[David Lyga]

The H series is one of the most aesthetically pleasing designs I have even seen. And the simplicity of the mechanics along with the build quality makes this a very civil purchase. What Bill Burk said about checking the high speeds (from the rear of the open body pointed at a brilliant light source) is necessary but I say don't shy away from using high speeds if the curtains don't open properly. Instead, it is simple to slightly tighten the first curtain a little bit by turning the curtain tensor about a half a turn (maybe less). With time, these springs lose a bit of tension so they need to be made a bit more springy. (Actually, it is amazing how little tension they lose over a period of decades!)

Each curtain has a tensor screw underneath the bottom plate. (Easy to remove the bottom plate screws with miniature screwdriver.) These two identical screws are about one inch apart and the one that governs the first curtain is the one closest to the rear of the camera.(The two tensor screws are lined up perpendicular to the wide length of the body.)

Note: if the SLOW speeds are too slow (i.e., if one second is lagging) the second curtain (the tensor screw that is closest to the front of the camera) needs to have its tension slightly increased.

On the H series these adjustments are VERY easy to do: each of the tensor screws is held in place by a tiny spring/lever that meshes with the ratchet on each of the tensor screws. For INCREASING the tension all you do is turn the screw the way that you are able to without having to pull out the spring/lever. To REDUCE the tension on a tensor screw you use two tiny screwdrivers, one to FIRST hold hold the tensor screw in place and the other to move the tiny lever point away from the ratchet on the tensor screw. Now you slowly turn the tensor screw in the direction that the spring 'wants' you to move, i.e., you are lessening the tension slightly. Make certain that when you pull away the tiny lever you hold the tensor screw firmly or it will give up all its tension! (Easy to correct, just start winding it up again but you have to have experience to know just how much.) - David Lyga