Worked just great, I was going to sell the camera for someone else to fix, thanks to you and your video I get to keep the camera - Thank you

@AleksUsovich

4 ай бұрын

Glad to hear that your camera is operable again!

@marcuskay3147

3 ай бұрын

@@AleksUsovich Great video, however how do you know the shutter speed matches correctly after tensioning? What's your measurement for adjusting?

@AleksUsovich

3 ай бұрын

I use a shutter speed tester that I made using an Arduino. I am not looking for exact shutter speeds when adjusting, I need close enough where the film can compensate for the inaccurate shutter speeds. To get a completely correct shutter speed in these old cameras, you will need to strip down the camera and relubricate everything plus replace some worn parts which is impractical for a camera that is 50 years old. I am simply looking to get close enough (within 2 stops for most film stocks).

Very good video! I fixed my Zorki 4. I turned it maybe 7 times. Thank you very very much.

This solution worked very well on a similar model, the Zenit 122, in this model, you have to move the lower gear instead of the screw. Problem solved! Thanks for the video!

Thank you for making this video bro, I was thinking I would have to send my fed-5b to a camera repair shop but this solved it immediately!

@AleksUsovich

9 ай бұрын

Glad to hear that!

My Zenit B was hanging up at 1/30th of a second. I tried this fix exactly as you describe, and it made it worse instead of better, the shutter was hanging up on all shutter speeds. I decided to try it again and adjust the tensioning a little bit more to the left. But I couldn't get the star wheel loosened up, I'd tightened it too much. I mauled it with a tiny set of pliers trying to remove it and I couldn't. I got angry and decided the camera was trashed, put it back together and voila, the shutter works perfectly. Thanks so much!

@wibbley1

2 жыл бұрын

yes but you now have no idea what the shutter speed is, or if the two curtains are balanced.

Thanks to you I repaired my zénith e! I had an entire film with part of the image which were blown out.

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear this video was helpful!

This video is pure perfectness. No idea if it's too tight, hopefully not! I turned it maybe 2 times. Anyways quick and easy to watch video thanks!

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

Awesome to hear!! Thank you very much for your kind words!

Thanks. This helped out on my Zorki 3C, not completely accurate at all speeds, needs a good deep clean, but much better!

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Glad to help! Adjusting the curtains seems like a bandaid fix for your Zorki until you can get a CLA done. I've cleaned my Zorki 4 and adjusted the shutter speeds and it felt like a completely new camera.

Thanks for this vid! I have a FED 2 with a shutter like that. I fixed my Canon 7 but wasnt sure about the FED. Now I can fix that one as well. ✌🏾🚀

@AleksUsovich

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help and good luck with the repair!

@Rocket510

3 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich Thanks man!

Thanks, fixed an older Zenit-E (1966) this way

@AleksUsovich

3 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped you!

Worked, very easy fix , thanks 🙏

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

Hi Aleksandr, thanks for that! Had a silver Zenit E that had that problem but was sold ages ago. The other Zenit EM I have is a black model like yours and as a slight different issue with the curtain: when you shoot, the right curtain goes left as usual, but when you try to wind for the next shot, the right curtain tries to pull the left one, but the left gets stuck on the top and doesn't want to move along. Have you ever experienced that? I could send you a video if you need to see the issue. Many thanks!

If i manage to un-explode my zenit's shutter mechanism (bad day) i'll definitely be taking advantage of this

Help? After adjusting the screws (probably not in the correct way) my curtain is fully closed and stuck... Nothing I do can result in any movement of the curtain (at least the outer curtain, which I do not know if it is the first or second)... any solutions? As the model differs from the one from the video, I have unscrewed the safety screw before tensioning the gear

Great video… thanks. My Zenit 19 shutter speeds seem ok xcet the slow speeds and bulb do not function. A 1 second exposure sounds no different than 1/60 for example. And the bulb will not Kerp the curtain open at all. Will the same cog/tension correct this? Thank you from Minnesota

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

Hi, no unfortunately Zenit 19 has the shutter electrically timed and is a metal shutter and does not use a cloth shutter (see my other video for how the shutter is removed from the camera). There is no way to correct this unfortunately. I went through 3 Zenit 19s that all started having this issue and all failed and stopped working in the end..

does the same apply for the other curtain or do you need more than 4 turns? in my case the first curtain is slow and the second one is normal. so on bulb it takes seconds for it to open, for example. on higher speeds it won't even open because the second curtain is much faster

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

You can adjust the other curtain as well but am not sure by how much. You can slowly left the spring unwind and count how many times you need but only when you apply firm pressure on the screw head with screwdriver. It can unwind too rapidly and you'll miss how many times it rotates.

