Old Ricoh 35 FM Camera aperture problem

[Linozeros]

Hey, just found your Forum. I hope you can help me...
Yesterday i bought an old Ricoh 35 FM at a fleamarket here in vienna. i got it very cheap but the only problem is, that the aperture mechanics don't work. i put a brand new battery in it, but the indicator in the view finder does not move and the aperture doesen't move either.

so here my question: is it possible to repair the camera by my self? where can the problem be?

thanks, lino

 

[ZDP-189]

The 35FM looks like the 35 ZF/ST. The manual is here: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ricoh/rico ... _zf_st.htm I found a repair manual on eBay (no connection) http://cgi.ebay.com/RICOH-35-FM-REPAIR- ... 0332712250

If the battery contact is bad, try sandpaper on the contact to remove oxides. If it's internal then chances are it's a dodgy component and hard to debug. However, I think it's beyond economical repair. If the meter's gone and the aperture diaphragm's stuck, then I wouldn't waste a film in it. Keep it as a shelf camera.

 

[33dollars]

Hi Linozeros,
There is not a lot of info on the Ricoh 35FM. It does share some characteristics of the 35ZF/35ST in that it has Zone Focusing & No Timer.
But I think it was from a latter period like 1978-1980 because of the green paint icons on the lens & black top plate with raised hot shoe.
I was playing with my broken 35zf & got the light meter to work by moving the aperture & film speeds around.
I guess the contacts had just not been used in such a long time. :roll:
The light meter will not work in "B" bulb. Try working all the bits & give the battery contacts a clean with very very fine sandpaper. Gently.
Also if you give it a shake, does it rattle? I think there is a spring in there to work the auto aperture. It maybe broken.

 

[Linozeros]

thanks for your answers..

the camera doesen't rattle when i shake it, also it has no possibility to switch to a b-mode. the aperture stays on f=12, i guess, but the index meter in the viewfinder stays on f=2,5. all other things are working fine, the shutter, the spool etc.
only the aperture won't move. the battery contacts are clean...
you can still make photos with it, when you got enough light...

 

[33dollars]

f2.5 try changing the ISO to a higher one & see if it changes.
More here http://www.collection-appareils.fr/rico ... h_35FM.php Camera is RARE.
It's full Auto with a 1/125 of a second shutter. The camera does all the rest for you.
Set the ISO to a low one and
Open the back, point at a bright object and fire. Should see a small hole.
Point at a dark object and fire. Should see a larger hole than before.
Then set to a high ISO & repeat
If it does this, load with film & happy snapping.
Can you post a picture of your camera? The lens is the same as 500G,GX,ME,ST,ZF & ST. But the shutter is unusual.

 

[Linozeros]

yeah i already did that, it doesen't change anything... the aperture stays as a little hole, no matter if bright light or complete darkness. its like it has no power, but the batteries are new ones...

there must be a broken wire inside or something...
i really think about giving it to a repair store, but i think it will cost me 50-100 euros to fix it...
and i don't know anyone, who can fix old cameras...
got it for 10 euros , and its in a really good shape..
only the front metal ring is a little bit broken, but all the mechanics are working fine and easy...

here are some quick pictures:

 

[btgc]

Lens rim is bent for a reason, I assume your Ricoh has got a good knock...which in turn could impact aperture mechanism. Standing in your shoes I wouldn't even think spending 50-100 euros for repair. If you can, return it. Otherwise either use it in manual mode (somehow missed if manual mode work OK) or get another fixed lens rangefinder, if you want AE. Expect almost any of this 40 y.o. cameras will need some work because they gum up after decades without use but rule of thumb is to avoid cameras with signs of mechanical impact as most of times it's isn't only cosmetical issue.

I had Ricoh 500G and it had metered manual mode, something not very common on cheap fixed lens rangefinders, I'm not sure about your model but it could. Potentially this series has strong sides but all others FL RF's also have their selling points.