Repair any film camera / I F'D UP ... Canon P Rangefinder

[@john_murch]

A few years ago when I received my Canon P, I removed the bottom plate and failed to adjust and lubricate it properly, I also had light leaks (even though the P has no light seals). In the end, I invested in a full CLA from Kanto Camera. The service and communication throughout the repair process was incredible. My Canon P runs like a Swiss watch now, with perfect functions, impressive for a 60+ year old camera and an absolute joy to use. I highly recommend investing in a quality CLA from a REPUTABLE repairer in order to keep the world wide limited camera inventory alive!

[@ribsy]

Totally agreed. Thanks for the rec

[@RH-adventure]

I think you need the Japanese screwdrivers called JIS or else they wont fit properly. Maybe Leica uses different screwdrivers though. I think cleaning lenses is worth it, maybe not repairing a camera. Its a bit tricky and easy to make it worse.

[@ribsy]

yea seems like i didn't have the right screwdrivers

[@erwindegroot8760]

Ja, for Japanese camera's you need JIS (Japanese Industry Standard) screwdrivers. They look the same as Philips, but the angle of the point is different.

[@randallstewart175]

Right. You can buy a full set of JIS screw drivers on Amazon for not much money. The set I bought was of very high quality. (Japanese made.)

[@tubecorr]

Most valuable thing I learnt repairing cameras is to try using non metal tools before resorting to the wrench. Often the wrench leaves visible marks or slips and scratches something. Rubber gripping tools, gaffer tape and toothpicks are much more forgiving.

[@ribsy]

Not a bad suggestion. Always worth learning

[@PhilKnall]

A little tip for using spanner wrenches - spinning the camera and not the wrench makes it much easier.

[@ribsy]

Yea eventually I started doing that 😅

[@maritimemetaldoc6812]

I was able to do a first time repair on an Olympus Pen EE-3. I bought it off eBay from Japan and after using it I noticed the photos were very cloudy. After hours of research online I found some really good guides on how to take the lens apart to clean it. Turns out there was a dead bug between the lens glass. Which caused a lot of dusty buggyness lol It wasn't easy and I was very nervous doing the repair. I took my time to make sure I didn't make any mistakes. In the end I got everything cleaned and put back together. My second attempt to repair a camera was a Pentax SPII. I totally messed that one up and its now unusable. I ended up buying another camera to replace it. Even with good documentation sometimes It should be left up to the professionals.

[@ribsy]

yea agreed. really cool that you found a bug haha

[@capcaplightleaks5869]

Almost every Japan RF camera has a quick access to at least horizontal RF adjustment. But I will go with the top plate removal way, dust free viewfinder is equally important than an accurate RF.

[@ribsy]

yup thats what i learned!

[@geophizz]

If I have a camera that I want ot work on, I usually buy a cheap broken duplicate on eBay that serves as a stunt double for me to practice on. I'll tear that one apart and put it back together again a bunch of times before I touch the real camera. If nothing else, it teaches me what I can fix and what I can't. I can fix nearly anything on my Moskva-4, some things on my Mamya C330, and after I really mangled the stunt double, discovered that Retinas really need to go to Chris Sherlock to be fixed right.

[@ribsy]

Not a bad idea!

[@GraemeSimpsonPhotography]

I always wear latex gloves when doing any repairs so that you don't get oils from your skin on parts. Also it helps when using smaller screwdrivers as it gives a little more grip

[@ribsy]

Yea good point! Grip is key

[@aw614]

I've done some of basics like taking apart some lenses and installing new light seals, it's a learning experiences especially after breaking things, luckily what I have broken have been cheap and mass produced items. I will say, I have terrible luck with spanner wrenches and scratching stuff, if I can get past that I think I would try to attempt more camera repairs. But I've had decent luck with the lens vacuum pad on opening lenses.

[@ribsy]

Me too! Couldn’t control the spanned to save my life

[@stevencremer3080]

Hi Ribsy those were some very good points you made, after all I don't have the manual skills to repair cameras competently. You need to be cautious and do some research to work out whether the repair place has a good reputation. I am getting older and have a tremor so it pays to play safe.

