Will appreciate feedback from Petri 7s [II] users

btgc

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I've become owner of 7s w/ 2.8 lens, result of impulse buy. Haven't put any roll through yet, timings seem to be OK, so I will go on, just replace light seals before.

Last night revisited RF, though it were clean already (got even better, though not as bright and contrasty as in early Electro I have), cleaned very few "green dots" on upper cover, and after all adjusted RF back which went off a bit during cleanup -- one has just to move mirror base instead of using screws like in e.g. Electro 35. Thanks to kyphoto for service manual !

I like it is manually controlled, simple, and nice enough to have. Daughter loves how meter dial goes to middle position after we play with speed/aperture :)

What I want to ask is how loudly your 7s is cocking ? When I do, mine gives LOUD "clunk" at the end, something similar how Electro 35 does but significantly louder and after I hear some coil resonates a bit silently. Is this common ?

Hope to hear back from mature 7s users :)
 
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I have a 7s II, although I haven't used it much, just a few colour films a few years ago. You found that there is a definite "clunk" at the end of winding, this is the same on mine, along with a little ratchety sound as wound on. IMO it all makes the camera a little light and cheap feeling.
Mine sometimes doesn't release the shutter when the button is pressed, but will do when re-pressed, this is the only problem I've had/got. It's very light, with a good framed finder and the lens gave a good performance in the shots I made.
What surprised me was how well the metering worked, so overall, although I haven't got much use out of it, it is one which I plan to try out again.
I hope that you get good use from yours, please post some of your work from it.
Dave...
 
Fine if loud "clunk" is there by design :) pity your shutter release stucks, I remember that on mine self-timer doesn't work. Yeah, compared to full-weight rf's 7s may feel cheap, I think it's mainly because of weight and top&bottom covers which are lightweight and not so durable (if we assume most rangefinders rather break lens than top cover). Again, I like full sized shutter release button on 7s - matching finger tip (another good design is used on some Ricoh's (500gx ?) - with wider tip only). Well, light seals are next on list...
 
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Petri 7s is a lovely camera with excellent lenses, but it is a fragile camera particularly in the wind on department. If it is working treat it gently, but very sadly they are easily broken.
Mine had a beautiful soft shutter relase and was nearly silent. but sadly it only winds the film now and not the shutter!!
 
I have run a roll though my new Petri 7s. Mine was in very good, if not excellent, condition. It does make a 'clunk' when you advance the film, but you are rewarded with the most silent shutter in the world. Your daughter may like the needle window on top of the camera, but you will like it more once you start to use it. You can pre-meter. Also, the sliding aperture ring is a dream. I have one of revered Olympus 35RCs and it isn't as nice as this camera.

It is too bad that Nikon or Pentax didn't make this type of camera (during the late 60s to the early 80s), with exchangable lenses. RFF would have a whole different face if they did. Here is a recent thread I started about this and other 'impluse buys.' It shows the lenses quality: http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46662


and here is a gallery image of the same photo: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=69475&ppuser=8685
 
Thanks all for replays, seems this little is underestimated - especially after looking on charjohncarter's sample. Hope will get back with addition.
 
It really is pretty good; not top quality but the lens is very good. I have one inherited from my Dad, and once cleaned up it's a fine performer. It too makes a clunk upon cocking the shutter.
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status report: first roll didn't reach minilab, as I wound film out of cassette. Strange, Electro35 and other cameras having wind lever, just stop winding when roll is finished. I didn't applied extraordinary force, sure.
Well, maybe that's only defective film, I've loaded next one.
 
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Ah....well that sucks. If it's any consolation, I seem to have a Zorki 4 with a similar issue. This is the 2nd roll I've had to retrieve from the take up spool. I might have to find anther LTM body.

As for Petri 7s....a fine little camera. I seem to recall the clunk on the wind lever as well. I'm not able to confirm because I loaned it to my niece indefinitely since I finished her severely damaged digicam by taking it apart hoping I could fix it. Oh well....
 
I did forget one caveat about the Petri 7s though.


That would be the lack of a depth of field scale.....that kind of sucks sometimes.
 
yeah, I already noticed this....but it has right weight to carry hanged on neckstrap - Electro is heavier and makes walk into exercise. Or should I eat more ? :p

blw said:
That would be the lack of a depth of field scale.....that kind of sucks sometimes.
 
Nice camera - short name, long reputation...

Nice camera - short name, long reputation...

I've got mine Petri 7S from France some years ago, a camera I couldn't afford when I was in my teens. There's a 1.8/45 mm lens on the camera of very good quality, it takes beautiful soft pictures. The winding mechanism is fragile indeed, mine is victim of e bad repair and the counter sometimes fails. The wellknown 'dunk' is also present here! The needle of the lightmeter was freed from the upper-housing, works OK now. Nice camera and rather progressive in it's time. It came along with an auxiliary lens attachment set (20% wider field for the wide-angle, 1,25 x for the tele-attachment). It's a pity the special viewfinder for the accessory shoe was missing. Anybody this viewfinder on the shelf for me?
btgc, keep working on it! Brichma
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