P3D Re: PHOTO-3D digest 3712

["Robert J. Vaughan" <k0mz@xxxxxxxx>]

> 
> Hello all,
> 
> It seems that I have a problem with my Realist. Is it possible for 
> one of 
> the shutters to stick open/closed? I just had three rolls of 36 
> exposure 
> film processed, and it looks as though on the 2nd roll the right 
> shutter 
> must have stuck open after about the first 5 pictures. This caused 
> the 
> remainder of the roll to have the left image washed out (I guess as 
> the film 
> was advanced past the open shutter and over exposed), and the right 
> image 
> exposed to the point that it is just a clear frame.
> 
> Now on the third roll, it seems that the right shutter stuck closed 
> as all I 
> have is a very good left frame followed by a black frame through out 
> the 
> roll. By the way the 1st roll came out beautiful!!!
> 
> There is a 4th roll in the camera now (which is probably a mess).
> 
> is this sticking problem common? and is there an easy fix?
> 
> Thanks in advance........Robert
>
Hello Robert.  I share your name.  I had a very similar problem with my
Realist.  I also ran several rolls through the camera before I caught the
problem.  When I removed the cover plates and removed the shutter blades,
I found that one of the blades was broken at the point where the linkage
connects the shutter blades to the escapement and the blade would just
flop open and closed from gravity depending upon how I held the camera. 
So, I would have a single frame sometimes and other times I would have a
stereo pair depending upon which way I held the camera just before the
exposure.  If the blade happened to be flopped open, the other blade
(there are two blades per shutter aperture) would let the image form and
I would have a stereo pair.  If the blade happened to be flopped closed,
it wouldn't let light through while the good blade was working.  Zak sent
me a new set of shutter blades and bushings.  If you are not inclined to
repair this yourself, Zak can do it for you.  After the repair, my camera
now performs flawlessly.  I would suggest that you contact Zak as he does
great work.  Good luck.

Robert J. Vaughan