The Ballad of Trying to Find a Copal 3 Shutter

[NortheastPhotographic]

1. Find deal on a barrel 355/9 G-Claron, yayyy!
1b. I have a Komura 300/6.3 that I never use in a shutter I think is a Copal 3.

2. Damn it. Apparently there is a size called Copal 3S which does not fit Copal 3 lenses.

3. Post numerous WTBs on various sites trying to find one as a way of avoiding Japanese eBay listings.

4. Give up an buy a Copal 3 Shutter on KEH.

5. Good lord this shutter is ALSO COPAL 3S and was incorrectly labeled. Back it goes.

6. Find a very beat up 360/6.8 Symmar in a Compur 3 and buy it on eBay.

7. Receive, shutter is firing, ok looks good. Remove rear cell, my G-Claron cell fits! Remove front ce...this thing is stuck.
7b. Apply cold and heat in succession, no.
7c. Apply rubbing alcohol to seep into the threads, no.
7d. Apply Acetone, still no.
7e. Try opposing strap wrenches, good god this thing is so freaking stuck it will. not. budge.
7f. Notice that the aperture actually doesn't open and close to the correct settings and the shutter will actually require service anyway.

8. Complain on Photrio about this whole situation.

 

[xkaes]

I don't know how many, but there are LOTS of Copal 3s shutters that are simply labeled "Copal No. 3" -- and the sellers usually don't know. I bought a Copal 3s, advertised as a Copal #3, but it meets my needs. It had a couple of problems which I was able to fix with epoxy, but fortunately the shutter itself worked fine. I got it for a great price as a result.

 

[B.S.Kumar]

I saw your WTB, but thought maybe you didn't want to buy from Japan. Send me a message if you still want one.
Warning: It won't be an eBay "deal".

Kumar

 

[ic-racer]

FYI:

Copal #3 Disassembly and Cleaning

I don't see any good resources for opening and cleaning a Copal #3 shutter so I thought I'd share some pictures. My Fujinon 300mm/5.6 is in a Copal 3, and when I went to use it I noticed the slow speeds were off. So I took it to my shutter tester and found 1 second = almost 2 seconds. All...

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