Canon 7 Rangefinder Camera Overhaul

[@matthathaway5015]

The perfect combination; aged and worn on the outside, clean and reliable on the inside. Beautiful camera and overhaul! I need to keep my eye out for one of these...

[@DylanHeywood10]

So cool that Jordan Petersen also repairs cameras

[@utube321piotr]

I got your joke, however you misspelled his name, should be Peterson.

[@IvarsDayLab]

Great video, thanks for sharing. I actually use self timer quite often and I had no issue on all my cameras. I use it to take selfies when I'm traveling alone.

[@karlospolanski2540]

Great video, thanks to this I fully repaired my Canon 7!

[@websterforrest]

Incredibly informative. Thanks so much for posting this. I've just bought one of these and the ASA setting won't budge. Not sure if there's a problem with the button, or whether the ASA ring is stuck...

[@inthezone4123]

Wow....fantastic! I love my Canon 7.

[@RogerHyam]

Thanks so much for this - very clear! I have a Canon 7 with erratic slow speeds and think it just needs this treatment but I can't budge the lower two case screws. There is some corrosion on the case so I guess they are corroded in. I've tried penetrating oil for a couple of hours and also gentle heat with a soldering iron. Any other suggestions?

[@carltanner9065]

I just bought a Canon 7 off eBay, from a seller in Japan. The camera in the listing looks good...no cracked light meter window or dent of top plate, etc. It was shipped via DHL. When I got it, the light meter window was cracked, the top plate is noticeably warped and dented and the dials and shutter lever are stuffed. Shutter won't even work. So, either the seller sold me a damaged camera or the shipping company broke it through careless handling. The seller assured me it was working before they sent it. So, I can only take them on their word. The shipping company...well, anything could happen there and I wouldn't put it past them to do a bit of slight of hand. It looks like a very heavy weight was just slammed down on the camera or it was dropped from a considerable height onto hard ground. Or, it was hit hard with something like a hammer. I'll get a new camera and use this one for parts, rather than sending it back for a refund. Yeah, it cost me money, but using it for something good is better than just sending it back, where it'll probably be tossed away, anyway.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

Always check the box for damage when you order form overseas, and if it is, open it in the presences of the delivery person. If the camera is damaged, refuse the package, then the camera will be covered by the shipper's insurance. I try to pack cameras very carefully, but stuff still happens, one of my boxes was run over by a UPS truck.

[@fzmetric]

awesome.. this video reminds me about my canon P

[@jamestao539]

Just find this Chanel, great work and thank you for sharing! I have a Canon 7 too, but the self timer is stuck, it remains at the fully wound position and therefore, the shutter won’t fire. I am wondering if you could give me some directions on how to fix it, appreciated!

[@ATorrasS]

Hi, you know how repair 1/1000 speed. The rest works perfect

[@wyatthalchishick5167]

If you ever get your hands on a Topcon RE Super I would be very interested to see a video of how to service it or even just one of your overviews on the camera itself. There really is not much about this camera on KZbin, which is a shame because it's one that I really love.

[@Mayatales]

Great video, now i just have to get my courage to remove the top part and clean my viewfinder since it has fungus. Do you have any tips on what i should use to clean it off?

[@erichartke4331]

I wouldn't consider this an overhaul, but will be useful since I have a Canon 7 in the mail.

[@haku9442]

Hi, do you know what could be causing the frameline dial to be stuck? I can get it to the 100 mm, 85 mm and 135mm frame lines but it gets stuck before getting to the 50mm lines. Thanks for the great video!

[@felixsturmair4854]

helped a lot- thanks!

[@shatunsram3749]

What do you put on a swab before cleaning the viewfinder glass?

[@augustpalm3277]

Thank you for a great informative video. I have problems with light leaks on my Canon 7 even though I have replaced the light seals. Do you know any other area on the camera where its common that light leaks in?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

The worst place for light leaks is the hinge on the film door. Or the shutter may not be closing fully, this is a common problem with the Canon 7. It is easy to fix, I have another video about how to fix it, you can find it in my video list.

[@augustpalm3277]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 All right, that should be light tight. Watched your other video and serviced the camera accordingly. Hopefully no more leaks, thanks!

[@larsi1206]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 is it the one where i have to tighten the gear?

[@sigurdhovre3902]

I just recently bought a for parts canon 7. Its marked with "E.P" on the lever. Do you know anything about that

[@elPanolo]

Hi, there is a flat brass linkage on the back of the front cover. Can you tell what exactly it is for? It seems to connect a lever of the slow speed escapement to the top of the camera?

[@matiasdonoso3374]

I'm having trouble with the parallax correction, it's not working (it's stuck). For any chance, would you happen to know any way to fix this?

