Post by doubs43 on Mar 9, 2007 18:06:45 GMT -5
The two "parts" cameras I won for $19.51 shipped arrived yesterday. They are a black Sears (Ricoh) TLS with 55mm f/1.4 lens and a Yashica TL Electro-X with 50mm f/1.7 Yashinon lens.
The Yashica looks almost new so I immediately stuck a new battery in it and it worked...... for a few minutes, anyway. Then it returned to exactly the single speed that the seller had described. I'll need to get under the hood (bonnet) to see if I can fix it. The lens is in great shape though and works well.
The Sears-Ricoh worked well on high speeds but was hesitant on slow speeds below 1/4 so last night I took the top off and placed a few drops of denatured alcohol in the gears using a syringe and needle. I worked the slow shutter speeds and quickly the slow gear train loosened up. The full range of speeds now work freely. I replaced the mirror foam and film door seals. Except for some dirt in the viewfinder and a bad meter, I have a perfectly fine camera for about $10.
The 55mm f/1.4 Rikenon lens was described as having a small amount of fungus. It turned out to be a couple of small spots of something on the front element exterior which cleaned off very easily. The lens is now perfect in every way.
So for less than $20 I got a working camera and two very nice lenses. Also a "parts" camera unless I can fix it. I'm happy with my purchase.
Walker
The Yashica looks almost new so I immediately stuck a new battery in it and it worked...... for a few minutes, anyway. Then it returned to exactly the single speed that the seller had described. I'll need to get under the hood (bonnet) to see if I can fix it. The lens is in great shape though and works well.
The Sears-Ricoh worked well on high speeds but was hesitant on slow speeds below 1/4 so last night I took the top off and placed a few drops of denatured alcohol in the gears using a syringe and needle. I worked the slow shutter speeds and quickly the slow gear train loosened up. The full range of speeds now work freely. I replaced the mirror foam and film door seals. Except for some dirt in the viewfinder and a bad meter, I have a perfectly fine camera for about $10.
The 55mm f/1.4 Rikenon lens was described as having a small amount of fungus. It turned out to be a couple of small spots of something on the front element exterior which cleaned off very easily. The lens is now perfect in every way.
So for less than $20 I got a working camera and two very nice lenses. Also a "parts" camera unless I can fix it. I'm happy with my purchase.
Walker
