Reconditioning of RF

traveller · 13th October 2003

Anyone noe if there's anywhere in singapore that can recondition '70s compact RF like the Canonet QL17? Like modify the camera so tat it can use 1.5V alkaline batt instead of mercury 1.35V batt, clean the viewfinder etc? How much will it cost?

alvin · 14th October 2003

I'm having one of my RF's serviced by P&G photo, at the basement of Adelphi. The aperture needle's not showing up else it's working great. Also asked 'em to check the rf focusing and clean the viewfinder....

Alternative places I was told that provide such service is "The Camera Workshop" and "Camix" (shop displaying some camera for sale at 16k. No signage. Beside some agfa shoppe and a food outlet). Both located in peninsula shopping centre. or is it plaza? It's the peninsula named building with a hotel built-in.

hths.

Alvin

Tony · 14th October 2003

Originally Posted by alvin

I'm having one of my RF's serviced by P&G photo, at the basement of Adelphi. The aperture needle's not showing up else it's working great. Also asked 'em to check the rf focusing and clean the viewfinder....

Alternative places I was told that provide such service is "The Camera Workshop" and "Camix" (shop displaying some camera for sale at 16k. No signage. Beside some agfa shoppe and a food outlet). Both located in peninsula shopping centre. or is it plaza? It's the peninsula named building with a hotel built-in.

hths.

Alvin

Are you servicing an expensive interchangable lens rangefinder or a cheap 70s fixed lens rangefinder like the Canonet? Any idea if they do calibration of the meter in a 70s rangefinder and the cost involved? Camera workshop does not do it. Thanking you in advance.

samforce · 14th October 2003

U need not spend the money as the battery is available in Singapore
It was mentioned in some old threads

Try Sim Lim towers basement
shop Chew electronic(i think)
S$5 per piece

alvin · 14th October 2003

Hi I'm fixing my cheap, 70s rangefinder. Sorry, no idea about the calibration of the meter.

traveller · 17th October 2003

Oh ok... thanks a lot pplz...

Very informative... though $5 per batt quite xiong siah... boy... being able to recondition the body will be so much better...though dunno how much... cameraquest.com charges like abt US$100 siah...excluding shipping and all...

samforce · 17th October 2003

ok,
lets look at it from $ point of view.

ppl convert or buy adaptor because they cannot get 1.35v battery.
Even after conversion, because of discharge pattern of battery, the voltage of alkaline batts is not constant.(search for info on web if u want to confirm)

The meter will not give accurate reading at all speed/aperture after u spend $xx to calibrate the camera and the meter reading is affected by voltage of battery.
Accurate reading is only if battery can provide constant voltage from new to expiry.

Battery usage at abt 1 per year is really not that bad.

The above is only my opinion. I have a SRT101b and faces the same problem. Now i just buy and use the mercury batt as it only drives the meter, the camera is mechanical.

Hope this helps.

traveller · 17th October 2003

Oh ok..the batt can last so long ah? Power... hmm.. now tat's not so bad after all

Think worth considering... no need those reconditioning and all, but cleaning the haze off the viewfinder giving the whole camera a gd CLA - how much will it cost?

Tony · 17th October 2003

I need recommendation to calibrate the meter to use with the original mercury battery; the meter in my camera is not accurate. I do not intend to recalibrate the meter to take alkaline batteries.

Could someone recommend a shop specializing in this? Camera Workshop doesn't do this. TIA.

samforce · 17th October 2003

Most old rangefinder is centerweighted metering, may need to compensate a lot for extreme contrast scenes to prevent under/over exposure, unlike the newer multi-segment metering in new cameras.

very inaccurate metering(if not due to reason above) i think cause by many reasons like
1. maybe cds dislodged from its proper location in the camera, need technician to refix it in proper place
2. cds cells faulty, no longer giving correct value
3. yes, calibration out, need to be adjusted
4. etc

If u do not own or intend to own a separate meter or camera is aperture priority then u will need to calibrate that meter. Then, how much u willing to spend?
I think it may cause more than $50.

