newbie with addiction and question

cathy_w_J · 04-30-2005

hi everyone,
i just got my first electro gsn from ebay this past week. i am really excited about it. the electrical stuff seems to be working but i am not sure about the speed of the shutter. it's audible. sometimes way slow and sometimes fast and sometimes i am not sure if i heard it. shot some film this week and need to check it out.

i am going to attempt to replace the seals tonight. they look pretty much shot. i hope i don't muck it up.

when i look thru the view/rangefinder window, it seems dim. i cleaned the outside off and that helped but the yellow spot isn't really all that easy to see in dim light. i am wondering if this is the rangefinder window needing a cleaning or my eyes going or both. how bright should it be? i wouldn't say it's contrasty. and how hard is it to do? i am a novice at camera tinkering. i can do simple stuff around the house like install door knobs, and shelving. is cleaning the rangefinder window beyond me? am i better off shipping off to a professional?

thanks for any advice.

back alley · 04-30-2005

welcome cathy!
you are part of a growing contingent from conn.

it is not uncommon for older fixed lens rf cameras to need some cleaning before working at their optimum.
i am not the one to guide you through this process but there are several who can help.
i'm sure one or another will along soon.

joe

rover · 04-30-2005

Connecticut really is growing strong...Go Huskies!!!!

Hi Cathy, nice to meet you.

You have already gotten some good advice above, and I am not that mechanically inclined to be able to offer any instruction. I can say though that as Joe says, it is common for the 1970s fixed lens RF cameras to have dim (or dimmer) viewfinders. Part of getting old for them. This in particular was the biggest reason why I choose to expand my Bessa outfit, which ultimately took me to where I am today. There is a big difference in the viewfinders of the Bessas, Leicas or any current RF camera compared to the fixed lens ones. And use in low light is easier with a brighter finder. Of course, the old fixed lens cameras are excellent in their own right, which is why I still have my Canonet.

I hope to hear more from you here, and perhaps soon we will try to get a group of the southern New England RFFers together for a day of photography.

ray_g · 04-30-2005

Hello, Cathy. If you can change doorknobs and shelving, I am sure you can tackle the job. The advice above is sound. I also found Matt Denton's website very helpful. You may want to check out the following pages:

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/p...als/index.html

http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/p...ide/index.html

I am sure it would make a fun project. Enjoy...

JoeFriday · 04-30-2005

heya Cathy.. welcome to the club!

I'm in exactly the same predicament as you.. a new 30 year old GSN that has a really dim patch.. I keep meaning to take it apart and clean it, but I think you really shouldn't have film in the camera when you do that stuff, and I have a short attention span and load film in immediately after

hey, look at that bright shiny thing!

nevermind.. now where was I?

cathy_w_J · 05-01-2005

thanks everyone! those links are very helpful.

i changed the seals last night and they look good now. pretty neat feeling to have accomplished that!

greyhound man----that is a great picture. very cool and will help alot.

i'm still undecided about taking the camera apart. i'm worried that i won't know what i am looking at when i get in there. i also have a 2 year old who sleeps less than you would think a kid should. fatigue is a factor. and very often i have one or two helper kitties when i am doing stuff late at night.

i love old cameras. it's bad addiction that started at a tagsale many years ago. my husband supports it because he is a recording engineer and his addiction is recording gear and mics. it makes the cameras i have look like penny candy.

where in ct are you folks? i'm in easton.

ray_g · 05-01-2005

I live in Clinton, Cathy. I work all over the place... New Haven, Hamden, Guilford and Middletown.

Yes, these little DIY jobs are very satisfying.

jon_flanders · 05-02-2005

[quote=cathy_w_J]thanks everyone! those links are very helpful.

i'm still undecided about taking the camera apart. i'm worried that i won't know what i am looking at when i get in there. i also have a 2 year old who sleeps less than you would think a kid should. fatigue is a factor. and very often i have one or two helper kitties when i am doing stuff late at night.

QUOTE]

Its not that hard to take the top off a GSN. Put a piece of electrical tape across the battery check button before removing the two screws for that. Take the other top screws off, working on a surface that will catch the screws if you drop them. I got a magnetic dish at Big Lots for $4 that really helps.

Remove the film advance knob, set your asa to 400 or something else you will remember and take that off. Put a pencil in the rewind shaft and turn that off. You will need something to stick in the little snap ring type holes of the advance and the ASA setter. I ground two prongs on a scraper for this. One set for the advance, one for the asa.

Then pull off the top, taking care not to pull the flash wire loose. The top of the rangefinder glass can be pried off with a sharp knife. Use a q tip to clean the glass surfaces with glass cleaner. Glue the rangefinder top back on, re-assemble and fire away with a nice clean finder.

After you do this a few times, it can take less than half an hour.

rover · 05-02-2005

Cathy, East Haven by day, Hebron in the evening.

I think we have a few members in your neck of the woods, Wilton would be closest I believe.

Huck Finn · 05-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathy_w_J

where in ct are you folks? i'm in easton.

I'm in East Hampton . . . & I have a cousin in Easton.

Huck

cathy_w_J · 05-02-2005

jon,
i'll never know if i don't try. thanks for the step by step guidance. i think the dh has some appropriate tools.

huck and rover,
i have a sister in East Haven and actually a friend I used to work with lives in Hebron. that's very pretty up there.
maybe i'll bump into your easton cousin at stop and shop some time.

cathy_w_J · 05-03-2005

well, i did it and the camera is still working! thanks for all the help from everyone! i was able to clean out alot of dust and also cleaned the top of the camera with the dials off. it looks much better and looking thru the range/view finder is much brighter. now i think the actual rangefinder is off. when focused on infinity, there are 2 horizons...very close but separate.

i have to look for instructions on fixing this. has anyone done this before? i know i need to set the focus ring to infinity but i am not sure what to do inside the top. it looked like there were alot of screws to fiddle with and i'm worried about making the focus worse.

pshinkaw · 05-03-2005

Cathy:

There are additional illustrations and explanations available at:

http://feuerbacher.net/photo/frame.h...inks.html~Main

Also, the Classic Camera Repair Forum is dedicated to tinkerers who like to fix cameras more than they like to shoot with them. It is an excellent source of information on the camera repair world.

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/

-Paul

cathy_w_J · 05-03-2005

Thanks! I'll check those links out and that photo helps.

ChrisN · 05-06-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by cathy_w_J

now i think the actual rangefinder is off. when focused on infinity, there are 2 horizons...very close but separate.

i have to look for instructions on fixing this. has anyone done this before? i know i need to set the focus ring to infinity but i am not sure what to do inside the top. it looked like there were alot of screws to fiddle with and i'm worried about making the focus worse.

Two horizons? Sounds like the vertical adjustment. This won't effect the focusing of the lens, but is a bit of a nuisance to look through. Greyhoundman - is there an adjustment for the vertical?