How to disassembly a film camera.

[gordinir8]

Hi everybody, this is my first post here. I am trying to repair my father's voigtlander vito c camera and need some help. I am not sure if this is the right place to ask but here it is. When shutter speed is set to 30 or B mode shutter stays open until I advance the film again or change shutte speed. General shutter ring is kind of stiff. I don' know how to open it and get into shutter and clean it. Any ideas? Is there any service manual available online?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG Photrio

You are in the right place. Someone will join in and help you soon.

 

[jim10219]

Do you have experience working on very small and complicated clockwork mechanisms? Do you have jewelers screwdrivers and other tools for working on small parts? Do you have a clean place to work with lots of free space for storing these hundreds of tiny parts that is well lit and dust free? Do you have a digital camera to take lots of pictures as you disassemble the camera so you'll know how to reassemble it when you're done? Do you have the patience to not get frustrated, the ability to maintain focus throughout, and the organizational skills not to loose parts along the way? If not, then I wouldn't recommend you try to disassemble it, and leave it to a professional. But if you do have all of this and think you're up to the challenge, then I wish you luck. Also, keep in mind that disassembling and cleaning is only part of the job. You also have to know what you can and can't lubricate, and how much and which kind to use. Lubricate the wrong thing, or fail to lubricate the right thing, or use the wrong lubricant or too much, and you may do damage. Some of that stuff may be available online, though often times you won't be able to find it for your specific camera, so you'll have to extrapolate the information you can gleam about similar cameras to your own.

I've never taken apart a Vito, so I can't offer any specific advice. Though in general, I would just start by removing all visible screws. Don't force anything. If it still seem stuck after you've removed all of the visible screws, check underneath the leather covering. Sometimes those hide screws below. Be careful peeling it off, because you don't want to stretch or tear it when you glue it back on. Look up what you can on other Vito's. I think I've seen some information on Vito B's that may be helpful.

 

[AgX]

Welcome to Apug!

The shutter of your camera is the model Pronto, one of the more simple shutter of this kind.

 

[gordinir8]

Jim 10219 hi and thank you, the answer is yes since one of my other hobbies is live steam model engines construction so I have the equipment. Anyway this evening I managed to open the lens up until I found the shutter mechanism ( talking about small gears, springs etc). I cleaned it with contact cleaner and put it back dry. I think the problem was there, now 30 and B mode operate free. Got to tell that it is not an easy job and i am not sure if i could go deeper. I am not sure for one thing though and I hope to get some help. So first I removed the facing ring and then unscrew the focus lens about one full turn maybe a little more and it was out. On installation I fully screw in the focus lens, then put the facing ring on the max focus ( infinity) and tight it on this position. I am not sure if this is the correct way and if the lens had to be fully tight before the facing ring installation or I had to "back off" the lens a little. It looks ok to me but I need to confirm this otherwise the focus ring distance readings in relation with the true lens position will not match. I hope you understand what I am talking about.
Thomas

 

[ced]

Have a look at this site and how quite well Simon went about documenting his effort with some Werra cameras, it will give you a pointer in the right direction.
Sorry for the external link: https://simonhawketts.com/2016/05/11/repairing-a-werra-1-camera-part-one/

 

[bernard_L]

Specifically concerning the Vito. I suggest you contact Mike Butkus mike@butkus.org
He recently was kind enough to send me a large pdf file, not available on his site (AFAIK) covering repairs of a number of Voigtlander cameras. I cannot send it right now because I am traveling without access to my files. And if the info from Mike is useful, please consider a donation to help cover, e.g., his web hosting cost and compensate his valuable documentation effort.
Of course the service manual for camera X is only half of the story. There are specific tools and tricks, and sone do's and don'ts. Good luck.

 

[Helios 1984]

Jim 10219 hi and thank you, the answer is yes since one of my other hobbies is live steam model engines construction so I have the equipment. Anyway this evening I managed to open the lens up until I found the shutter mechanism ( talking about small gears, springs etc). I cleaned it with contact cleaner and put it back dry. I think the problem was there, now 30 and B mode operate free. Got to tell that it is not an easy job and i am not sure if i could go deeper. I am not sure for one thing though and I hope to get some help. So first I removed the facing ring and then unscrew the focus lens about one full turn maybe a little more and it was out. On installation I fully screw in the focus lens, then put the facing ring on the max focus ( infinity) and tight it on this position. I am not sure if this is the correct way and if the lens had to be fully tight before the facing ring installation or I had to "back off" the lens a little. It looks ok to me but I need to confirm this otherwise the focus ring distance readings in relation with the true lens position will not match. I hope you understand what I am talking about.
Thomas

Word of advice, always take pictures of every steps when you are repairing a lens or a camera, it's a very good safeguard against failing memory. (th perfect job for digitals or cellphones)

Have a look at this site and how quite well Simon went about documenting his effort with some Werra cameras, it will give you a pointer in the right direction.
Sorry for the external link: https://simonhawketts.com/2016/05/11/repairing-a-werra-1-camera-part-one/

Poor Werra was in need of love :/