Just received Rollei 35S-Needs Service & Repairs (Posted on RFF too)

[schwalbewurger]

Hello everyone,

This is my first time posting on APUG Forums, although I have read many articles and threads on this forums before. Anyway I am a student who just received his grandparent's cameras, including a Rollei 35S. When I received it firstly I tested the shutter speeds and all shutter speeds seems to be quite accurate (based on my young knowledge on analogue cameras), except the 1/2 second might be a bit long (although it now sounds more accurate, probably due to exercise).

Anyway, I checked on other parts of the camera and finally noticed a few problems:

1. Viewfinder is hazy
2. Sonnar lens is contaminated with fungus (I live in a very tropical country)
3. Filter is stuck on lens (with fungus and haze on the other side of the filter!
4. Light meter probably not working
5. (Just discovered this a few days ago) When the film advance is cocked, I can't move the shutter dial from 1/60 to 1/125, except after shutter is fired, then I can move the shutter speed past 1/125.
6. (Just discovered yesterday) The orange needle on the light meter display moves as I move the shutter speed or aperture even though there are no batteries installed-Is this a normal operation of the camera?
7. Lens has a slight wobble when in process of extending, but when extended and locked, it is secure. Is this normal?

So I'm here to ask you guys for repair-techs capable of fixing the Rollei 35S (I'm looking for someone who's experienced with these things). I know that there are some threads discussing about Rollei 35 Repairs, however I live in Indonesia (shipping out is very expensive) and would like to know other alternatives besides Harry Fleenor on the West and Krimar Photo on the East.

I've contacted Mr. Harry Fleenor and asked if he could repair my Rollei. His reply was that he could do the usual shutter overhaul and replace my cloudy viewfinder, however cleaning the lens from fungus is not possible, even after he contacted Mr. John from Focal Point on cleaning fungus on the Rollei's lens (as he said the lens was too small for the machine). Can fungus be cleaned? Or is it better to get a new Sonnar lens replacement?

Here are the list of repair persons I have researched and compiled through the web:

1. Harry Fleenor (Oceanside Camera Repairs)
2. Krikor Maralian (Krimar Photo, NJ)
3. DHW Fototechik Repair (previous producer of Rollei Classics) (Braunschweig, Germany)
4. Papeke Fototechnik (DHW Service Partner, Duesseldorf, Germany)
5. Wiese Fototechnik (DHW Service Partner, Hamburg, Germany)
6. Claudio Fabio (Classic Camera Repair, Oberrieden, Swiss)

Do you guys have any experience on these services? I'm looking for one with a relatively short repair turnaround time (although repair quality is priority). Feel free to add more Rollei 35S service technicians suggestions here.

I know that you guys might be thinking why not buy another used Rollei 35S because it is more economical, but my mind is set on fixing this Rollei 35S because it is the most used camera by both of my grandparents (first by my grandfather and continued by my grandmother) and has a sentimental value for me. (I don't know about you guys, but I like the feeling of continuing to use a camera that someone related have used rather than using another stranger's camera that was bought used).

I have always wanted my grandparent's cameras for display (I like old, antique objects ) and when they gave some of their cameras, I was very surprised, I didn't know that old cameras have advance rewind levers! Since then I've been 'hooked' to film cameras, they looked much cooler than digital cameras ! However whenever I want to use the camera, there are always hindrance (such as when I lost the Pentax Spotmatic's rewind crank at the airport ready for departure), and many more. So my film journey have been stuttered and really hope that I could fix this little camera before school year starts again.

Sorry for the long post, as I want to make sure this camera gets right after all my previous 'delays' in film journey (and my first post at APUG)
Will post some pics from the first roll here if the results come out salvageable (hopefully ).

Thank You very much,
schwalbewurger

 

[frank]

Can't help with all your questions but here's some advice.

When you change shutter speed or aperture without a battery in the camera, it is not the meter needle that you see moving, it is the Orange lever that you match to the black meter needle in order to get correct exposure.

