Fixed RF - wobbly lens repair

[buzzardkid]

Hello all,

several weeks ago I picked up a nice Vivitar 35ES but so far have not shot it since it came with a wobbly lens.

Two days ago I came across a Minolta Hi-Matic 7S-II which is essentially the same camera, but with full manual settings. Not cheap but I got it anyway.

Guess what: the lens on that one is even more wobbly than on the Vivitar


Now there is a load of camera's which all are built on the same chassis:

• Revue 400SE
• Konica Auto S3
• Minolta Hi-Matic 7S-II
• Vivitar 35ES
• Prinz 35-something
• Yashica 35-something

and all are known to occasionally have this issue. But on the forum I found little info on how to remedy it. It was sketchy at best.

Anybody that can point me to a pictorial or a well-written description on how to go about?

I have a week Spring Break and might invest in a pictorial myself if I know how to do this.

[btgc]

Rough guess is wavy nut has to be fastened? Access after front element group is removed which is removed after name plate removal.

Yashica haven't made camera on platform shared by other mentioned, as far as I know.

[farlymac]

Yashica ME and Minolta Hi-Matic G are essentially the same camera. All innards are identical, only the outer shells and covers are different shapes on the corners. And of course, the lenses are different, but the shutters are identical.

PF

[btgc]

Originally Posted by farlymac

Yashica ME and Minolta Hi-Matic G are essentially the same camera.

Right, these fully AE scale focus cameras are brothers. I mean, Yashica haven't made sub-f/2 Tv mode rangefinder like Viv 35ES or Revue 400SE.

[buzzardkid]

bump.

anyone got a lead on how to fix the wobble in those lenses?

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fizzlesticks

You probably have a loose retaining ring. Is the lens loose relative to the body or relative to its mount? If it loose relative to the body look through the rear of the camera and see if there is a retaining ring around the circumference of the lens. If only the front is loose, take the front off and see if there is a retaining ring in front of the shutter.

Some lenses are mounted to a plate that is mounted to the body. You may have to peel back the leatherette to access the screws.

That should get you going.

.............+1

[agi]

I had several Hi Matic 7sii & also the Vivitar and pretty much all of them had a wobly lens. Didn't affect the image at all. It's a known issue with the 7sii. I say take a test roll and if it's not affecting the image, don't mess with it.

[jwicaksana]

Johan, I've experienced the same thing with my fixed RF or compacts.
In most cases, it's just a loose screw, usually screws that holds the focus ring.


asa_focus_ring by jwicaksana, on Flickr

Opened her up, turns out 1 screw is completely off. Tightened it, and the whole thing became tight and solid again. Mind you, for most Japanese fixed RF, use the JIS head screwdrivers, not the usual Philips head.

The complete step by step here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwicaks...7626713363763/

Hope this helps.

[pinkarmy]

I think there's a typo mistake in your link address, it should be
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwicaksana/5774293365/in/set-72157626713363763/

i thank you for the great details.

[jwicaksana]

Originally Posted by pinkarmy

I think there's a typo mistake in your link address, it should be
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwicaksana/5774293365/in/set-72157626713363763/

i thank you for the great details.

Pinkarmy, thanks!
Fixed it. Kindly leave comments/critics in my photostream if you please.

[buzzardkid]

Jwicaksana,

Thank you for the pictorial. This might be it.

On both my cameras the complete lens assembly wobbles, lens barrel, aperture ring, front element all are loose compared to the body and to each other. On the Vivitar it's only a bit, on the Minolta it's a lot.

Coming from solid Leicas, I want to use cameras that are at least as tight as they can be, not with loose parts. On the Minolta there's no way the wobble can still produce sharp images consistently. Way too much play.

I'll give it a try today with the Vivitar, it's the least expensive of the two and I can also remedy the gritty shutterspeed ring.

Keep you guys posted and will probably shoot a pictorial, it's been a while since I did one.

[jwicaksana]

Johan, pleasure's all mine. Keep us posted.