[@ribsy]

Def worth playing it safe!

[@ReimannPembroke]

Great topics to cover! I was able to align my rangefinder patch through that little window and I actually sent my canon P off to get CLA’d last week!

[@ribsy]

yea! i did so much unnecessary work - good thing i didn't totally destroy the camera haha

[@bicivelo]

Can i ask where you sent it and about what the cla cost? Thx!

[@ReimannPembroke]

@@bicivelo I sent it to Retro Photo Reading in Pennsylvania. Very reasonable. I think it was under $200 with shipping included

[@jmagnuson17]

😂 man, as soon as I saw that top plate coming off I knew there was going to be trouble! The P’s rangefinder is pretty easy to calibrate yourself externally, the only reason to pull the top is to clean the elements. I pulled the bottom plate off mine once and looked at the shutter speed adjustments and decided « nope » and paid for a CLA. I had a shutter repair (curtain ribbon replacement) done for $40 USD in parts and $160 USD in labor done at the same time and now it runs like new. If you can find someone to work on them and the money isn’t a deal breaker, it’s always worth paying an expert!

[@ribsy]

Hahaha trouble indeed!

[@Frank-Ding]

Did you have problems with the faster shutter speeds lagging? And where did you get yours repaired?

[@jonatascd_]

if you are in Belgium, it's a no brainger: camera revival. He's a good guy and very good and honest about repairing gear

[@ribsy]

Niceee thanks for sharing

[@ldstirling]

So, does this mean you're going back to your Canon 7, at least for a while? And are you gonna get a better set of JIS screwdrivers?

[@ribsy]

na my canon p is fully repaired. you didn't watch the full video 😂

[@bhop0073]

I had a similar experience to yours with my Leica IIIf. I needed to put a new rangefinder beam splitter in it and I looked it up on KZbin and various other sources,and it seemed fairly easy so I figured I would do it myself. I got the beam splitter in but I must have glued it in the wrong position or something because I ended up making the camera unusable as far as focusing ..lol. In my case it wasn’t a huge deal because it wasn’t my main camera and I was planning to get a CLA anyway because it has a shutter issue. I really just wanted to try it for fun, but I guess I really should’ve let the pros take care of it.

[@ribsy]

yea it can be really tough!

[@simon.revill]

These old cameras are not made anymore, so with only so many left, we need to ensure they are passed onto the next generation to enjoy in an equal or better condition. Using a specialist repair shop helps keep the special knowledge and skills alive. Glad you promoted the repair shop in the end and respect the balanced opinion you gave.

[@ribsy]

fo sho!

[@funkyuk1]

RF adjustments are usually available without taking the camera apart. Just because you have the ‘tools’ doesn’t mean you have the skills. JIS screws used in most Japanese cameras are not the same as Philips or other cross head screwdrivers. The majority of repair videos on KZbin aren’t great. There are plenty of skilled camera repairers worldwide 👍🏼👍🏼

[@ribsy]

that's i recommend just finding a repair person

[@funkyuk1]

@@ribsy cheers fella. Keep up the excellent work 👍🏼👍🏼

[@mark83915]

Does anyone recommend anyone in the USA that does good Cla's. I took a rolleiflex to supposedly a reputable store but they didn't fix anything. They charged me and my camera still acts the same way it went in.

[@ribsy]

Let’s see if anyone knows

[@steven1000000000]

I was fortunately able to repair my Olympus Trip 35, by disassembling the lense and freeing up the stuck aparture blades. It wasn't easy though as a first time repairer and took a fair bit longer than I was expecting. Glad I did it in the end though.

[@ribsy]

sounds like a good experience

[@fassie79]

You need JIS screwdrivers for Japanese camera's. Regular Philips head screwdrivers will ruin the screws.

[@ribsy]

Not doing that again

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

It is way more than interest and desire. It's knowledge and skills; which are way more important the interest. I had some shutter issues with my Canon 7Sz and it was $90 for the adjustment. All good afterwards.

