Edixa Reflex with lazy second curtain

[hsandler]

This is not a popular camera, and I'm having trouble finding much about its internals. This is the original Edixa model with no instant-return mirror or stop-down mechanism in the camera. It all works, except at the slow speeds, 1/25 or less, as well as B, the second curtain does not want to close all the way. Unfortunately, 1/25s is the sync speed, so I can't use flash with the camera or do time exposure still lifes without these slow speeds. The camera has a shutter speed dial that rotates when the shutter is released, like that of the Russian Zenits. On a Zenit which had the same problem, I was able to easily fix the problem by tightening the tensioning screw for the second curtain. Unlike the Zenits, there is not an obvious accessible tensioning screw for the second curtain visible when the bottom plate is removed. I'm not all that dextrous, so removal of bottom plate or dials on the top is all I risk trying. I'm not going to go in through the front on an otherwise working camera. I tried squirting lighter fluid in from the top and bottom and dabbing some lithium grease here and there, which didn't help too much. Any advice?

 

[henryvk]

Hi there. I'm pretty sure I had the same issue with my Reflex "Standard". If memory serves, the curtain tension is set via the two screws circled in the attached image, although I'm not sure anymore which one is the 2nd curtain. To increase tension, I think you have to carefully hold the screw with needle-nose pliers or similar, lift the spring and turn the screw with a screwdriver and reinsert the spring, obviously.

However, this might not be necessary, as the first thing to do is to carefully clean and lube the curtain rollers as described here:



and here (sorry, it's in German but I'm sure you get the idea):

Edixa-Fix - Wartung und Pflege eines Klassikers

Langsamer Verschluss, hängendes Langzeitenwerk, zerbröselter Spiegeldämpfer - einige kleinere Reparaturen an den Edixa-Kameras kann man selber machen.

www.dan-hummel.de

You can carefully move the rollers up and down a little bit to give yourself enough room to get in there with a syringe or whatever you're using.

I'm actually not sure anymore wether I resorted to re-tensioning. It's not hard if you have a CRT monitor or TV to check the approximate speed and whether they run parallel.

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-135.html

While you have the bottom plate removed, carefully clean the slow speed gears on the right with lighter fluid and re-lube. Then fire the shutter a couple dozen times at 1 second. This should sort out your slow speeds, although it probably doesn't hurt to put a little bit of gun oil down the speed selector shaft from above like you did.

Anyway, these are apparently somewhat crudely made cameras, at least if this account is to be believed.

 

[ic-racer]

I just got done oiling the curtain rollers and giving a little extra tension to the second curtain of my Edixa to cure a slow second curtain.

 

[hsandler]

Thank you for the info.