Great video, been trying to follow this with a zenit 12xp. The tension is so tight I cant even unscrew it. Doing more damage to the cog and screw then I should be. Frustrating. Would a little wd40 do the trick?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn't spray it with wd40 but can maybe apply some wd4p locally with a toothpick or needle. Make sure you're twisting the cog in the correct direction. Could try using some small vice grips for better grip. Make sure the shutter is not cocked or there will be more tension on it

@wibbley1

2 жыл бұрын

Have you removed the tiny grub screw that holds the cog wheel? It fits into one of the little cog holes. Remember, the cog is a left hand thread, turn clockwise to loosen.

What do you think, does it work on Fed 2 which has all speed correct, except 1/500?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

I would assume that the process would work on a Fed 2

Thanks for this tutorial! Very educational. This is the exact problem with my grandfathers camera, and I’m trying to restore it! Funny enough, I think he glued down the cog and the screw to adjust the tension.

@AleksUsovich

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to help!

@candicefortunato7835

3 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich he used nail polish to “seal” the screw and cog, I used some acetone to remove it and proceeded with your instructions and success!!! The shutter curtain is working beautifully.

Great video! Is this going to work for a curtain that moves the same way for every shutter speed I try and doesn't even open up in Bulb mode?

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

Like a Kiev 4? I don't believe so. I think this only works for a camera that has two curtains. Sounds like your camera needs a cla

@theodored4745

Жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich I'm sorry I didn't clarify. The faulty camera is a Zenit E and the problem is that the curtain or curtains maybe don't open up completely at slow shutter speeds or Bulb mode. They slide right and then left the same way no matter the shutter speed. I have not used a film roll in it yet but I am afraid I'm going to ruin it.

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

Look here: learncamerarepair.com/product.php?product=866 That is the factory service manual that tells you how the camera works and repairs. It should help you disassemble and hopefully repair the camera

Does it work for Zorki 4? My shutter doesn't want to go all the way back when I put it in B, and sometimes in 1/250 and above, the curtain doesn't open at all

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

While it is possible to use this on a Zorki 4, I would instead just disassemble it and clean it out. If you tension the shutter curtain more, there is a high risk of breaking it. If the shutter curtain is having issues it means that the grwase is worn out or there is dirt in the mechanical parts. The Zorki 4 is really simple to clean and lubricate with plenty of tutorials online.

Hi Alexandr, i have a problem with my zenith 11 and i want to ask you if you can help me. The shutter speed wheel of my camera has fallen down, I dont know how to make it work it again. Thank you so much.

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Jose, The shutter speed dial is held on with 3 tiny screws. Some of them may have gotten loose or fallen out. You'll need a set of tiny screwdrivers to tighten them or put some in there.

This actually works with the leica 1 and 2 because the russians copied the leica 2 (basically upgraded leica 1) shutter mechanism

Will this also Work on a Zenit, where only 1/30 and Bulb will have the curtain to stay Open? I afraid of doing more damage to my camera...

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

This was done on both Zenit 11 and 12 with no issues

Didnt work for me, not sure whats happened now - curtains wont move at all. Any ideas?

@brna6223

2 ай бұрын

Same thing for me, did you figure anything out?

Hi, i have a 4k zorki. I must have set the shutter speed before clocking the shutter and now my camera is bricked.. Nay idea on how to repair? Thank you

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

You need to take the camera apart. Most of the time it can be fixed by removing and resetting the shutter speed gears after it's been taken apart. Sometimes parts break and need to be replaced with spares. Performing a CLA would also be a good idea since the camera would be apart.

I have made a shutter tester using an Arduino and two lasers. This way I can not only measure shutter speed, but the speed each curtain moves. Obviously if one curtain moves slower than the other, uneven exposure will occur. My Zenit (all Zenits are almost identical inside, even the newer 122s) shutter speeds are ok till 1/125 but then it struggles, with 1/250 actually giving 1/139 and 1/500 actually giving 1/210. So about one stop slow. I have disassembled one Zenit to repair the shutter, a common fault is the glue holding the shutter ribbons fail. It is not a job to take on lightly. Takes hours to strip, a real pain to reassemble. To re-glue the shutter ribbons takes less than five minutes.

