Canon EF shutter always fires at same speed

[Benny Stevens]

Hi all, recently and quite suddenly a black Canon EF body in more than excellent condition appeared on my camera shelf. The shutter always fires at the same (fairly high) speed though, no matter what position I set the shutter speed dial to. From 1/1000th all the way to 30sec, the speed doesn't change but the 'B' setting works as it should. The red LED on the top does blink when the dial is set anywhere between 1s and 30s. Is there something I can do myself to check or possibly repair the shutter or perhaps something else to check? Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[Kin Lau]

Did you check/change the battery?

[Bill Salati]

Considering how trouble free the Copal Square shutter usually is, the problem may be the linkage between the dial and the shutter mechanism. In the EF that linkage is a cord running around at least two pulleys. The EF is a very complex camera and best left to someone with experience and a manual.

Speeds from 1/2 second to 30 seconds are electronically controlled. The flashing LED indicates that the shutter is open during long exposures. Sounds like the electronics are good.

Bill

[Benny Stevens]

Hi Kin, I thought about swapping the batteries to be on the safe side, but the user manuals states that when the LED blinks rapidly the batteries are good, when it blinks slowly or not at all they need to be changed. So I figured mine were OK.
Hi Bill, that cord and pulley thing you mention doesn't sound too good - it reminds me of a certain Retina IIIS that I have on my shelf : broken cord...
Thanks for the replies so far. I will try to exchange the batteries anyway and cross my fingers. It's such a nice camera, I hope it helps.

[Bill Salati]

Batteries won't do anything for the shutter, Benny. They just run the meter and time slow speeds 1/2 and slower. Shutter open is mechanically controlled as are times from 1/4 to 1/1000. The shutter speed shaft for the Copal Square is on the face of the unit, above the self timer lever. That's why the Ricoh Singlex TLS has the shutter speed control on the front and the Nikkormat has it around the lens mount. Chinon used a pair of bevel gears to connect to a top plate shutter dial. Canon elected to go the cord and pulley route, much like old radio tuning dials. It's possible the shutter has given up or deteriorated foam has gummed it up.

I have an EF service booklet, scary! There's enough stuff in an EF body to build two FTbs and a Canonet!