Experience with Paepke Fototechnik (Düsseldorf) Rolleiflex shutter timing issues

Hello everyone,


I would appreciate some first-hand experience regarding Paepke Fototechnik in Düsseldorf, particularly for Rolleiflex shutter work.


My Rolleiflex 3.5F (Synchro-Compur shutter) has recently been serviced by a very experienced Rolleiflex technician in The Netherlands. The camera received a CLA, mechanical inspection and a repair of shutter speeds that were way off.
The slower speeds seem to be stable now, but the shutter speeds are still not within specification.


Measured before service (using a shutter tester), the results are:

• 1s → ~1/0.8
• 1/2 → 1/3.2
• 1/4 → 1/5.78
• 1/8 → 1/9.79
• 1/15 → 1/26.42
• 1/30 → 1/42.89
• 1/60 → 1/130
• 1/125 → 1/277
• 1/250 → 1/280
• 1/500 → 1/425

The 1/60 and 1/125 speeds are more than one stop fast, while 1/500 does not fully reach nominal speed. The technician indicated that he was unable to bring the shutter fully back into tolerance, possibly due to internal wear.

After the service:

• 1s → ~1/0.8
• 1/2 → ~1/3.2
• 1/4 → ~1/5
• 1/8 → ~1/7
• 1/15 → ~1/10
• 1/30 → ~1/40
• 1/60 → ~1/100
• 1/125 → ~1/250
• 1/250 → ~1/300
• 1/500 → ~1/400

Now, I've sent the camera to Paepke in Düsseldorf.


I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a Rolleiflex serviced by Paepke, had significant shutter timing deviations corrected successfully, can comment on their current pricing range for shutter overhaul or deeper mechanical work.


I don't think that a complete shutter restoration is needed. I’m simply trying to determine whether this is likely to be a minor adjustment, a full shutter rebuild, or potentially uneconomical.


Many thanks in advance for any insights.

If the speeds are consistent, I'd just write them down and accept the situation as it is. With a few exceptions, the speeds look reasonably good and more importantly, the are fairly nicely spaced so as to allow for a suitable exposure to be set in virtually all situations.

What sort of shutter tester are you using? Measuring shutter times isn't trivial, especially for the fast speeds.

The Synchro-Compur has three adjustment points for 1s to 1/8s, 1/15s to 1/250s and 1/500s. So the problems at 1/2 and 1/125 + 1/60 seem odd. It could be wear on the speed setting cam. This can be fixed by swaging or filing but you have to be dead sure of the measurements.

1/60-1/100 is not more than one stop off but 2/3 off (still bad if accurately measured); nominal speeds at 1/500 are rarely achieved (the tolerance is +/-20%).

OAPOli said:

What sort of shutter tester are you using? Measuring shutter times isn't trivial, especially for the fast speeds.

The Synchro-Compur has three adjustment points for 1s to 1/8s, 1/15s to 1/250s and 1/500s. So the problems at 1/2 and 1/125 + 1/60 seem odd. It could be wear on the speed setting cam. This can be fixed by swaging or filing but you have to be dead sure of the measurements.

1/60-1/100 is not more than one stop off but 2/3 off (still bad if accurately measured); nominal speeds at 1/500 are rarely achieved (the tolerance is +/-20%).

Click to expand...

I didn't use a tester. The technician did

Well I would trust the diagnosis of the technician and use the measured speeds. Getting a second opinion is nice too.

Are the speeds consistent?
Have you talked to your technician to fix it?#
In another thread I mentioned one amsterdam based tecchie.

