Donor Camera

[Martin Carlin]

Finally finished my renovations of my Pentax Spotmatics out of 5 various Spotmatics I have 3 Fully working Cameras including light meters.

2 Spotmatic SP11 and 1 SP1000

The Donors

Fully functional

 

[John Allen]

Looks like it was fun. Not only fun, but three really nice cameras out of the deal. That's what I'd like to do with the OM series cameras and lenses. I could always donate the refurbished cameras to the local university film camera class. Do enough of them and I might have the whole class using OM-1's and 2's. Get some new souls hooked on film and those great little Olympus cameras.

 

[Pete Askew]

Nice to see them laid bare and I do like that second shot in its own right.

 

[Martin Carlin]

Must say I did enjoy the tinkering with them but I think it will be more fun shooting with them. The best part about it is they didn't cost much at all and thanks to Utube I had the the confidence to take the project on.

Looks like it was fun. Not only fun, but three really nice cameras out of the deal. That's what I'd like to do with the OM series cameras and lenses. I could always donate the refurbished cameras to the local university film camera class. Do enough of them and I might have the whole class using OM-1's and 2's. Get some new souls hooked on film and those great little Olympus cameras.

That sounds like a great idea John I may well have a look into that. The great thing with these old cameras is there all mechanical and theres not much apart from stiffening up that really goes wrong with them So most of the time a bit of TLC is really all they need.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Excellent Martin. I have not long ago received some JIS screwdrivers. I have a tiny bit of fungus in a canon L lens, front glass. Took a while to locate the screwdrivers at a decent price. Yet I still hesitate to start the project. So therefore realise how competent you are for doing this reburb.

 

[Martin Carlin]

Excellent Martin. I have not long ago received some JIS screwdrivers. I have a tiny bit of fungus in a canon L lens, front glass. Took a while to locate the screwdrivers at a decent price. Yet I still hesitate to start the project. So therefore realise how competent you are for doing this reburb.

Thanks Julian Its not as hard as it looks. I was thinking of lenses as maybe my next project but Ive ended up wining another 2 auctions with a Non working Praktica That has a really nice lens on it and a non working Pentax K1000 so not sure.
Like to see how you get on with the lens.
From what I understand theres to different types of fungus that lenses seem to get one is less damaging than the other but one destroys the actual lens coating.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Thanks Julian Its not as hard as it looks. I was thinking of lenses as maybe my next project but Ive ended up wining another 2 auctions with a Non working Praktica That has a really nice lens on it and a non working Pentax K1000 so not sure.
Like to see how you get on with the lens.
From what I understand theres to different types of fungus that lenses seem to get one is less damaging than the other but one destroys the actual lens coating.

Yes I am afraid it maybe the sort that attacks the coating, time will tell. But apparently the front lenses are not that expensive. Famous last words.

 

[Ian Grant]

Nice one, I like Spotmatics and have 3, my favourite is the F.

Have y0u got the bits from the frame counter spare ? I need the screw that holds the counter in place it's reverse thread, also the cover part. I bought an S1a as a donor for £1 but fixed it instead

Ian

 

[Pete Askew]

Unfortunately all of the fungi that colonise glass do some damage. The amount depends on their growth rate and that is often dependent on the ambient conditions (especially humidity) and the presence of organic matter (dirt, oils etc). And some species of course grow faster than others in any given set of environmental conditions. The main problem is that they produce organic acids as metabolites and it is these that etch the surface of the glass and destroy the coatings. The can also occasionally attack the cement used to assemble the optical elements.

So, first thing, Julian is to keep it as dry as possible. If it is in dry conditions (say < 20% RH) the fungi cannot grow / metabolise and so the problem cannot get worse. Once you start to disassemble the lens and clean it, IPA will do a good job. It will probably be impossible to render the lens sterile and so, again, keeping it dry will prevent a reoccurrence.

 

[Brian Moore]

IPA will do a good job.

It does for me,...There are three breweries within walking distance of my home and all three make fine IPAs.

Excellent work, Martin. I like images one and two very much; they remind me of Terminator.

 

[Martin Carlin]

Nice one, I like Spotmatics and have 3, my favourite is the F.

Have y0u got the bits from the frame counter spare ? I need the screw that holds the counter in place it's reverse thread, also the cover part. I bought an S1a as a donor for £1 but fixed it instead

Ian

Hi Ian I may have drop me your address and I send it to you in the mail