Try some lighter fluid first. Stiffness is often caused by dried up old lubricant and lighter fluid can loosen it enough to make it usable again. I always worry if oil will seep into areas where it shouldn't be and result in gumming something else up instead.
I find a waist level finder tends to give a different (and quite often more pleasing) angle of view on subjects, due mainly to it being at waist level, rather than eye level as with an SLR. I know there's the crouching and lying down techniques with an SLR, but often this isn't done as a starting point when looking at a subject, as it is with a waist level finder. Nice looking kit by the way, Tony.
just putting a roll of Poundland Vista through it to check it takes photos, so will keep you posted when I have the results!
In truth, I spend more time looking at it than using it.Wow now that IS SPECIAL just lovely , I could sit and fondle that for hours
I have a pack each (5 rolls) of 120 format Ektar and Portra 400 winging their way to me from 7dayshop after I noticed they were at a lower price than I've noticed for a while.
They are excellent cameras. I have an OM1 and an OM 10. The OM10 is an aperture priority camera - while you can use manual exposure, you need the manual plug in device first. There is no shutter priority mode.
IMO the Om20 is better than the Om10 with a re-designed top plate and no silly adapter for manual speeds.
I reckon it costs under 50p a camera, and about an hour to do properly.My Dad had an OM10 (with manual adaptor) from new and was very pleased with it. In fact, it's still in a draw round at my mother's house, I had a look at it a couple of months ago and it still appears to work fine but despite it being kept at room temperature and dry conditions all its life, the light seals on the film door have turned to into sticky gunge, so it's probably best to check those when you get your OM10, Suz, before you try a roll of Vista in it?
If they have deteriorated , and the camera in in nice condition and full working order (other than the seals), then I believe it's reasonably cheap to get them replaced, so it's probably worth getting them done (especially if it was free!). My Canon A1 is away having it's light seals/traps & mirror buffer done at the moment as they were just starting to deteriorate, so I'll let you know what it costs as a ball park. Hope this is useful and the cameras are in good order when you collect them.
Yes, but you have to buy the right materials to use, which will cost more than 50p in initial outlay and may not be cost effective if you only have 1 or 2 cameras to do, plus ensuring that they are the correct thickness, material and properties for the particular camera, especially if replacing the mirror box seals and buffer. Then there's the chance some bits of old light-seal could be dropped into the works if you aren't used to doing this or just unlucky/clumsy (delete as applicable!).
My hands are a bit big for intricate work, and my close-up eyesight isn't quite the 20/20 'outhouse rat' standard it was when I was 18! So all things considered I'd rather pay an experienced and specialist camera repairer for an hour of their time plus materials. Fair play if you can do this sort of repair job yourself though.
That could be interesting if the camera is fitted with that "motor wind thingy" Suz mentioned! I can see a shortage of Agfa Vista occurring?
Millions of photos of the inside of a bag!That could be interesting if the camera is fitted with that "motor wind thingy" Suz mentioned! I can see a shortage of Agfa Vista occurring?
I only managed one roll of Astia before they stopped it, and really liked it. Expired Ektachrome, not so much!