Vi-l

[chendayuan]

Price reduced $450

Price reduced $450

haha Frank, let me relist it for you if any taker we can split the profits

I have for sale an almost mint Canon VI-L (some small faint bright marks visible when tipped towards a light source) with its brown leather ever-ready case in very good shape. This model represents the zenith of Canon ....(delete few lines) Check out this model at the Canon Museum here: http://www.canon.com/camera-museum/camera/f_camera.


The camera has following flaws:


1. the shutter speeds of 1/30sec and 1/15sec become 1/4 sec and 1/2 sec. The faster speeds and the slower speeds are fine.

2. The viewfinder is clear and the rangefinder patch is contrasty and properly adjusted vertically and horizontally. except a small glass chip at the buttom of the viewfinder.

3. the shutter curtain has quiet a few dents and wrinkles on the second shutter curtain, as most do. Does not affect function. The first shutter curtain is Ok


4. there was a slipping problem with the winding mechanism, because the camera requires 2 strokes to cock the shutter while the back is open (and only a single stroke while advancing film when the back is closed.) The camera's function is 100% consistent however, at first I believe this is a design feature to facilitate film loading and advancing to the first frame but unfortunately it does not happen in my other Canon RF (P/VIL/7 et al), a call to Essex about this problem their answer is 1) the wind gear is strip or wear out 2) the clutch system is not working, a CLA will run $150 plus part labor to fix the winding problem. So I offer here to sell it $550 ($50 less than The Photo.net offer due to above probelms and you get a free case).

This camera is offered with a money back guarantee.

Any taker please drop me a line.

In addition to above flaws, there is another flaw, the film to lens flage distance is incorrect, any lens wide than f4 will be soft, even you set the rangefinder correctly, do not blame the lens. the problem is due to someone has removed the lens mount in the past and never bother to put back the shim or washer under the lens mount.
due to this additional flaw, I will knock off another $100.


so $450, if you think the price is redicules, please make me an offer here.

 

[FrankS]

Da Zang, I feel badly that this camera that I sold you has these defects that I did not know about. I sold it to you with a money back guarrantee, so if you wish, I'll refund your purchase price and the money you've put in for a cla.

 

[chendayuan]

Frank
This is just for fun to see how much this camera can fetch back, and you will never regret to get rid off it. By the way do you noted any out of focus problem when you use it?

 

[FrankS]

Da, I didn't notice focus problems, and I even used the camera in low light/wide aperture coffeehouse band shots. (f2@1/30sec) Maybe my focus was off and counteracted the camera's problem?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I had the same problem with a Nikon S2 bought on EBay from a seller who was a member of the Nikon Historical Society. It was in great shape, and was a great price, but someone had taken off the lens mount and did not put all of the shims back into place. The Nikon used "washer" type shims under the screws that hold the mount to the camera. I used some precision washers from out machine shop and calibrated it for the Zeiss Sonnar. The seller kept a 3.5cm F2.5 on it all the time and never noticed the problem.

The Canon uses a circular shim that sits under the lens mount. The one on the Canon 7 was quite thin. Some Aluminum Foil would probably work if you can't get Brass Shim Material.

On the F1.5: That one on Ebay went for over $400!!! I think it jumped ahead of the Nikkor 5cm F1.4 and Canon 50mm F1.4. I intend to find out why!

 

[chendayuan]

Da, I didn't notice focus problems, and I even used the camera in low light/wide aperture coffeehouse band shots. (f2@1/30sec) Maybe my focus was off and counteracted the camera's problem?

Frank
The VIL 1/15, 1/30 was not in working order(become 1/4 ish), you may not remember it correctly. if it is not in infinite the foucus may fall before or after your focus point. As far as I can see someone must pull off the shell, most likely a non-professional shoe repairman type and forget put back the shim and mess up the shutter speeds connection and chip the viewfinder.

 

[John Shriver]

The 50/1.5 on eBay was freshly CLA'd by Sherry Krauter, and was claimed to be in very fine condition. My $78 one came with a filter ring ding, a bit of dirt inside, and a helical so dry that it practically rattled.

As for lubing the 50/1.5 focusing mount, if anyone else is brave, I'll explain.

The outer slotted ring on the rear holds the lens barrel into the focusing mount. Remove with spanner wrench. It is tight. Don't lose the spacer ring.

To split the focusing mount, start by removing the slotted brass ring from the front with a spanner. It holds in the non-rotating stepped brass collar that the lens block mounts into. Pull out the brass collar.

Now, focus to infinity. Remove the three screws on the back of the lens. Using tweezers, slide out the stop that it holds. Now you should be able to split the focusing helix. As always, note VERY CAREFULLY the relative rotational positions of the two halves of the helix when they come apart.

If you need to take off the parts of the focusing collar, there's one curve ball. There are three obvious screws that hold on the front dress ring. There is a fourth, it's one of the ones holding in the black tabs, it's 90 degrees from two of the other screws.

There is a second set of 4 screws that hold the focusing ring to the back of the helical. You may have to pull them to get good access to the helical for cleaning.

You will also want to clean and lube the inside of the stepped brass collar.

I can't say what the ideal lube is. LaBelle Teflon grease was too stiff. Lubribplate lithium soap grease is what I have in there now, too slick.

When you are done putting it back together, the focusing cam should stick out 7.5mm from the mounting plane when focused at infinity. If not, you're on the wrong start of the helical threads. (Try again.)

 

[Paul Connet]

LUBING the 50mm/f1.5 focus mount

LUBING the 50mm/f1.5 focus mount

Thank you, thank you, thank you John Shriver.
The instructions given in your post above were just what I needed to get me moving. My very very stiff focusing 50mm/f1.5 is now so nice I am just sitting here turning it back and forth, and all of a sudden it is my favorite lens.

Brian Sweeney tried to help me a couple of days ago, but I was too timid. John's detailed instructions did the trick. His post should have a stickey on it in this forum but I do not know how to make that happen. :-(

Regards, Paul C.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I'll be saving those instructions as well. The 50mm F1.5 that was on the IIf was in prime condition. I have one that needs attention coming in.

 

[rover]

Thank you, thank you, thank you John Shriver.
The instructions given in your post above were just what I needed to get me moving. My very very stiff focusing 50mm/f1.5 is now so nice I am just sitting here turning it back and forth, and all of a sudden it is my favorite lens.

Brian Sweeney tried to help me a couple of days ago, but I was too timid. John's detailed instructions did the trick. His post should have a stickey on it in this forum but I do not know how to make that happen. :-(

Regards, Paul C.

Paul, the recent shots you have posted taken with this lens are great. Very inspiring for a chronic shopper.

 

[back alley]

His post should have a stickey on it in this forum but I do not know how to make that happen. :-(

no sticky but i moved a copy to the repair section.

joe