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Curtain tension does not really impact shutter speeds from my experience. If the lubrication is worn down than the curtain tension can improve the speeds. You'd most likely need to replace and relube the camera to get the shutter speeds where they need to be.

@wibbley1

2 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich Hi, the Zenit E service manual clearly states that the tension on the shutter curtains and the mirror lift spring are used to set the shutter speed. Having built a shutter speed tester, I can confirm that varying the tension does indeed set the shutter speed and if second curtain is set too high, will cause blinding of the film gate at higher speeds. If the two shutter curtains are not balanced, it will cause uneven exposure of the film, as each curtain will be travelling at different speeds.

@marcuskay3147

3 ай бұрын

@@wibbley1 Interesting. This was the question I had above and you seemed to have answered it: whether the tensioning of the curtains determine the shutter speed. Just out of curiosity how did you build your shutter speed tester? Thanks.

@wibbley1

3 ай бұрын

@@marcuskay3147 Hi, both curtains must travel at the same speed, else one gets uneven exposure across the frame. Can also cause blinding at the end of the frame if second curtain moves faster. Many camera repair manuals specify this speed. Get the speed right & all the shutter 'speeds' will be correct. If the tensions are too high, the curtains move too quickly, thus getting a shorter exposure. Conversely, if they move too slowly, exposure will be longer. 'Shutter speed' is the wrong term. The curtains always move at the same speed. It is the time of release of the second curtain which controls exposure. I made a special tool to adjust the curtains correctly. It is a socket the fits the locknut, with a screwdriver that slides down the middle to engage with the slot on the bottom of the roller shaft. This way, the tension can be held whilst the locknut is loosened, then the tension can be adjusted up or down slightly. Trying to do it with long nose pliers is p!ss!ing !n the wind, else as soon as the locknut is loosened, the spring unwinds, thus loosing the setting that needed to be tweaked just a little. There is also a third spring which needs to be tensioned correctly & this helps the shutter mech reach the high speeds. Alas this is a different size to the curtain tensioners, so another tool is required. Zenit & all old cameras suffer as the old grease dries up. The shutter mech needs to be removed, all the old grease cleaned out, reassembled and the tensions set correctly to give correct exposure. Just winding up the tension to overcome dried out grease will result in the curtains & curtain ribbons being torn from the drum. Don't do it. go to facebook & lookup 'Zenit Camera Club' you will find me and all of my zenit service guides there. Photrio houses my threads for shutter tester, depeloping timer & stuff. The build details are on github. www.photrio.com/forum/threads/build-a-shutter-tester-for-focal-plane-shutters-cheap-easy-it-works.197756/page-18#post-2775672 github.com/billbill100

Hi I am having trouble with the actual shutter button, for some reason it is pushed down and does not pop up to take another picture (i hope that makes sense) Can you help me with this?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

That generally means the camera will need a CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) . Can try putting some 3-in-1 oil in the collar where the shutter button gets stuck and push it a few times

Can it be applied to the Zenit EM (1980)? since I have that problem with the speeds in 1/250, 1/125, sometimes with 1/60 speed. With the last speed it is curious because if I shoot once the curtain gets stuck, but the second time it works fine. At speed 1/30 and 1/500 so far I have had no problems. For that reason I prefer high ISO since those speeds don't give me problems.

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, you should be able to do this on a Zenit EM. If your curtain is beginning to stick, it means that the lubricants are getting worn out and need to be cleaned and relubricated. Tensioning the curtain will be a temporary fix that may work for a while. The curtain can break if this process is repeated too many times as the resistance will be too great on the shutter curtain ribbons

@LuisSaavedra96

2 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich So the best thing I can do is go to a specialist because I don't want to damage the machine by misusing the lubricant. Also I don't know where to get them where I live... thank you!!

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, best bet would be to let a specialist do a CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust) on it to keep it working optimally. If there is no specialist near you, there is someone who repairs them in Ukraine that you would need to ship it there for restoration ( OKVintageCamera)

@wibbley1

2 жыл бұрын

They all have the same shutter mech, even the plastic 122. However, it sounds yours is gummed up with old russian grease, as it is used a few times, the grease eases. Needs a full CLA, but doubt you will find anybody willing to service the camera.

My Zenit TTL has the problem that only on the 1/30th of a second setting acts exactly the same way as bulb, only closing when I let go of the shutter release. Can this problem be remediated using the same method? I don't want to risk making the problem worse or creating a new one. The rest of the speeds SEEM to work like normal (not like I can easily tell with the naked eye lol). First few times I tested the shutter it did have the problem of only partially closing but it seems to have somehow fixed itself on that front, unless it was only an issue with the 1/30th setting and it started acting like bulb afterwards (I can't remember for sure).

