Selfix Epsilon shutter sticky: repair or leave alone?

[stuwilmur]

Hi All,

I have acquired a lovely Ensign Selfix 16-20 with Rostar 75mm f/4.5 in an Epsilon shutter. It's a nice little camera that fits in a pocket, and takes lovely pictures (at least, I'm really delighted with them). Like so many folders of this vintage, the slower shutter speeds (1/10s and longer) are a bit slow, with 1s being the worst, taking several seconds. I'm looking for your advice on whether to attempt to clean and repair the mechanism, having never attempted any shutter work before. The most I've done is remove the lens components from a (different) folder. I'm fairly handy when it comes to mechanisms (though mostly bicycles), but is it not worth the risk for a first-timer? Should I have a go or just leave it be? Bulb mode works fine, so there's always that for longer exposures.

Yours thoughts please: thank you!

 

[Ian Grant]

The shutter needs a CLA,, the company I've used for 16 years is closing and taking on no new work.

Ian

 

[loccdor]

Folders vary in their complexity but servicing these things yourself tends to be difficult for first timers unless they are engineering minded and good with small tools/machines.

An easier alternative is to just make note of the actual times of each speed and adjust the shutter speed chosen accordingly. For exposures of half second or longer you could just use bulb mode, especially if you are shooting negative film. You can compare the times with a known-accurate camera. And think about how much you plan to use this camera on a tripod which may be the only time you would need 1/10 through 1 sec. People tend to use folders as handheld walk around cameras because part of their point is the compactness.

With my Voigtlander Bessa folder the slowest non-bulb speed I ever use is 1/25, and only when I can brace myself against something or set it down on a support. Like yours, the slower speeds run long and you can tell by the sound it's because of old grease gumming it up.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi All,

I have acquired a lovely Ensign Selfix 16-20 with Rostar 75mm f/4.5 in an Epsilon shutter. It's a nice little camera that fits in a pocket, and takes lovely pictures (at least, I'm really delighted with them). Like so many folders of this vintage, the slower shutter speeds (1/10s and longer) are a bit slow, with 1s being the worst, taking several seconds. I'm looking for your advice on whether to attempt to clean and repair the mechanism, having never attempted any shutter work before. The most I've done is remove the lens components from a (different) folder. I'm fairly handy when it comes to mechanisms (though mostly bicycles), but is it not worth the risk for a first-timer? Should I have a go or just leave it be? Bulb mode works fine, so there's always that for longer exposures.

Yours thoughts please: thank you!

I'd find someone who has done this before and try carefully under his or her supervision.

 

[stuwilmur]

Thanks all for the wise words. I think for the time being, I will simply measure and adjust for the slower times (though as noted, I'm possibly unlikely to really need them) and enjoy the camera as is with its limitations which are half the fun, and perhaps in future I will find someone with sufficient experience to be able to guide me with supervision.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Yours thoughts please: thank you!

In the meantime, you can keep your eye out for a cheap camera with a similar shutter. And use that shutter as a cadaver for an autopsy. This might show you if you want to go inside the working camera.

As someone who has worked on bicycle for a long time, a shutter and a bicycle are different animals. Smaller, much more levered interactions and steps in operation with the shutter. Not that being comfortable with bicycles doesn't imply competency in other small mechanisms, of course...

 

[nosmok]

I have read in forum comments (maybe at RFF, don't think it was here) that the Epsilon shutters are easy to work on, so at least there's that.

 

[Ian Grant]

I have read in forum comments (maybe at RFF, don't think it was here) that the Epsilon shutters are easy to work on, so at least there's that.

There are 3 versions, the earliest are simple. I bought a late version NIB earlier this year.

Ian