Question on Rolleiflex film transport and frame counter.

TheTrailTog · Apr 7, 2008

So last week I got a Rolleiflex Automat MX-EVS Type II in beautiful condition. The glass if flawless and cosmetics were excellent. Shot a couple rolls no problem and told the seller all was good and thank you very much. Fast forward to today. Went out for a hike today and just wanted to have some fun shooting so I grabbed a few rolls of Tri-X and for the first time in a while, left the tripod at home. Was having a blast. Finished the first roll and loaded another roll. I closed the back and started winding. The winder stops, I reverse direction to cock the shutter and fold the winder back to the resting position. I look over at the film counter and what do I see, not frame 1 but frame 7! Not wanting to mess around with it on the trail I turned around and headed home. Playing around with the counter reset button shows that it was only resetting back to frame 4 and not frame 0. If I sit there and press the button a couple times it will eventually go back to zero but, that's a pain in the arse. Do things like this generally go out of the blue? Any suggestions for a quick fix or am I sending it for repair? Thanks in advance for any help.

André E.C. · Apr 7, 2008

What's your loading procedure?

Have you passed the film between the rollers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DPcILMuzDU

Cheers

André

TheTrailTog · Apr 7, 2008

André E.C. said:
What's your loading procedure?

Have you passed the film between the rollers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DPcILMuzDU

Cheers

André

Hi Andre, yes, it was loaded correctly. It's something with the counter reset button on the bottom. Normally when you close the back and the button is pressed, it resets your counter to 0. Mine seems to have started sticking out of the blue and only goes back to frame 4. Seems to be hanging up right around count 3 or 4. Pressing the reset button a couple times slowly rewinds it passed 4, then 3, then it's like it finally gives and goes right to zero.

André E.C. · Apr 7, 2008

Damn, sorry to ear that Xia, if I was you, I would take the camera back to the store, they can send it to service for you, or at least, they should do so.

Good luck!

André

TheTrailTog · Apr 7, 2008

Unfortunately not a store. It was an Ebay purchase. The camera worked mint until that second roll this morning. There wasn't a sign of sticking anywhere It can be used still just need to keep hitting the reset buttons a few times before closing the back. Guess I'll just use it like that until tax rebates come and then I'll send it in to Krikor. This sucks

haris · Apr 7, 2008

Xia, I use Yashica MAT (Rolleiflex TLR copy ). Film pressing plate on my MAT can be removed and turned 90 degrees. That is made for using 120 or 220 film. Next, depending in what position film pressing plate is (for 120 or for 220 film) that also regulate how film transporting mechanism and film counter will work, will it advance and count film up to 12 frames (120 film) , or will it advance and count up to 24 frames (for 220 film). Once or twice, when I was loading film, I accidentaly moved film pressing plate, not turned it, but only moved it little form its "locked" position and noticed in those cases film advancing and counter acting strange. Could something simillar be your issue, to check that before sending camera to repairing?

Good luck.

weasel · Apr 7, 2008

I had an E model do the same thing. $75 at Class Camera in Portland Oregon got it good as new. I was told that the winding mechanism has a spring that resets the counter, and over the decades it gets grimy and sticky. A simple cleaning takes care of it.
I didn't complain, as I had never done a thing to the camera and had been shooting it for 15 years.

Paul Goutiere · Apr 7, 2008

Xia_Ke said:
Unfortunately not a store. It was an Ebay purchase. The camera worked mint until that second roll this morning. There wasn't a sign of sticking anywhere It can be used still just need to keep hitting the reset buttons a few times before closing the back. Guess I'll just use it like that until tax rebates come and then I'll send it in to Krikor. This sucks

The good news is; this is usually a simple repair and you have a really fine camera. Any camera this age regardless of condition should have a CLA. That done it will last a lifetime.

It is upsetting for sure, but there is a really good bright side.

Best of luck with your very special camera!

TheTrailTog · Apr 7, 2008

Thanks for the input everyone Haris, not an issue with the pressure plate unfortunately. Wish it was something that easy Guess it's just one of those things then. It is a beautiful camera otherwise. The only known problem when I got it was the selftimer wasn't working. The timer part works fine but, it won't trip the shutter at the end. This wasn't an issue for me as I never use self timers. Weasel, how's the turn around time at Class Camera and how's their service? I don't have a regular maintenance place I use. I had planned on Krikor just because he seemed to be the best recommended alternative to Fleenor.

haris · Apr 7, 2008

Sorry...