@AleksUsovich

9 ай бұрын

This method will most likely not remedy that issue. From the sound of it, you've got a issue with the selector gear or more than likely a lubricant that's dried up causing the issues. Trying this fix most likely will help with anything.

@TimCools_WithALongO

9 ай бұрын

@@AleksUsovich Thanks. It's awesome that you're still answering questions under this video that's almost three years old ❤

@AleksUsovich

9 ай бұрын

Glad to continue helping out even with this older video

Will this work for zenit E?

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

Yes

how many times should you turn the screw? why 4? and do you do both screws the same? thanks

@AleksUsovich

19 сағат бұрын

You turn the screw a few times to get the curtains to move smoothly. 4 times is how it's configured from the factory. Generally you do the same amount to both unless your camera is really messed up.

@greatoutdoorsgear7538

13 сағат бұрын

@@AleksUsovich ok very good to know, thanks sooo much!!!

I have the zenit 122, the shutter is working good but the mirror is stuck, everytime i press shutter, the mirror not move. There anyway to fix it?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry, I don't know anything about the Zenit 122

@wibbley1

2 жыл бұрын

122 has same mech as the earlier cameras. If the mirror is stuck down, then you need to adjust the mirror lifting mech. Remove the lens and look in the bottom, there is a plate with two screws, under this you will see the mirror lift mech. But to adjust the mirror mech needs to be removed from the top.

This works on a 3m aswell, thank you so much! How do you actually calibrate timings with this?

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

You need a shutter speed tester. You can make one yourself using a microcontroller like an Arduino. Can buy one already made online as well. There are also apps that estimate the shutter speed using sound to get it in the ball park. I would shoot a 12 exposure roll of film at various shutter speeds using a light meter to see how the photos turn out to see if it needs to be adjusted more or less

hello. my camera curtain only gets stuck when the camera is cold. what could be the reason and will this method work?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

The reason that the shutter get stuck in the cold is because the lubricants break down after 30-40 years of use. For this camera to continue to work, you need to get a CLA (clean, lubricate, adjust). Unless you know the camera really well you will need someone to do it for you as you will need to disassemble the camera, remove the old lubricant, and lubricate with a modern lubricant that can withstand cold weather. Often times it is cheaper to buy a new camera on eBay than get yours serviced unless it is sentimental to you or you plan to have it for the rest of your life. There is one person that services Zenits ( Okayvintagecamera.com). Oleg from Okayvintagecamera can restore your camera for $88 not including shipping to Russia and back. Repair time is around one week not including shipping.

@gio8641

2 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich thank you very much ! even tho i am deeply saddened that i have to get a new one.

The one you repaired has the SN 802.... and the one you showed that is working which is allegedly repaired has SN 882.... Just my observation!

@AleksUsovich

3 жыл бұрын

Good catch! The first one I repaired was sold before I was able to record the second half of the video. It was sold in perfect working condition after repair and I bought a different camera but exact same model that had the same shutter issue. As evidenced in the video, the repair was successful. This video was shot over a 3 month period with the 2nd repaired camera sold as well

@prokopisv97

2 жыл бұрын

you are correct i observed it to. two different camera's.......

Hi, I tried your method but now I can’t do anything with the camera anymore. I can’t “load” a new photo (without film in the camera) anymore. I only turned the bolt 2 times just to try it out. Do you have any advice?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

If the shutter was cocked, the camera may not be functional anymore. Can try turning the bolt 3 or 4 times and see if it fixes it.

@elinevandeven2242

2 жыл бұрын

It was not cocked, I tested it the way you showed. Thanks for the advice though. Doesn’t turning it more wind it up too much?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

@@elinevandeven2242 No, if the camera lubrication has worn out significantly, you'll need to wind it more to get the curtain tight as it should be.

thanks for the video bro, but i tried it and the curtains disappeared, what can I do ? thank you !

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

This usually only happens if the shutter is cocked and you try to mess with the curtain. Need to wind the screw that was mentioned in the video until the curtain goes back to where it is, lock down the screw, and fire the shutter. After that you can go back and further tighten the screw as it should be. Do not overtighten!!

@samialami4041

2 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich Thanks mate !

my zenits shutter mirror does not open : ( do you know how to fix that ?

