Post by PeterW on May 28, 2008 9:17:14 GMT -5
Hi all,
Following on from the Voigtländer folder shutter release here are a couple of other types you might come across. I know not everyone here uses a medium format folder, but I hope some of you find them interesting andpossibly helpful. Medium format folders give lovely sized negs, and with only 12, or sometimes 8, shots per roll they help to make you think a little more before you take each picture.
The first three pics show the release mechanism on an Ensign Selfix 16-20.
When you press the button on the top plate a tube inside the body casing slides downwards on a rod held at A and A. The tube has a very light return spring and sometimes gets stiff on the rod. The bottom part of the body casing is a plate which you can take off to get the rod and tube out and free things.
A finger on the tube pushes on a pivoted arm mounted at B on the door base. The pivot can also get stiff, but it comes off easily after you take out the screw. Don't lose the small return spring.
This picture from the front shows the arm pivot and small return spring, and also the curved end to the trigger on the Epsilon shutter
The curved end of the shutter trigger isn't always as smooth as it might be. Smoothing and burnishing it can make the release smoother.
This Adox Golf uses another popular type of release mechanism, a rocking arm on the door.
You can see where corrosion on the body casing has made the sliding plate from the release button stiff. Unfortunately most sliding plates like this run under rivets, and don't come out easily for cleaning. Continued dosing with lighter fluid generally frees them, and you can use a drop of light oil afterwards.
The rocking arm on the Adox uses a fixed pivot with a small return spring at the back, and a screw pivot at the front. This makes it easy to take out and clean. Once again, don't lose the small return spring. Other makes use a fixed pivot each end. Sometimes you can take one pivot off, sometimes they are riveted.
You can also see the lead-in on the rocking arm which helps to make sure the trigger on the shutter doesn't catch against it when you open the camera, and finishes the correct side.
These types of release linkages, or variations of them, together with the Voigtlänader linkage I posted earlier, cover most of the types you're likely to come across. Attention to getting them smooth and free can make all the difference to the pleasure of using the camera, as well as helping you to get shake-free shots.
To attend to them properly you have to remove the lens and shutter and push the bellows back out of the way. Take care not to lose any spacer shims behind the shutter or the camera won't focus properly.
Good luck if you tackle a folder's release linkage. It isn't difficult work, and very satisfying when you get a smooth, easy release.
Andrew: I use Photoshop (an old version, several issues out of date) to put the text on the pictures. I think you can also do it with Paint Shop and other image editing programs.
PeterW
Following on from the Voigtländer folder shutter release here are a couple of other types you might come across. I know not everyone here uses a medium format folder, but I hope some of you find them interesting andpossibly helpful. Medium format folders give lovely sized negs, and with only 12, or sometimes 8, shots per roll they help to make you think a little more before you take each picture.
The first three pics show the release mechanism on an Ensign Selfix 16-20.
When you press the button on the top plate a tube inside the body casing slides downwards on a rod held at A and A. The tube has a very light return spring and sometimes gets stiff on the rod. The bottom part of the body casing is a plate which you can take off to get the rod and tube out and free things.
A finger on the tube pushes on a pivoted arm mounted at B on the door base. The pivot can also get stiff, but it comes off easily after you take out the screw. Don't lose the small return spring.
This picture from the front shows the arm pivot and small return spring, and also the curved end to the trigger on the Epsilon shutter
The curved end of the shutter trigger isn't always as smooth as it might be. Smoothing and burnishing it can make the release smoother.
This Adox Golf uses another popular type of release mechanism, a rocking arm on the door.
You can see where corrosion on the body casing has made the sliding plate from the release button stiff. Unfortunately most sliding plates like this run under rivets, and don't come out easily for cleaning. Continued dosing with lighter fluid generally frees them, and you can use a drop of light oil afterwards.
The rocking arm on the Adox uses a fixed pivot with a small return spring at the back, and a screw pivot at the front. This makes it easy to take out and clean. Once again, don't lose the small return spring. Other makes use a fixed pivot each end. Sometimes you can take one pivot off, sometimes they are riveted.
You can also see the lead-in on the rocking arm which helps to make sure the trigger on the shutter doesn't catch against it when you open the camera, and finishes the correct side.
These types of release linkages, or variations of them, together with the Voigtlänader linkage I posted earlier, cover most of the types you're likely to come across. Attention to getting them smooth and free can make all the difference to the pleasure of using the camera, as well as helping you to get shake-free shots.
To attend to them properly you have to remove the lens and shutter and push the bellows back out of the way. Take care not to lose any spacer shims behind the shutter or the camera won't focus properly.
Good luck if you tackle a folder's release linkage. It isn't difficult work, and very satisfying when you get a smooth, easy release.
Andrew: I use Photoshop (an old version, several issues out of date) to put the text on the pictures. I think you can also do it with Paint Shop and other image editing programs.
PeterW
