To CLA or not CLA - that is the question

Doc W · Apr 1, 2019

I have an old 8 ½ inch Kodak Commercial Ektar which I have not used in a while, but would like to start using again. I have other, more modern lenses for 4x5 but I find that the Commercial Ektars have a particular kind of colour rendition that I like.
The problem is that the shutter speeds on the old Acme No.3 shutter are way off. I tested it today and it is pretty gummed up.

I know that some of you collect lenses and have lots of them. At this point in my life (retired, less cash flow), I can't afford to maintain a herd of lenses. A CLA is not cheap these days. If you have been or are in this position, what did you do? Share your thoughts.

shutterfinger · Apr 1, 2019

The Acme shutter uses hard rubber shutter blades so do not use lighter fluid on it.
Send it out fir a CLA if you are not able to do it yourself.

StepheKoontz · Apr 1, 2019

Is it the shutter blades "sticky" or the timer? If it's the timer, have you tried cycling it a bunch of times? I have had several of those acme shutters and after cycling them a dozen or so times after they have been sitting, they start working fine. In the field I would always "dry fire" them 3-4 times before I pulled the dark slide.

Doc W · Apr 1, 2019

StepheKoontz said:
Is it the shutter blades "sticky" or the timer? If it's the timer, have you tried cycling it a bunch of times? I have had several of those acme shutters and after cycling them a dozen or so times after they have been sitting, they start working fine. In the field I would always "dry fire" them 3-4 times before I pulled the dark slide.

I am pretty sure something is "sticky." I wouldn't know where to begin cleaning a lens!

jim10219 · Apr 1, 2019

Maybe sell a lens (or two) you don't use to pay for the CLA? If nothing else, that thought exercise should tell you how valuable this lens is to you and help you decide if it's worth paying the price to repair it.

removed account4 · Apr 1, 2019

i'd send it out for a cla especially if it is a lens you want to use... or, if you are using slow emulsion just put it on T and get a lens cap to take off and put on ..

Sirius Glass · Apr 1, 2019

Bite the bullet and send it out for a CLA AND not cock and fire all your lenses every three months from T or B to its fastest speed ten to fifteen times per shutter speed every three months. Or even better every month. You are retired so you do have the time to do this and save money.

Alan Gales · Apr 6, 2019

You could buy a Sinar camera with the Sinar shutter. Then you would only have one shutter to worry about. If you want a field camera then I believe Shen Hao made a camera that would take a Sinar shutter. Some have done modifications to other cameras to take the Sinar shutter.

Ian Grant · Apr 6, 2019

It's a relatively modern Tessar design, so get the shutter serviced,. The Acme's are lazy shutters like the Betax and Alphax not close to the precision of Compur and Compounds

I have the Japanes cousin of your lens a 210mm f6.3 Osaka (Congo) Commercial, which is supposed to be Kodak's Commercial Ektar design.

Ian

shutterfinger · Apr 6, 2019

I came across this http://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=acme2 . The flash sync used in some versions are complicated. The shutter was designed to run dry but a trace of oil will make it smoother and quieter.

To CLA or not CLA - that is the question

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