Contaflex III with sticky shutter

George Mann

Member
Joined
May 14, 2017
Messages
2,844
Location
Denver
Format
35mm
I just found this camera after years of being misplaced in storage. I built it from a box of parts about 20 years ago.

Everything works but the counter, and it's shutter speeds are slow and sticky below 1/30, increasingly so the slower it is set.

What's the best way to clean it up?
 
OP
OP

George Mann

Member
Joined
May 14, 2017
Messages
2,844
Location
Denver
Format
35mm
As this camera is mainly kept on static display in my collection, I will leave it be for now. There is one curious thing I have noted however. It doesn't seem to employ any type of light seal in or around its back channel. Is this normal?
 

Dismayed

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2011
Messages
438
Location
Boston
Format
Med. Format RF
George Mann said:
As this camera is mainly kept on static display in my collection, I will leave it be for now. There is one curious thing I have noted however. It doesn't seem to employ any type of light seal in or around its back channel. Is this normal?
Click to expand...

It's a leaf shutter SLR with changeable front elements. Not the easiest camera to work on.
 

GRHazelton

Subscriber
Joined
May 26, 2006
Messages
2,248
Location
Jonesboro, G
Format
Multi Format
Dismayed said:
It's a leaf shutter SLR with changeable front elements. Not the easiest camera to work on.
Click to expand...
Back in the dayBa
George Mann said:
As this camera is mainly kept on static display in my collection, I will leave it be for now. There is one curious thing I have noted however. It doesn't seem to employ any type of light seal in or around its back channel. Is this normal?
Click to expand...

Back in the day most cameras didn't have light seals. My Retina IIIc doesn't have them, nor does my AsahiFlex IIa, c. 1957. They relied on precise manufacture rather than yucky plastic foam. BTW, if you do need seals, Jon Goodman is the go-to man. See this: http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/sealreplacement.html If you choose NOT to replace foam plastic seals they may deteriorate to the point where they gunk up a lot of the interior mechanisms of the camera.
 
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