You may try shop in same building as camera workshop, Camix, the small shop opposite the cafeteria.

alvin · 17th October 2003

Have you guys tried the Camera Hospital? The guy there quite friendly & knowledgeable; went there with my Auto S3 today and on the spot he told me he can't repair it 'cause he doesn't have the parts; if i wanted he could order it (the whole rangefinder assembly) for repairs. Too bad outta my budget...

traveller · 19th October 2003

Juz went to Camix and ask - reconditioning of my Yashica GSN will be like $65. Is that a good price? Den my viewfinder like a bit hazy and the rangefinder window in the viewfinder a bit faded and unclear and if contrast not high enough, it can be rather hard to focus. Will getting the viewfinder cleaned will result in a clearer and brighter rangefinder window?

aosis · 20th October 2003

Originally Posted by traveller

Juz went to Camix and ask - reconditioning of my Yashica GSN will be like $65. Is that a good price? Den my viewfinder like a bit hazy and the rangefinder window in the viewfinder a bit faded and unclear and if contrast not high enough, it can be rather hard to focus. Will getting the viewfinder cleaned will result in a clearer and brighter rangefinder window?

Recon as in everything like changing light seals, clean glass, calibration and etc? If so, is it better/cheaper to bring 2 together? I need to clean my GSN too.

alvin · 20th October 2003

Kewl reconditioning of GSNs.... mine is in a horrid condition siah. Fungi on lens and wear marks, overexposure light not working etc. But the pictures are ok that's all I care =) When u guys going? Maybe 3 ppl can get bulk discount lol.

Anyhow, I discovered my ql17 had a stuck meter, couldn't tell me when the shutter had to be stopped down to 5.6 or smaller. I found this article just in case any DIYers are interested.

http://members.tripod.com/rick_oleson/index-30.html

About 15 mins and the job was done!

traveller · 20th October 2003

Was thinking of DIY cleaning since mine only need cleaning. Check out this link man:
http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/repair.html

aosis · 20th October 2003

Originally Posted by traveller

Was thinking of DIY cleaning since mine only need cleaning. Check out this link man:
http://www.yashica-guy.com/document/repair.html

Heheh ... are u sure you want to try DIY yourself ? A good working GSN is priceless ...

traveller · 20th October 2003

Sounds true to me man... so how? Anyone wanna get their GSN clean? Can knock off the cleaning price by how much?

aosis · 20th October 2003

Err don't know man .. never recon before. But if you guys going, i consperm on ..

traveller · 20th October 2003

How abt this Sat at 1pm at Peninsular? Anyone onz?

alvin · 20th October 2003

Hmmm i'll keep you guys updated via this thread. I haven't finished the current roll yet....

13th October 2003	#1
traveller Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: SG Posts: 337	Reconditioning of RF Anyone noe if there's anywhere in singapore that can recondition '70s compact RF like the Canonet QL17? Like modify the camera so tat it can use 1.5V alkaline batt instead of mercury 1.35V batt, clean the viewfinder etc? How much will it cost?

14th October 2003	#4
samforce Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toa Payoh Posts: 169	Battery available U need not spend the money as the battery is available in Singapore It was mentioned in some old threads Try Sim Lim towers basement shop Chew electronic(i think) S$5 per piece

20th October 2003	#18
aosis Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 572	Err don't know man .. never recon before. But if you guys going, i consperm on .. __________________ My Shutterstock Images

14th October 2003	#2
alvin Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 611	I'm having one of my RF's serviced by P&G photo, at the basement of Adelphi. The aperture needle's not showing up else it's working great. Also asked 'em to check the rf focusing and clean the viewfinder.... Alternative places I was told that provide such service is "The Camera Workshop" and "Camix" (shop displaying some camera for sale at 16k. No signage. Beside some agfa shoppe and a food outlet). Both located in peninsula shopping centre. or is it plaza? It's the peninsula named building with a hotel built-in. hths. Alvin

17th October 2003	#6
traveller Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: SG Posts: 337	Oh ok... thanks a lot pplz... Very informative... though $5 per batt quite xiong siah... boy... being able to recondition the body will be so much better...though dunno how much... cameraquest.com charges like abt US$100 siah...excluding shipping and all...

17th October 2003	#9
Tony Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 189	I need recommendation to calibrate the meter to use with the original mercury battery; the meter in my camera is not accurate. I do not intend to recalibrate the meter to take alkaline batteries. Could someone recommend a shop specializing in this? Camera Workshop doesn't do this. TIA.

19th October 2003	#12
traveller Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: SG Posts: 337	Juz went to Camix and ask - reconditioning of my Yashica GSN will be like $65. Is that a good price? Den my viewfinder like a bit hazy and the rangefinder window in the viewfinder a bit faded and unclear and if contrast not high enough, it can be rather hard to focus. Will getting the viewfinder cleaned will result in a clearer and brighter rangefinder window?