Re: Me again! (twin Ricohmatic 225's)

[erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Greg Erker)]

ebay 225 update:

  Got it this morning. Camera is quite ugly
but not destroyed. Could still be usable in the
project.

  Bigger problem is the glass. Major cleaning
marks on the front AR coatings. Basically they
look like scratches (cleaning with steel wool?)
but not deep enough to affect the glass. Just
scratch and scuff the AR coating. Also an internal
element has blotches on it. Could be fungus or
separation but I think it could be oil since the
aperture blades are oily.

  As expected the shutter doesn't work. But since
the front leather was off I removed the front panel
and manually cocked the shutter. It fired but the
shutter blades moved in slow motion and stuck open.
A bit of fooling around got them to close but now
they are stuck open again. So probably oily too.

  So the shutter may work after de-greasing but
the glass is probably only good as a last resort.

  I've asked the seller for a $10 rebate on the
$42 camera since I know I wouldn't have bid so
high had I known about the glass and I don't think
the #2 bidder would have also. We'll see what
he does. He has a good rating if that's any good
indication. So far my ebay purchasing has been
unlucky. Three purchases, two with problems. :(

Later - Greg