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Nparsons13
Tinkerer
Username: Nparsons13
Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 07:27 am: | 
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I just bought a Petri 2.8 CC Super in excellent condition with the auxiliary lenses and viewfinder, clamp-on hood, and filter holder with skylight filter--everything almost as new looking as the kit my uncle gave me for high school graduation in 1959. I plan to take pictures with it, but I mainly bought it for sentimental value.
The glass is clean and clear, the focus is smooth and easy, the aperture control is smooth, and the shutter seems to be working accurately--except that the bulb setting doesn't hold the shutter open. When set on B the shutter clicks open and shut at what sounds like about 1/25 second or so.
Does this sound like something I might be able to fix easily myself without damaging the leatherette or messing up another function, or should I leave well enough alone, forget about it, and use another camera if I ever want a timed exposure?
I’ve delved into the guts of mechanical cameras a little (I won't say I've done repair), so I think I know the answer to this question, but I’d appreciate the thoughts of others with more experience.
Noel |
John_s
Tinkerer
Username: John_s
Post Number: 33
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 11:46 am: |
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I don't know this camera, but I can't recall ever using the B setting on a camera, except for cleaning / adjusting etc. It's like self timers, which often don't work but these slight defects can bug you if you are too much of a perfectionist. Just pretend you didn't notice - I know this is not easy. |
Nparsons13
Tinkerer
Username: Nparsons13
Post Number: 2
Registered: 09-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 08:30 pm: |
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Thanks, John. That's pretty much my inclination. I should focus on how close to perfect this little camera is and try to forget this minor defect.
Noel |
Scott
Tinkerer
Username: Scott
Post Number: 108
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 10:23 pm: |
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That's a nice, simple camera with a good 4-element lens. You should get nice results with it. If you don't put it on a tripod for long night exposures, then don't worry about the B setting.
Otherwise, open the shutter (to where you can see the levers and gears inside, take off the shutter cam, drip a couple of drops of naptha on the levers which pivot in relation to the shutter cam position. Work the shutter's various shutter speeds between each application.
That'll do it 9 times out of 10. |
Nparsons13
Tinkerer
Username: Nparsons13
Post Number: 3
Registered: 09-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2010 - 08:50 am: |
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Thanks, Scott, but opening up the camera to get to the shutter mechanism directly is something I want to avoid. I understand the leatherette covering the front screws on these Petris is delicate and comes off in shreds. I was hoping someone might know of a way to loosen up the bulb setting without major surgery. |
Scott
Tinkerer
Username: Scott
Post Number: 109
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, September 17, 2010 - 11:21 am: |
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If you don't want to open it up, then my advice is to just live with it. There's no way to fix it without opening the shutter (which actually does not require removing the leatherette). The shutter can stay on the camera, you just have to open the front face of it.
With vintage cameras, you sometimes have to decide whether you want to have a pretty mint-condition camera to display on a shelf, or a camera that you can actually use (but might have to repair, risk damaging the leatherette, etc.) |
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