Vivitar 35ES /Konica Auto S3 - foggy viewfinder - how to clean?

[titantoadd]

Hi everyone,

Require help again on camera maintenance.

This time I've got a Vivitar 35ES with a not so clean viewfinder. All working except for the VF being very foggy. Done the usual cleaning of th external VF and rangefinder window to no avail.
Planning to open up and clean the inside but have been warned that cleaning the wrong VF element will mean that I may wipe out the whole RF reflective coating which will render the RF useless.

Thus hoping someone in the forum can provide some direction or link on www that will give me guidance on:
a) how to remove top
b) what to clean
c) how to clean in order not to damage the RF
d) how to put things back
e) what are those tiny little details that I should be aware of


Also got a Konica Auto S3 that could do with some cleaning up of the viewfinder if anyone can provide some direction on it.


Thank you in advance,

Jimmy

 

[ray_g]

Scroll down to Rangefinder Glass.

Very easy but rewarding DIY project. I have done it on all my compact RF's. Good luck!

 

[ZeMane]

Hi Jimmy,

I'm actually in the same situation than you, but with a very similar Revue 400SE. Have a look at the link posted before, and also for some further info and general tips on the camera visit this one too.

I'm going to try to clean the camera next weekend, as well as replacing seals. Maybe we can share experiences / join forces, eheheheh. 😉

Good luck!

JoSe

 

[Nick R.]

Here are links to some pics of the auto S3.
Note the screw under the rewind knob.
While you have the top off, tighten the screws that hold on the hot shoe. There's one that gets loose and messes up the flashmatic function.
If you're gentle enough you should be able to clean all the glass surfaces without a problem except the mirror with the mask on it. The mask could fall off.
http://www.meadowlander.com/konica1.JPG
http://www.meadowlander.com/konica2.JPG
http://www.meadowlander.com/konica3.JPG
http://www.meadowlander.com/konica4.JPG

 

[titantoadd]

Ray, Jose and Nick,

My sincerest gratitude on the assistance...will work on the project this weekend if possible and will share with everyone once its done..

Jim

 

[zuikologist]

Good luck with the cleaning. I too have a 35ES. It's one of my favourite RF cameras and looks cool in the black paint finish.