What's your most troublesome yet beloved camera?

[Mephiloco]

My M2. It's at DAG right now and I'm tempted to put it on the classifieds and let someone have it for the cost of repairs. I got it for $400 with holes in one of the curtains, fixed the curtains. It slapped against my thigh running on set once (a hit that wouldn't have damaged any other camera I've ever owned), knocking the rangefinder out of calibration, unfortunately the person I bought it from stripped the eccentric screw trying to do some work on it himself, so DAG had to replace the rangefinder arm.

Then, during mardi gras on Frenchmen street, the camera strap came off my shoulder while I was bending down resulting in the camera falling about 5 inches onto the pavement, top plate first. Result? Black viewfinder. It's been at DAG for several months now, another $250 or so in repairs to the M2. When it comes back I think I'm just going to sell it as a user camera or trade it for a lens, I like my newly acquired Bessa R and M5 better anyways (yay meters).

 

[wlewisiii]

Easily my Retina IIa's. I've got one busted one and one that I just got and pamper. Beautiful images but a touch fragile.

But this:

or this:

or even this:

keeps me using it. I keep it in my glove box with a couple of rolls of film & use it when I don't have anything else handy.

William

 

[Krosya]

This one is easy. Canon A-1. Good camera, but the squeal and light seals are a true pain in the @ss.

Actually both are very easy to fix - I just did 2 of these cameras with same issues - took less than an hour each. Work great now.

 

[filmtwit]

Pretty easy, an early Leica M5 with screwed up roller bearings.

 

[colyn]

This one is easy. Canon A-1. Good camera, but the squeal and light seals are a true pain in the @ss.

An easy fix....

Dunk it in the Gulf of Mexico...... 😱 😱 😱

 

[Krosya]

I dont usually keep troublesome cameras (not that I had that many of those). If there is a problem - I either fix it or break it for good. 😉
Only camera I kept that gave me some problems and now works almost perfect (almost cause its just not as smooth as I'd like it to be, it functions well otherwise) - is a Rolleiflex 3.5E.

 

[maddoc]

My most troublesome cameras (my only troublesome cameras) were my Leica MP and is my Leica M7. The MP went twice to Leica to get the shutter (capping at high speeds), sticky shutter button, faulty electronics and loose rewind knob fixed. After it was fixed I sold it, the love for "Mechanical Perfection" was gone ... 🙄

My M7 went to Leica to get a jammed shutter fixed and after the repair frame line spacing got uneven. So after a second trip to Leica to get that fixed, now the camera has developed a problem setting ISO speeds. In DX mode it works but manually some ISO speeds can`t be set at all and some appear twice... :bang: When having some spare time I will send the camera in for a third time but won`t sell it. I got used to the AE function to much ...😛

Knocking on wood, all my other cameras - especially older M Leicas - have all worked without big problems.🙂 (My Ricohflex VII needed a shutter service due to gummed up grease and my Rolleiflex is on the way to Harry Fleenor because the lens board doesn`t move correctly when trying to focus)

 

[coelacanth]

This turned out very interesting. Thanks for sharing your stories.

As some said, I, too, don't want to keep not-perfect devices most of times. I've sold some cameras and lenses (while fully disclosing the problems) because of annoying problems, big and small. But once in a while, there are cameras and some other things that you just can't let go. It can be unhealthy relationship, but it could be a great bonding process. You just don't know which way it's gonna turn...

My formerly troubled M2 gave me some of my most favorite photos, even got me a featured spread-page published in China!

I hope those of us with "formerly" troubled camera will have a long healthy relationship with the old love, and those with currently troubled beast can find the peace one way or another...

Some photos from M2.

 

[johnnygulliver]

sold a dud M2

sold a dud M2

I too was mis-sold a chrome M2 which was all over the place mechanically, but Peter at CRR completely stripped and rebuilt that camera in black paint (the vulcanite was perfect so didn't need doing) a few years ago. It is now the smoothest M I have had, a joy to use...

 

[NathanJD]

So many troublesome M2s! Touch wood, my M2 is currently working perfectly fine, i bought it with a warranty from Aperture Photographic in London and happily paid a little more for the peace of mind.

My lovable little damp squib is a FED-2 which has had light leaks for as long as I have owned it is my troublesome sweetheart; it doesn’t see a lot of use any more as it has slipped right down to the bottom of the desirability scale in comparison to my other cameras and there’s always something else to spend the money on when I think about tackling the problem.

One day I plan to make my FED-2 the only FED-2 (that I know of) with light seals 😀

 

[paparazzi mano]

not troublesome

not troublesome

Voightlander Prominent w Nokton. Not troublesome but PIA to use. But the good point is it slows me down and take my time to compose. Usually have 10+ good shots from a roll.

Not bad huh?

 

[retnull]

My Mamiya C330 ! It's never malfunctioned, but it's such an overweight cumbersome beast...a problem. I love the results, but mostly it sits around hogging real estate on the shelf.

 

[Andy Kibber]

Lomo LC-A! My other cameras are reliable.

 

[coelacanth]

My PIA to Use Award goes to my Hasselblad 500C/M. I love the lens, I love the results. But the weight, super long focusing throw (especially when you compare with Mamiya 7), and overall ergonomics aren't really working for me. It sits in my camera cabinet most of the time and only pulled out for a quick pola back shoot in the room.

To me personally, TLR is quicker 6x6 everyday shooter. Rolleicord V is coming this week so the Hassy collects more dust... Poor guy. I at least exercise the shutter once in a while.

 

[Calzone]

I bought a Rolleiflex 3.5F that appeared to be in remarkably great condition for only $1k. It looked like it was seldom used, but I didn't even get a first roll through it. I soon discovered that the shutter would jam. I thought about using the return policy to get my money back, but I also found out that the price I paid didn't factor in that it was one of those rare "Whiteface" 3.5F's and the store where I bought it had made a big mistake.

I sent my Rollei to Harry Fleenor; had the shutter overhauled, the film transport overhauled; and a Maxwell Screen upgrade. Only had to wait 2 and a half months for the repairs, but now I have a killer camera that is good to go for a long time. German precision at its pinicle. It was worth the wait. Only took nearly three months to get a first roll through my Rollei. Not having been used gummed up the whole camera. That will not ever happen again now that I own it.

Cal