Pentacon Six Tl first experiences with some problems...

DcAnalogue · Sep 10, 2016

Hi guys!
Some months ago I got this very nice Psix. I really love this camera and its Carl Zeiss Jena lenses.
Unfortunately mine experienced lightleaks from shutter curtains. More, has some of the infamous uneven spacing with overlapping frames (not really sure about this, because I'm considering, from a second roll, it could be uneven curtains movement). So, the camera will soon go to repairman to change curtains a for a CLA.
Anyway, the Biotar and Flektogon used in this test, gave very good results and working with the camera has been very pleasant.

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anfenglin · Sep 10, 2016

Ah, the typical shutter capping and uneven spacing of the P6.
This is very often the case with this otherwise wonderful camera, the design of it hails back to the Praktisix (I own one) and there were some things not manufactured or designed properly.
The film spacing problem can come back when adjusted and the whole mechanics were never revised during the whole time it was produced. The shutter capping is just a problem of old grease.
Not having proper lubricants is a problem with which almost all of the East German manufacturers had to deal with, it dries up and then smells like candle wax (Carl Zeiss Jena Alu lenses) or it vanishes and ends up as a residue on the aperture blades (the MC CZJ lenses).
Having a properly working P6 or Praktisix is a joy, I mean how good is the Flektogon 4/50 alone?
All the best for yours!

baachitraka · Sep 10, 2016

There is a video available in pentaconsix.com to load film to avoid uneven spacing.

I paid some good money for CLA and two stage release.

120/180mm are good for portraits, but later is heavy and huge.

baachitraka · Sep 10, 2016

180mm is a stunner. I tried to own 120mm but it with lens fungus so I have to send it back.

onre · Sep 10, 2016

I have to ask what's the deal with spacing? At work I've seen some really badly mistreated P6'es but never have witnessed this problem. Just load the film tightly and you get repeatable 13 frames per roll.

DcAnalogue · Sep 10, 2016

Listening to many contributors here, or directly on my blog, or on Facebook groups and checking a second roll developed & scanned yesterday, I've better focused the problems: the spots are due to pinholes on the whole lower third of shutter curtain. The "bad spacing" is rather wrong curtain movement.... So I'll have to change curtains a send it for a good CLA....

Jeff L · Sep 10, 2016

I've always wanted a PSix. Report back how everything turned out when fixed.

DcAnalogue · Sep 11, 2016

Jeff L said:
I've always wanted a PSix. Report back how everything turned out when fixed.

For sure Jeff...

baachitraka · Sep 11, 2016

http://www.baierfoto.de/

anfenglin · Sep 11, 2016

Yes, that, or: http://www.fotoservice-olbrich.de/.
These are the specialists.

DcAnalogue · Sep 11, 2016

anfenglin said:
Yes, that, or: http://www.fotoservice-olbrich.de/.
These are the specialists.

baachitraka said:
http://www.baierfoto.de/

Thanks for yopur hints guys but... sending my Psix outside Italy to these specialists will be too expensive (also thinking I've many other well working cameras). I've a thrusty (retired) repairman who worked on Soviet and east Europe cameras... so he should be able to change curtains a make a Cla...

baachitraka · Sep 11, 2016

You may pay €40 for the postage but the rest of the cost are the same. Also got nice table of shutter speed test results.

He speak very good English.

Ask for quotation but most probably you have to wait long.

baachitraka · Sep 11, 2016

1/125 speed is critical.

MartinP · Sep 13, 2016

I have had P6 sales, servicing and support from Cupog, advertising on the Eb*y website and have no complaints. Two P6 bodies with assorted lenses and viewfinders are now my medium-format option. For a Europe based photographer they are very practical tools.

DcAnalogue · Sep 15, 2016

Edit:

I published a new post on my Blog about the second roll made with Psix.
This time I used Trix.

I understood that the spots were light leaks from the lower third of the curtains, while the other problem is due to bad shutter movements.

Pentacon Six Tl first experiences with some problems...

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