Praktica Mirror

[Doug T.]

Hi All! I just picked up a Praktica Super TL to play with ( it was only $1.00 ), and everything works, including the meter, but it has a habit that's puzzling me. The mirror doesn't drop until the shutter is cocked, and sometimes it doesn't even drop then. If you take the lens off, just touching the release drops it. When the shutter is pressed, the mirror stays up. I suspect that it's a lubrication problem, but I'm not sure. There's no dents or any other signs of abuse. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Doug

[daveh]

Is it just sticking on the sponge that surround the mirror? I did have that happen on one camera a while ago, but can't remember how I fixed it! Sometimes rubbers and sponges do go sticky with age. PeterW and others are bound to know.


(I should have put my Topcon problem in here - just entered it under classic SLRs.)

[Deleted]

My guess is that the foam used to dampen the mirror has gone sticky. The foam light seals on the back probably need replacement, too.

[John Parry]

Got a Praktica VF that does something similar - trouble is, I'm sure the camera's fine. I can't remember what it is that I'm doing wrong. Come on - I should know this...

Regards John

[Doug T.]

I don't think the dampers are sticking, there's a small catch in the box , and when it's tripped ( even upside down), the mirror drops down easily without any help from me.
If anyone knows where I could get a diagram, that would help. In the mean time, I'll investigate the seals & dampers further, it doesn't take much goo to make things stick.

[mickeyobe]

zook5256,

Look at this site.

www.kyphoto.com/classics/sealreplacement.html

Jon Goodman is very knowledgeable and helpful.

Mickey

[PeterW]

I always believe in checking the simple things before the complicated ones. The first thing I would check, as Dave and Wayne suggested, is the foam strip that cushions the mirror slap when it flies up. If this has gone soft and sticky it may be reluctant to let the mirror go.

Failing that I have an idea that there is a small spring that helps the mirror down after the shutter has fired. The idea was that gravity needed some help to let the mirror come down when the camera was held on its side for portrait format shots, or even upside down.

If you take the lens out and lift the mirror gently you should be able to feel the resistance of the light spring. I forget now where Prakticas put the spring but you might be able to see it looking in the front. If you feel the spring pressure I would go for sticky foam slap damping or, less likely, lack of lubrication on the mirror release or pivots.

If there's no feel of a spring at all, and if the foam bump damper isn't sticky I'm afraid it might mean dismantling to find the cause of the problem.

PeterW

[PeterW]

If it comes to dismantling have a look at this site
www.ydo.abelgratis.co.uk/praktica_disassembly.html

There are slight differences between different Praktica models but the ones with instant return mirrors are very similar before you get to the electric B models.

PeterW

[Doug T.]

Hi All! I checked for spring tension , and that seems ok. It doesn't feel gooey, so I think maybe it's a lubrication problem.
I also checked the site that Mickey suggested ( I've been there before, it's a great site ), and remembered that I ordered some seals from Mr. Goodman once. It was for a Ricoh FF-1 that I restored. Now THAT was a gooey mess ! Anyway, Mr. Goodman was very helpful and a pleasure to deal with.
I might as well replace the seals anyway and do the job right
Doug

[Doug T.]

Hi Peter! Thanks for the site! I just checked it out, and it looks like what I was looking for.
Doug