[k__43]

Hey Johan,

I once dropped my Revue 400 and afterwards the focus was really stiff also the VF window glass was broken, I bought a second one and it turned out the lens barrel almost felt apart and the filter thread was dented.

I completely disassembled both cameras and used the base plate of the second to repair the first (I seemed like the base plate was slightly warped by the drop). I've all the remaining spare parts (i.e. the warped base plate the dead lens barrel and the working housing with release and RF mechanism). Also I made a couple of photos of the disassembled camera. I'll go thru them and send them to you tomorrow evening when I find something that might be meaningful to you.

[agi]

Well I stand corrected. I should try this fix Thank you!

[buzzardkid]

Originally Posted by k__43

Hey Johan,

I once dropped my Revue 400 and afterwards the focus was really stiff also the VF window glass was broken, I bought a second one and it turned out the lens barrel almost felt apart and the filter thread was dented.

I completely disassembled both cameras and used the base plate of the second to repair the first (I seemed like the base plate was slightly warped by the drop). I've all the remaining spare parts (i.e. the warped base plate the dead lens barrel and the working housing with release and RF mechanism). Also I made a couple of photos of the disassembled camera. I'll go thru them and send them to you tomorrow evening when I find something that might be meaningful to you.

Thank you k___43, that is much appreciated. Maybe you can post those pictures here, or let me post them?


Meanwhile I gave it a go with the Vivitar 35ES earlier today, and got as far as the shots that were posted of the Olympus Trip 35 above.

BUT, the Vivitar (and thus likely Minolta) are different once you get to that stage. The remaining bit of lens barrel that remained attached to the body was still wobbly, and had screws fitting it from the camera side.

So it seems one would need to disassemble the whole front of the lens barrel but also take the complete barrel off the camera by undoing the leatherette-covered metal plate that the whole lens barrel is built onto.

This most certainly involves soldering, both the meter wires and the wires controlling the shutter would have to be soldered loose to reduce the risk of ripping a wire or contact apart.

Gotta admit I do not have the guts for a job like that, most wiring is looking quite feeble in there.


I sealed the Vivitar 35ES back up (and mispositioned the lever for the meter so will have to go back in again ) and have moved to undo the purchase of the Minolta 7S-II. I was planning to use it for a few rolls and flip it at a profit, not to have EUR 200 sitting in a non-working camera... grmpf.


For future reference to fellow members: anyone know of any competent repairmen who could fix this wobble issue?

[pinkarmy]

Originally Posted by buzzardkid

Thank you k___43, that is much appreciated. Maybe you can post those pictures here, or let me post them?...

i second that.

and buzzardkid, i believe you already read this:
http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00W6YH

i think it is the closest discussion related to your problem.
i have a Hi-matic 9 which has exactly the same wobbly issue for over a year. i asked for advice here a few time but still go nowhere. i hope for better luck this time.

[k__43]

Hi Johan

there are the shots on my new tumblr .. (about gear I used or use, cos friends ask often for reviews):
http://my-cameras.tumblr.com/
first time I gave the URL away .. need to add more content

you need to peel off the leatherette (probably remove the self timer lever for it) and the top plate. For the top plate you have to remove the rewind lever (hold the inside fork part and unscrew by turning).
you need to open the 4 screws that hold the base plate .. be careful with the wires. the lens barrel is held by 3 screws in the base plate, my bet is they are loose in your case. (one shot shows the remaining parts I have .. maybe someone needs parts for his repair)

I never took apart the working barrel I had .. it seems rather complicated.


I only repaired it to sell it, not economical at all after all the work I put in but a fun project anyway.

[buzzardkid]

Hello k___43,


thanks for posting those. I'm pretty sure they will help someone out in the future, but not me!

I'm waaay too chicken to strip a camera to that level and try to fix it!


Anyway, I've never seen a 'Revue 400SE 25' model. All the Revue's I saw were just marked 'Revue 400SE' ?

[k__43]

the 25 is the silver edition .. everything else is the same

you prolly do not have to strip it to that level (I believe .. it's not necessary to take apart the barrel or screw it off the base plate)