[@ribsy]

yea def worth spending the money

[@randallstewart175]

Note that the majority of Japanese rangefinder cameras provide access ports to allow rangefinder adjustments (lateral and vertical) without having to dismantle the top of the camera. Sometimes, and I'm thinking of my Canon RF bodies here, the access and process of adjustment are not apparent. A further problem these days is that there are ever fewer repair shops existent, and knowledgeable repair men even more rare.

[@ribsy]

Yup that’s I hear. Also yes - good to support our repair people

[@hshrr7e]

Is there a yt video to fix my budweiser beer can camera?

[@ribsy]

lol def not

[@utekopka7920]

For camera repair I completely trust my dad. I think there is nothing he can't repair. He is an engineer with all his heart, the only thing is his eyesight is getting bad now as he gets older (he will be 90 in July). Although it gets more difficult for him he still manages to fix any camera problem I run into. For lens restauration I send everything to Fotoservice Olbrich. They are located in Görlitz, Germany, the hometown of the famous Meyer lenses and have been in business since the 1930s. For East German lenses you won't find any better, and their prices are reasonable.

[@ribsy]

Thanks for the recommendation

[@Srulio]

If you get stuck during a DIY repair project, find a professional backup. Your Canaon P is roo good to give up before completion.

[@ribsy]

Yup I got it repaired by a pro eventually

[@bicivelo]

Instructions. Skip steps 1 and 2! A very good cautionary tale 😅 thanks got sharing!

[@ribsy]

lol yea

[@russellsprout2223]

Seems like you now have a decent set of mini screwdrivers and a spanner wrench for sale! Name your best price for a hassle-free (UK) sale, please. 👍

[@ribsy]

haha im not in the UK anymore tho

[@russellsprout2223]

@@ribsy No worries - it'll wait til you're back. Atb 👍

[@kenblair2538]

Great video. Second opinion is always best. I have 2 lenses , in my drawer , I took apart to lube, and they are still my my drawer. I friggin gave up.KB

[@ribsy]

Hahaha oooops

[@Loganalog]

Lol yea i am a repair tech by trade not cameras although i do work for a camera manufacturer. It takes time patience and knowledge of how to do repair to do it at all and even harder to do it well. Having the correct tools of quality is important. And if you haven’t ever done it before get ready for it to take way longer than you think. That being said their are repairs that are very doable like seals. I only suggest doing repairs if you are genuinely interested with understanding and learning repair. If you just want your camera to work again find someone who can fix it for you. Thanks for sharing overall good advice.

[@ribsy]

Yea for sure. Learning is worth it. But if that’s not for you, stay away! Haha

[@whitealpaca4791]

Very good video🎉

[@ribsy]

Thanks for watching

[@brineb58]

Dude, you are way brave than me ... I am too afraid to fiddle with a camera!!!

[@ribsy]

Hahaha brave or dumb …

[@ZainRiza]

knife to a camera....brave.

[@ribsy]

That’s how we do in london!

[@atroche1978]

I just cracked the lens on my Minolta Hi-Matic E Rangefinder a few days ago. Like an idiot I used a pair of channel locks to remove the front lens element. A bit too much pressure on the grips and......crack. 😞

[@ribsy]

ouch!! yup this is the risk

[@ribsy]

Ouch!

[@mikepxg6406]

This is the sort of person that ruins cameras. Really awful techniques.

[@ribsy]

lol I’m messing with my own camera, relax

[@mrdasboot45]

I’m probably not the best person to give advice on repairing camera’s (I suffer from a condition called butterfingers). But maybe a good place to start when looking for repair equipment might be the website of IFiXIT ,they have a lot of stuff for general repair of equipment.

[@ribsy]

Yea good call

[@atarijunge]

This video hits home. I was DIY repairing the LCD cable on my Konica Big Mini, ordered the part from Alibaba, looked at a video, and somehow messed up. I opened and closed it before when looking if the cable was the issue, but this time I wasn't able to close the body and then the battery door broke. 🥲

[@ribsy]

It happens to the best of us!