About selftimer. My Yashica had same problem. Shutter blades were not clean. So, regular shutter mechanism "fired" them OK, but selftimer mechanism have some "weak" parts which are not strong enough to move shutter blades. After time it happened that even using regular shutting mechanism, blades didn't moved. I unscrewed lens, placed drop of cigarrette lighter benzine on shutter blades, fire them several times, and for years now selftimer and regular shutter are working without problems... And I am NOT camera repairing person, just have luck I guess After that I read few times that stucked shutter blades can be regular problem with TLRs.

GGardner · Apr 7, 2008

Paul Goutiere said:
Any camera this age regardless of condition should have a CLA. That done it will last a lifetime.

I'm pretty sure that the Rolleiflex I have has already outlasted at least one owner!

Paul Goutiere · Apr 7, 2008

Yeah, CLA every new owner or every 40 years, whatever comes first.

TheTrailTog · Apr 7, 2008

Paul Goutiere said:
Yeah, CLA every new owner or every 40 years, whatever comes first.

LOL... Alright guess I'll use it as is til I get the funds together and I'll send it in for an overhaul. Think I might have to sell my Rolleicord though to help fund it though. Still have things I want for the darkroom and I want to get a spotmeter as well. Come one Powerball

Toffle · Apr 7, 2008

The self-timer on the Rolleiflex is one of the under-used utilities on this camera. Hence, it is quite likely that it will stick more than the more "exercised" parts of the camera. A good CLA and will be whirring and clicking like a happy little camera.

Keep us posted.

Cheers,

dpurdy · Apr 7, 2008

A lot of old camera gear, including my view camera shutters, after sitting a long while unused will work for a little while till you spread around some sticky unused lubricants and then you will run into a problem. The important thing is the camera is in good condition and the lens is in good condition then it it worth sending to Krikor and having a CLA done.
Dennis

TheTrailTog · Apr 7, 2008

Thanks Dennis and Tom. Yes it is in great shape and worth keeping for sure. The original owner said it had been put away for 2 or 3 years. He ran a roll through it before listing to make sure all worked well. IT did work well for th first few rolls so definitely can't fault the seller. Just one of those things I guess. Still sucks though

jon koss · Apr 7, 2008

Just a quick note to second the notion of a CLA regardless. For less than $200 additional you will have the best handling camera ever. It may sound like a lot if you are broke but it is a much better deal than wasting time and supplies in the field/darkroom. A freshly CLA'd Automat is guaranteed to blow your mind.

J

Tamas · Apr 7, 2008

I have used Fleenor myself for my Rollei MX-EVS camera Tessar 75/3.5, without light meter. He did a pretty good job, he also changed out my original screen to a Maxwell screen which is about 2 stops brighter, so is much easier to focus with it. Here is his site If you haven't had chance to see: http://www.rolleirepairs.com

TheTrailTog · Apr 7, 2008

J, I'm hoping it will blow my mind Might be a month or 2 before I have the funds but, I might as well get it done and then have a mint camera that I don't have to worry about.

Tamas, Fleenor was my first though but, someone a couple days ago on Flickr had said they just checked with Harry about getting a CLA and he now has a 4 month wait

dpurdy · Apr 8, 2008

Harry Fleenor is great no doubt and I have used him several times but Krikor is factory trained and is very good and you will have your camera back in a week and he can install a Maxwell screen as well. You are actually a lot closer to him than Fleenor. I would at least give him a call on the phone.

http://www.krimarphoto.com/

weasel · Apr 8, 2008

I can't say what Class Camera is running in turn around time now, ( you would have to ask), but several years ago when he did my Rollei the whole process from leaving my door to being returned was about 3 weeks if I recall. I have always been happy with his work.

David H. Bebbington · Apr 8, 2008

I have had this problem with a Rollei - it was due to dried-up grease in the winding mechanism. Agree with others who recommend a CLA.

Regards,

David

TheTrailTog · Apr 9, 2008

Just a quick update. I've been emailing with Mark Hansen at Class Camera and I'm going to have him do the CLA. Prices were very reasonable and there is only about a 4 - 6 week wait. Fine by me though. It'll give me a chance to scrape up the funds. Can't wait have this thing purring like a kitten

dpurdy · Apr 9, 2008

That is pretty humorous in that Mark Hanson's Classic Camera is not far from me here in Portland and yet I have never felt trusting enough to use him. I guess I better go over there and find out what his capabilities actually are. Maybe I've wasted a lot of money on shipping charges to Harry Fleenor.
Dennis

dpurdy · Apr 9, 2008

In looking at Mark Hanson's web site he looks like an interesting guy but I would still be reluctant to ship my camera out here when you are so much closer to the reknowned and factory trained Krikor at Marflex when he is famous for being so fast. But do what you are comfortable with.
Dennis

Question on Rolleiflex film transport and frame counter.

haris

haris

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency