Zeiss Flectoscope

[msarkki]

Hi,

Would anyone have a picture what kind of cable release is in Zeiss' Flektoscope? I am missing the one that goes from Flektoscope to the camera/shutter.

Unfortunately also the mirror in my Flektoscope is in quite bad condition. If anyone has replaced that with something else than original part I would be interested to get some advice.

 

[View Range]

The cable release is a standard cable release. Mine has the AGC logo on the plunger head. Do you have the two part retainer that screws into the Flektoskop body? It retains the cable release and adjusts of cable release differences. It simply screws out. You can then pass the camera end of the cable release through it.

 

[View Range]

The description I gave is for a Post-War Flektoskop. I just checked a Pre-War Flektoskop. Only the adjuster unscrews on the Pre-War model. But the cable release is the same. My Pre-War version does not bear the AGC logo. (AGC was a German shutter manufacturer that was subsumed into Zeiss about the time the Flektoskop was introduced. The Prontor shutter was developed from AGC shutters.)

 

[View Range]

There seems to be many on E-bay under "AGC cable releases". Item # 121588301458 shows what the release looks like.

 

[msarkki]

Thanks a million for advice! My Flektoscope is prewar AFAIK, also in that version the chromed lower part of the retainer that is screwed to Flektoscope body can be removed. The issue was that all cable releases had too wide "collars" (the part you hold normally between your index and middle fingers using a cable release). Cable releases could be fitted under the lower part of the retainer but then the upper adjustable part of the retainer naturally did not adjust anything.
A standard cable release and some intensive usage of a metal file to the cable release's collar did the trick. Now it fits as it should and is held in place by the adjustable part of the retainer.
I am still wondering that the release operation is pretty heavy both on my Contax and Kiev. Pushing the mirror up is light, but actual shutter release requires quite a heavy press on cable release comparing using cable release directly on camera and not thru Flektoscope. Is yours that way as well?

There seems to be many on E-bay under "AGC cable releases". Item # 121588301458 shows what the release looks like.

 

[View Range]

I have collected some serial number and characteristics for Pre-War and Post-War Flektoskop reflex housing. Pre-war housing have a W2xxx and W91xxx serial numbers. Post-war type 1 housings have 10xxx serial numbers; Post-war type 2 housings have 1xxxx serial numbers. With one exception Pre-war housings have chrome eyepieces and silver tripod mounts. All the Post-war examples I have seen have black eyepieces and black tripod mounts. For reference Flektometer reflex housings have 30xxx serial numbers. This is what I observed. Others may own or have seen reflex housings with other characteristics.

On my Pre-war Flektoskop there is a collar attached to the camera end of the cable release. When the collar is removed by loosening a set screw, the camera end of the release will fit through the threaded retainer that goes into the Flektoskop. Cutting the slot works too. But Zeiss did not make these in one piece. They too had to have a way to assemble them.

Many of the Flektoskop I have seen have damage to the cloth sheaths on the cable release. Thus the release stretches in use rather than releasing the shutter. I only have a Kiev; I do not have a Contax. The release on the Kiev is also stiff. My guess (purely a guess) is that the release pressure has stiffened over time and that a proper CLA would fix the problem. Comments from others on release pressure would be welcome.