Per Post #1,

The shutter times shown as marked speed, after-service measured speed, and difference in stops, are:

1 sec, 1/0.8 sec, + 0.32 stop

1/2 sec, 1/3.2 sec, - 0.68 stop

1/4 sec, 1/5 sec, - 0.32 stop

1/8 sec, 1/7 sec, + 0.19 stop

1/15 sec, 1/10 sec, + 0.68 stop (marked 1/15 sec. is 1/16 sec. per convention)

1/30 sec, 1/40 sec, - 0.32 stop (intended time is 1/32)

1/60 sec, 1/100 sec, - 0.64 stop (intended time 1/64)

1/125 sec, 1/250 sec, - 0.97 stop (intended time 1/128)

1/250 sec, 1/300 sec, - 0.23 stop (intended time 1/256)

1/500 sec, 1/400 sec, + 0.36 stop (intended time 1/512)

I don't know if you're familiar with Mael, located in France?
Website:


He has a thread that he recently updated on LFPF but it's worth reading the whole thread.


He specialises in Rollei's.

I agree with the recommendation of "use what you know, and work with those speeds". It's simple enough and you won't have to go down any further rabbit holes....

Thanks, but I already sent the camera to Paepke in Dusseldorf. I don't knwo why my (very experienced) technician couldn't fic the issue... Now i'm wondering what the experiences with Paeke are and what are the possible costs of repair.

Analogski said:

Thanks, but I already sent the camera to Paepke in Dusseldorf. I don't knwo why my (very experienced) technician couldn't fic the issue... Now i'm wondering what the experiences with Paeke are and what are the possible costs of repair.

Click to expand...

Now that you sent the camera, you just have to wait to get precise answers to your questions.

Good luck and hopefully it will work fine soon. The guy is a one man band but knowledgeable. It might take some time.

Not quite a one man band. Mr. Leonid Kopilevich is also doing repair work at Paepke Fototechnik and there are at least two other people involved administratively that I'm aware of. The work won't be cheap but it will be done well, and they stand behind it.

Imaginaut said:

Not quite a one man band. Mr. Leonid Kopilevich is also doing repair work at Paepke Fototechnik and there are at least two other people involved administratively that I'm aware of. The work won't be cheap but it will be done well, and they stand behind it.

Click to expand...

Yes. I have been mailing with Dieter Paepke. And spoke on the phone with Leonid. But.... They are not very good with communication. I've sent serval emails and the response is most of the time pretty late and after receiving the camera not very nice. Maybe it's just something German, or they are overworked.
Nevertheless, I've sent my camera a week ago and next week they will start with the diagnosis. The repairs will take up to 6 weeks.
I hope the price won't scare me shitless. But we'll see...

The camera was already recently serviced by a very experienced technician in The Netherlands, so the CLA won't be necessary I think. It's only the shutter that needs to be serviced and work within tolerance

Just received a note about the repair costs. Pfff.... 650+ euro.... And this after a service in Holland from a serious technician (Klinkhamer). This high price makes me a bit sick. But still.... Than I will have a near perfect rolleiflex. Got to think about it now....

You now have a perfectly usable camera. €700 down the road you would have one that's marginally more usable, but not significantly so. Whether the idea of 'near perfect' is worth €700 is of course a very personal decision, but I know what I would (not) do.

Ouch!

Analogski said:

Just received a note about the repair costs. Pfff.... 650+ euro.... And this after a service in Holland from a serious technician (Klinkhamer). This high price makes me a bit sick. But still.... Than I will have a near perfect rolleiflex. Got to think about it now....

Click to expand...

Got to keep the Rolleiflex going. The sad part is the repair you already paid for.
About 10 yrs ago I bought a Rolleiflex T...& paid Harry Fleenor 600 € for an overhaul and a Maxwell screen...+ shipping on top. It's still along with my M4, my workhorse and running like a top. If you like the camera...keep it alive!

I’ve used Paepke twice now, both were the modern Rolleis . Their work was excellent. For what is worth both Magicflex and Harry Fleenor recommended Paepke for work on these.

I feel quite fortunate to be living in Japan. Here we have some excellent camera repair services, such as Kanto Camera and Hayata Camera Lab.

For Hayata Camera, you usually need to register for an annual membership, but the repair prices are clearly listed on their website, which makes things very transparent.

Kanto Camera, on the other hand, doesn’t require any membership. Their repair quality is widely respected, and it’s hard to find anyone who has complaints about their work.

If you’re interested, you can also contact both of these repair shops by email.