I sent a cosmetically and optically mint but very shutter-sick RB67 65mm/4.5 C to KEH Repair for a CLA, and received it back today (2 weeks turnaround, $130). I measured the before and after-CLA shutter speeds (with a laptop and light-sensor type shutter tester that I have a lot of experience using and have come to trust, at least for speeds 1/500 and under). Here are the actual speeds I recorded for this lens (times rounded to approximate fractions of a second):
Before CLA After CLA
1 sec .94 (.9 sec) .89 (.9 sec)
1/2 .60 (1/6 sec) .51 (1/2 sec)
1/4 .37 (1/3 sec) .27 (1/4 sec)
1/8 .24 (1/4 sec) .15 (1/6 sec)
1/15 .12 (1/8 sec) .057 (1/17 sec)
1/30 .10 (1/10 sec) .0296 (1/33 sec)
1/60 .08 (1/12 sec) .0162 (1/62 sec)
1/125 .072 (1/14 sec) .0087 (1/115 sec)
1/250 .063 (1/16 sec) .0047 (1/213 sec)
1/400 .044 (1/23 sec) .0033 (1/303 sec)
The shutter on this lens also had the all-too-common "Seiko Shelf" disease (probably as a result of sitting in a closet for years and years in a cocked condition) so was acting like it was in "T" mode all the time. It now looks and works like new (the 1/300 is good enough for me, since I suspect no RB67 Seiko leaf shutter has ever hit an honest 1/400 except maybe when brand new, assuming the shutter's other speeds were approximately correct). I now have a "new" 65mm for my trusty old RB. I thought I'd pass along a pat on the back to KEH's repair shop, since we are all too ready to flame a shop for bad work (and that's fine), but often don't bother to say something on the other side of the coin. I have another lens or two I'm going to send KEH now that that one went well.
As for storing RB lenses, I ALWAYS release the tension on the shutters of my lenses before putting them away for any length of time. It's easy to do, just press the tiny little button in on the rear of the lens and slide the swinging pins sideways. Recocking them is easy to do prior to re-mounting, just twist the pins toward the green dot until they click and lock. If you forget to re-cock them, no harm done--you'll get reminded, because you won't be able to mount the lens in an un-cocked condition. Page 34 of the RB67 Pro-S manual says "It is advisable to release the shutter when the lens is not to be used for a long period." and shows how to do this. I have read MANY similar accounts on the internet of RB67 Seiko leaf shutter problems, and I believe many of them would have never happened if people would simply RTFM and store their lenses with the shutters released!
Before CLA After CLA
1 sec .94 (.9 sec) .89 (.9 sec)
1/2 .60 (1/6 sec) .51 (1/2 sec)
1/4 .37 (1/3 sec) .27 (1/4 sec)
1/8 .24 (1/4 sec) .15 (1/6 sec)
1/15 .12 (1/8 sec) .057 (1/17 sec)
1/30 .10 (1/10 sec) .0296 (1/33 sec)
1/60 .08 (1/12 sec) .0162 (1/62 sec)
1/125 .072 (1/14 sec) .0087 (1/115 sec)
1/250 .063 (1/16 sec) .0047 (1/213 sec)
1/400 .044 (1/23 sec) .0033 (1/303 sec)
The shutter on this lens also had the all-too-common "Seiko Shelf" disease (probably as a result of sitting in a closet for years and years in a cocked condition) so was acting like it was in "T" mode all the time. It now looks and works like new (the 1/300 is good enough for me, since I suspect no RB67 Seiko leaf shutter has ever hit an honest 1/400 except maybe when brand new, assuming the shutter's other speeds were approximately correct). I now have a "new" 65mm for my trusty old RB. I thought I'd pass along a pat on the back to KEH's repair shop, since we are all too ready to flame a shop for bad work (and that's fine), but often don't bother to say something on the other side of the coin. I have another lens or two I'm going to send KEH now that that one went well.
As for storing RB lenses, I ALWAYS release the tension on the shutters of my lenses before putting them away for any length of time. It's easy to do, just press the tiny little button in on the rear of the lens and slide the swinging pins sideways. Recocking them is easy to do prior to re-mounting, just twist the pins toward the green dot until they click and lock. If you forget to re-cock them, no harm done--you'll get reminded, because you won't be able to mount the lens in an un-cocked condition. Page 34 of the RB67 Pro-S manual says "It is advisable to release the shutter when the lens is not to be used for a long period." and shows how to do this. I have read MANY similar accounts on the internet of RB67 Seiko leaf shutter problems, and I believe many of them would have never happened if people would simply RTFM and store their lenses with the shutters released!
