Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar-S 5.6/150 Questions

[bobwysiwyg]

I hope enough of you will bare with me on a couple of novice questions about this lens. It was acquired along with a fairly extensive Cambo outfit as my first attempt at LF photography. All prior experience was 35mm.

I have no documentation for the camera or lens, so I have been learning as I go. I thought I had everything set to go and was contemplating trying a couple of shots after going through the film loading routine, etc. I gave the lens/focus routine one last go-through and discovered that at any shutter speed below 1/30th sec., the shutter hangs open. Above that, it closes as it should.

What I have been doing, is with the shutter uncocked, I use "C" in the accompanying attachment to manually open the shutter for focusing and is closed manually before cocking the shutter? "A" is to cock the shutter prior to taking the picture. One of the things that puzzles me are the M X and V. "M" = Manual? "X" = x-sync and "V" = no clue. What are they, how do they come into play?

As for the shutter sticking below 1/30th is this because of something I'm doing in the wrong sequence, or a faulting lens/shutter. If faulty, is this lens worth taking someplace for service. I have no idea how long this may have sat unused before I acquired it.

[Ian Grant]

These shutters get lazy if the slow speeds aren't used. It'll probably need a CLA.

You're right C is the preview lever. The MXV bit I've never fathomed out except the X is flash sync for electronic flash. Older shutters particularly US, Illex etc have an adjustable delay for different flash bulbs.

Ian

[bobwysiwyg]

Ian,

Thanks for replying. So it sounds like you're saying servicing is about all I can do for this sticking shutter at slow speeds? Is the lens worth it?

[Pinholemaster]

M is for flash bulbs; X is for electronic flash; V, no clue so don't use it (grin).

[Jerevan]

On all other shutters I know of, V stands for selftimer.

[Ole]

M= Bulb sync, X= X-sync, V= delay (timer, from "Verdauer").

The shutter is well worth a cleaning. What the lens is worth is irrelevant, just compare the cost of a new shutter with a CLA.

[bobwysiwyg]

Hmm, guess I'm confused. How do these (MX,V) come into play? I have to depress the shutter all the way to the "V" end before the shutter is cocked for anything. Or, is this another indication that this lens needs either to be serviced, be relegated to paperweight status.

[Ole]

There should be a little lever to switch from M to X to V...

[Ian Grant]

Sometimes these shutters don't have that lever, which is odd, I was aware what the M & V do on my older shutters.

Ian

[bobwysiwyg]

This one definately does not have such a lever. I now just noticed that if I set the shutter speed to anything below 1/30, the shutter hangs open, but if I either gently tap the lens board a couple of times it closes, or if I slowly turn the shutter speed selection ring clock-wise toward higher speeds after it sticks open, it will close when I reach about 1/125th.