Use a piece of soft sticky rubber mat to put even pressure and rotational force on just the front of the filter ring. If you grab the filter ring between thumb and finger, you deform it and it jams. The rubber cloth is sold at food and hardware stores as an aid to opening jar lids. Or you might try using a neoprene type back of a computer mouse pad if you still have one. If it's still stuck, then a single drop of penetrating oil applied around the circumference between the filter and lens may help.

Good luck!

 

[Hatchetman]

I would also be interested in recommendations. I have a 35 SE, some part under the cover fell off and now it leaks light. In all honesty, very fun camera, but build quality appears very poor. I hate to spend money on it only for something else to break.

 

[frank]

I would not say that build quality is poor in the original 35, T/TE and S/SE models. Lube dries up and gears stick, cameras get abused and break. Especially with the shutter/ lens collapse interlock. You see some poor quality construction on the less expensive B and LED models which use more plastic.

 

[mnemosyne]

First list
6+7 is normal
repair shop list:
strike out number 5

 

[flash26c]

Why not purchase another camera with a clean lens and have the repair person install it with the service in your keeper camera?

 

[thuggins]

KEH is a good bet for repairs and CLA's. They are very fast and the price is reasonable. They have a longstanding reputation as a good company to work with.

Fungus on a lens cannot be "cleaned". This is because the fungus actually etches the glass. So even with the fungus removed, the lens itself has been physically damaged. Just killing the fungus is very easy - open the shutter and aperture (and the film door), then put the camera in direct sunlight (with light shining thru the lens). UV light kills fungus almost instantly.

 

[gone]

That doesn't look like fungus, fortunately. It's probably oil from the aperture blades. If you pry the black outermost front trim ring w/ the serial numbers off w/ a small screwdriver or a knife (it is just glued on), you should see 3 screws under it. Carefully remove them and set them someplace safe (best to work on the camera on a towel on the table w/ good light and a magnifying glass). Carefully remove the focusing ring, and from there it should be evident how to get the lens element out and clean it w/ alcohol, then wipe it off w/ lens cleaner solution or just a very clean cotton cloth. Reinstall the focusing ring in the same place you took it off w/ the 3 screws, and the trim ring goes back on w/ a dab of non hardening glue. If you don't want to do it yourself you might try these folks

http://www.cameratechs.com/cameratechs-has-rollei-35s/

You have to cock the shutter, press the lens unlock button on top of the camera, extend the lens, then set your shutter speeds.

This details getting to the front element on a 35B. Not your exact camera, but close enough

https://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/sets/72157623263062308/

And here is the complete service manual

http://www.troeszter.net/Download/Rollei_35_Service_Manual_1972.pdf

Fungus can be cleaned. I cleaned some from a Helios lens just the other day. It doesn't always etch the glass, and even if it does, once the fungus is out and the lens is clean from haze and fungus it will work beautifully. John at Focal Point cleaned a Leica Summar of mine that was full of both, and the glass was badly etched. After he cleaned it, that lens was the sharpest lens I have ever used, and w/ a hood it never flared at all.

 

[summicron1]

OK, unless you are bound and determined that this camera will work, here's what you do:

Find some pictures your grandparents took with that camera. Find some pictures of your grandparents. Maybe find some old letters they wrote, their fountain pens, eyeglasses, whatever.

Take the whole mess, along with that camera, down to a frame shot and say you want them to build you a shadow box, with all those objets arranged artistically, showing your grandparent's things, their camera, how it and the images it took were part of their lives and now part of yours. Hang the thing on the wall and be prepared for much love and discussion about this instant family heirloom that your own children/grandchildren will fight over.

Then call KEH and tell them you want a good working Rollei 35S, pay what it costs, and go take pictures. The one you have sounds far too troubled to be worth servicing, but it will make an astonishingly lovely heirloom.

 

[John Koehrer]

I think Frank's got it right with both the meter and filter. Those tiny filters can be a bear.
The battery compartment is in the film chamber. The cap unscrews using a coin. The correct battery's
no longer available but there are a couple of work-arounds.