Meopta Flexaret Automat

Please keep in mind that this is the first medium format camera that I've ever even used, so bear with me.

I'm trying to fix the thing so that it's usable. The faster speeds except for 400 seem to do their work, albeit a bit slow, but the slow speeds are *very* slow. I'm thinking of just sending it in for a CLA so that I don't have to deal with it because it's going to annoy the heck out of me trying to figure out if it's actually usable as-is.

Does the shutter only fire when there's film in the camera once the back is closed? Also, how can I get to the inner workings to see if I can at the very least scope out the shutter problem at 1/400th? Aperture moves smoothly and the focus is very stiff but usable, so the shutter problems are the only things keeping me from moving into MF.

No the shutter should fire without film. OTOH they made at least seven major versions and I don't know how many minor versions. So who knows maybe they put some sort of lock in. I doubt it.

You don't say which model. Different models had different shutters. Worse they switched if they ran out during a production run.

Unless the CLA is very cheap I'd skip it. You can get a CLA model from a Slovak seller on Ebay for not much money. I haven't looked lately but his cameras with a CLA used to sell for less then $100.

Not to mention plenty of other choices to.


http://www.meopta.com/index.php?id=142&lang=en

Check which shutter is on your camera. Maybe somebody here knows how to fix it. The shutter name will be on the taking lens.

Considering I got this one in a box of cameras for WAY less than 100 bucks, I want to see if I can actually get the CLA for a decent amount of money. It's the Metax with a Selar 80/3.5. If I had to guess which model it is, I'd say the VI.

Edit: Yep, it's the VI. Confirmed with photos on Ebay of all places.

Post a question looking for shutter CLA. IIRC one of the members does shutter repairs. I don't remember her name -(

I think Nick is trying to remember Carol Flutot (member name Carol_Flutot, I think). Don't know if she's got any experience with Meopta, but she's not afraid to say she doesn't if she doesn't, and might be able to point to someone who does in that case.

Considering everyone's serious praise of DAG, I thought about seeing if he could do anything with it. I may email him for a quote while I'm looking for people.

Blah, nevermind, he won't do it. Gah. I may just have to get a new one...but I don't wanna!

IIRC those cameras have prontor style shutters so a CLA should be easy enough to do it by yourself