Practicing with the Mercury II [Archive]

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farlymac

08-15-2011, 19:25

All these years, and I've never done the Sunny 16 thing, but figured I better get some practice at it. I got a Mercury II a few weeks ago, and since the shutter appeared to be working somewhat correctly, I decided to take it out for a spin. I really like the exposure calculator on the back, and am going to have to get a card version to carry with me.

It needs some work, as the shutter will hang open if you point the camera down too much, and after taking three identical shots with three different shutter speeds but with the same stop, I couldn't tell much by the scanning which was which.

Take a look, and tell me what you think.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6188/6047558591_2a230855c2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6047558591/)
Mercury II Front (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6047558591/) by br1078phot (http://www.flickr.com/people/7699588@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6048127868_d5091c48dc_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6048127868/)
Cabell (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6048127868/) by br1078phot (http://www.flickr.com/people/7699588@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6203/6047584861_5e1b4611c6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6047584861/)
Reflection (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6047584861/) by br1078phot (http://www.flickr.com/people/7699588@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6062/6047599423_2c5a33456d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6047599423/)
Plump (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/6047599423/) by br1078phot (http://www.flickr.com/people/7699588@N07/), on Flickr

And the complete set is at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157627319388691/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157627319388691/)

PF

pinkarmy

08-23-2011, 00:27

farlymac

08-23-2011, 09:27

(you may know it already)
"Restoring Classic & Collectable Cameras" (http://www.amazon.com/Restoring-Classic-Collectible-Cameras-Thomas/dp/0936262591) by Thomas Tomosy
has a small chapter on how to restore a Mercury II.

i was going to drop a fresh color negative into mine but i am not feeling too well, so, may be next week.

Thanks Pink. I have that book, and have read the section. I'm also going to get Rick Oleson's cd on repairs, as it has a section on the Merc II. I would like to hear the sound of a properly functioning model though, as I think this one is growling the gears. Or maybe they all sound like that.

Hope you get to feeling better soon.

PF

rjbuzzclick

08-23-2011, 15:04

I love the Mercury II, but found the exposure calculator on the back causes confusion and delay. I just use Sunny 16.

pinkarmy

08-26-2011, 06:38

I would like to hear the sound of a properly functioning model though, as I think this one is growling the gears. Or maybe they all sound like that.PF

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgJy9CK5pjs

starting 3:17

mine did not rotate that fast...

farlymac

08-28-2011, 10:57

Thanks Pink. Mine will rotate that fast on the first one or two times if it has been sitting for a while, but then slows down a bit on subsiquent shutter releases. And it has a rrrr-rrrr sound that just can't be good.

PF