the thin sheet which the frame lines are cut into might be loose.
Taking the top off the CC is easy, use a pair of tweezers to remove the nut which holds on the winding lever, remove the lever and the washer underneath, and remove the battery cover. Open the film door, and then push the rewind lever down until the fork of the rewind shaft is visible. Put a screwdriver or something between the fork to prevent the shaft from turning, then turn the rewind knob counter-clockwise to remove it. Then simply remove the 3 Phillips head screws which hold the cover into place. The cover will come off, but be careful of the small green wire which connects to the flash synch socket.
Once the top is removed, you can clean out whatever crud/dust/dirt you see. You can use Q-tips with lens cleaning fluid to clean the rangefinder elements and mirror (clean gently). To get to the elements, you'll need to remove the thin sheet-metal cover which is glued over them. Use rubber cement to reattach the cover.
Reassembly is a bit more difficult, You have to be careful to reinsert the pin which fits in the flash synch socket (or you can leave it out, if you leave it out, the camera will not fire at it's super-slow flash synch speed, and you can then use fill flash), and you have to be careful with the battery test button. I put the cover most of the way on, and I use a tiny scewdriver pushed through the battery door opening to hold back the test switch so the button will slide over it. Forcing the cover down without doing this can break the test switch. Once the cover is in place, replace the screws, rewind knob, and winding lever, and you are finished.
Maybe I'll make a how-to article with pics later on, the CC/CCN/GX cameras have really nice viewfinder/rangefinders once they are cleaned up.
Taking the top off the CC is easy, use a pair of tweezers to remove the nut which holds on the winding lever, remove the lever and the washer underneath, and remove the battery cover. Open the film door, and then push the rewind lever down until the fork of the rewind shaft is visible. Put a screwdriver or something between the fork to prevent the shaft from turning, then turn the rewind knob counter-clockwise to remove it. Then simply remove the 3 Phillips head screws which hold the cover into place. The cover will come off, but be careful of the small green wire which connects to the flash synch socket.
Once the top is removed, you can clean out whatever crud/dust/dirt you see. You can use Q-tips with lens cleaning fluid to clean the rangefinder elements and mirror (clean gently). To get to the elements, you'll need to remove the thin sheet-metal cover which is glued over them. Use rubber cement to reattach the cover.
Reassembly is a bit more difficult, You have to be careful to reinsert the pin which fits in the flash synch socket (or you can leave it out, if you leave it out, the camera will not fire at it's super-slow flash synch speed, and you can then use fill flash), and you have to be careful with the battery test button. I put the cover most of the way on, and I use a tiny scewdriver pushed through the battery door opening to hold back the test switch so the button will slide over it. Forcing the cover down without doing this can break the test switch. Once the cover is in place, replace the screws, rewind knob, and winding lever, and you are finished.
Maybe I'll make a how-to article with pics later on, the CC/CCN/GX cameras have really nice viewfinder/rangefinders once they are cleaned up.
omega
Newbie
Thanks for the suggestions guys, especially Frontman! I think it might be the 'thin metal plate' you mentioned, but that's only just a guess.
A detailed DIY guide would be immensely helpful and appreciated. I'm not exactly mechanically inclined, haha. Right now I have a roll of film in the CC, so I will try and finish it off quickly and get this problem solved.
I contacted Mark Hama about a CLA, and the estimate was $125, which doesn't include shipping (both to and from). Too much money to solve this niggling problem when the rest of the camera is performing flawlessly!
A detailed DIY guide would be immensely helpful and appreciated. I'm not exactly mechanically inclined, haha. Right now I have a roll of film in the CC, so I will try and finish it off quickly and get this problem solved.
I contacted Mark Hama about a CLA, and the estimate was $125, which doesn't include shipping (both to and from). Too much money to solve this niggling problem when the rest of the camera is performing flawlessly!