@AleksUsovich

Ай бұрын

More than likely the gears are gummed up from old lubricant. Camera will more than likely need a CLA

@johnstone7092

Ай бұрын

@@AleksUsovich maybe, tinkering at it think it might be some sorta spring problem, othervise the camera run smoothly, so shouldnt be too gungy. Bummer there arent old camera restorers in my town.

I fix my zorky 4 with 10 times turn.

@wibbley1

3 ай бұрын

Curtains won't last long then. Far too much tension & they will be ripped from the drum. Problem is old grease that has become glue. Shutter mech needs removal & cleaning.

My curtain is stuck. I can press the shutter button but nothing happens and I also can’t wind it. On top of that the shutter speed only goes to 60 and then jams. Is that also fixable with this trick?

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Most likely not. Sounds like the camera is broken

i removed my whole curtain to try to fix it and i don't know how to put it back again, can you help me?

@AleksUsovich

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry I've never messed with taking the curtain out or putting it back

@AleksUsovich

3 жыл бұрын

You can find decent instructions for removal and installation if you translate "zenit curtain removal" to Russian in Google translate and look at some of the resources. There should be one that helps you get it put back

@clarencenunez4739

3 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich damn, it sounds difficult, i'm gonna look for it thanks man

Hi dude, I did this, and the curtain isn’t moving at all now…. What can I do? It’s stuck

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

Provide more details of what happened and when. Chances are that had the shutter cocked and messed up the curtain sync.

@dominikkarkowski

2 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich well I spinned it 4 times like you showed, that made no difference, so I spinned it further a bit. then this occurred. I tried turning it back clockwise but that didn't help either. when I move the lever the curtain moves a little bit (like 0,5 cm) after I press the shutter button the mirror only moves up a bit and back down, the curtain doesn't move. maybe I need to dissasemble it? I found many videos (including Russian) that show how to disassemble the top, but none showed how to get to the curtain itself

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

@@dominikkarkowski If you had the shutter cocked (wound) when you were spinning the curtain adjuster, that will mess everything up. You can try firing the shutter and not winding but loosening the 2nd curtain (other adjuster that I did not touch in video) about 1/2 to 1 turn and them adjusting the 1st curtain that is shown in the video. Do not let the 2nd curtain loose tension or spin the screw driver as it will be nearly impossible to tension correctly. Would not recommend disassembling the camera unless you are a specialist as it will likely never be put back together again. You need to take the curtains out of the bottom, but need to disassemble nearly the whole camera to get to the point to be able to take them out. I disassembled a few to sell as parts and almost everything comes out of the camera before you can even get to the curtains.

@dominikkarkowski

2 жыл бұрын

@@AleksUsovich well i tried that now but it didn’t work either, the curtain got a little bit more loose now. And the lever doesn’t lock after the turn. I have some experience with repairs with such cameras. Maybe you can tell me or there is some good tutorial on how to fix it? I know how to disassemble but not what I should do further. Any help appreciated

@AleksUsovich

2 жыл бұрын

@@dominikkarkowski Before taking anything apart look at some Zorki 4 or 4K curtain repair videos. The shutter units in Zenits are pretty much the same concept as the Zorkis although they are built and taken apart much differently. You want to look for how they tension the curtains as this is exactly what you need. Will most likely need captions on as most if not all the videos will be Russian.

Zenit E and SE cameras were crap straight out of the factory. I was one of the first technicians to work on them in the USA when I worked for the importer ( Berkey photo Corp ) . They were crudely made and didn’t stay repaired

Hello. You fix another camera and you test another camera.

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

I fixed and tested this one. I don't shoot with these anymore, I shoot Leica now.

Александр, снимм пожалуйста версию на Русском языке

@AleksUsovich

3 жыл бұрын

Здравствуйте, я могу попробовать сделать видео на русском, но не очень хорошо его знаю. Вы можете включить субтитры на русский язык и посмотреть, поможет ли это вам.

Are you sincere? You used two different cameras, You can see very well, that the serial number changes🙄

@AleksUsovich

Жыл бұрын

My camera battery had died in the middle of filming the repair of the first camera and since I had a second Zenit camera and the fact that there isn't another tutorial like this on KZread- I had done the same procedure to my second camera to complete the video. If you don't believe the video then might as well throw the camera away since no one will repair it anymore. Read the other comments for my video and you'll see that this works. I'd know since I've repaired and sold many fixed cameras this way.

Это вам повезло что вы натянули пружины и не услышали характерный свист))) а он бывает и если он есть это значит камера нуждается в смазки...