[@scootzilla1]

Hi sir, just recently serviced this Canon7s, but I can’t find anywhere on the net how to properly calibrate the meter dial. Thanks

[@jimjaam1983]

can you please do one for the VT de luxe

[@kskskskkskskkssks]

After vertical calibration, the alignment goes off once I turn the lens out of infinity, any fix for it?

[@AGL93311]

+NICE. I have a 7 that requires vertical RF adjustment. Problem is the access port cover is stuck, possibly corroded. Tried a pointy spanner, does not budge. Any thoughts on how to loosen it?

[@jlwilliams]

Adam Lang I took a cheap jeweler's screwdriver with a blade wide enough to span the port cover, then carefully filed the tip to create two points that exactly fit the holes. Making a tool like this might let you apply enough force to turn the cover without damaging it. Or not! Let's hope our host has a better suggestion.

[@JS52ATS]

Thans for the video, My example has stopped changing Shutter Speeds, it seems to be stuck at 1/1000, i think it may be bacuse of the self timer. Any way to fix this? I still have it apart. Thanks

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

If the winder and shutter are still working, the problem is not the self timer, but possibly some debris or loose part stuck in the shutter adjusing mechanism.

[@petercooper9054]

You mention the flash sync is different on the 7s. I have a 7sz and need to get in the top to clean. Without those slots how do you get enough pressure on the part to loosen it.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

I use a small rubber spanner to remove this socket, but before I had the spanner, I would drill two small holes on either side of the socket so I could remove it with a two-pointed tool, like a sharp pair of tweezers.

[@petercooper9054]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 can you send a photo of that spanner to my email [e-mail] or a place I can buy one. I can't understand why they changed the design from the canon 7 which is easier to open. Being that the camera as expensive I dont want to mark it as its in near mint condition. The battery chamber was hardly damaged by the leaking battery and has cleaned up well. Many thanks

[@PhotographerVA]

Does anyone fix the selenium cells these days?

[@joeygmc07]

I know this has nothing to do with the video but i thought maybe you might help me in some info. I’ve been wanting to buy cameras from Japan on eBay but a lot of people scare me off with crazy import duties and cameras taking forever for it to arrive to the states. Do you have any experience with dealing with import duties?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

There are no import duties or VAT for cameras imported to America from Japan. Depending on which platform you buy from, you may have to pay local sales tax. Shipping is slower to America now as EMS is currently not available for shipping, but UPS is available, though it is taking about 10 to 14 days for shipment.

[@joeygmc07]

Thank you so much for your info. I appreciate it.

[@petercooper9054]

Hi joey. I have plenty of experience with import duty/ taxes. I'm in France and buy from Japan eBay sellers. Dhl hold your package to ransom till you go online and pay it. FedEx do not do online and wanted me to give money to the driver. I paid them and now they are demanding money for what I already paid. There is no rhyme or reason for there charges. I bought same weight and style of camera from two different sellers and got charged €34.50 for the package and €116 for the other. Same camera!! I usually ask the sellers to mark as a gift but sometimes I still get charged. The best is Japan post. It takes a couple of weeks but I never get charged duty etc. You just got to accept the fact that sometimes you will get lucky sometimes not. I always ask the sellers for a good discount and buy multiple items from them as it does not seem to matter on the size of the box. I hope that helps you. Most sellers tell me that there clients always have a really bad experience with FedEx. I can confirm that. I just ignore there demands.

[@erichartke4331]

I just got my Canon 7 but it seems that the viewfinder is loose and the rangefinder patch is changing alignment is this repairable?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

It is possible that the prism has come unglued. See if you can move the prism on the top right side. If it is loose you will have to remove the top cover and glue it in place. It is also possible that something else is loose, it is easier to see what when the cover is removed. Sometimes the beam splitting mirror can also become loose. When putting the camera back together, put on a lens, focus to infinity, then move the mirror or prism while the glue is still wet so as to line up the rangefinder split image as close as possible. Then make final adjustments after the glue dries. I use lacquer paint to glue on the prism, and contact cement for loose mirrors.

[@rileysmithphoto]

Selling? Can't find it on your store.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

It is listed now.

[@phoslurperr]

So, what is the truck for removing the flash sync on the 7s. I have a 7s and would like to open it. Thanksn

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

The ring around the socket itself threads out the same way, just there are no notches for a tool. A round piece of rubber can often be used to unscrew it. Otherwise I will use a small chisel to make a couple of notches so a tool can be used.

[@phoslurperr]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 The viewfinder seems messed up - I see many hazy squares that don't line up. I can focus but all the gray hazy squares are distracting. Does I need an alignment - or something worse?

[@phoslurperr]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 After inspecting my 7s, I see that it does have the store and it looks to be factory. Perhaps changes in production means some have and some don't? I am very happy about that because my viewfinder appears to be completely misaligned.