Sunscope TLR (by Haking?) with S S P shutter

[Philip]

I just got in the mail a Sunscope TLR with C-Master Anastigmat f/3.5 80mm lenses.  I suspect the "C" means it may be a simple triplet lens. I think I see six reflections in the lens; that suggests both sides of three lens elements.   I think the camera was made by Haking: it looks very much like the "Halina AI" TLR (which has a Halina C lens, by the way).



The camera does not work badly except that all five of its shutter speeds seem to be at the top speed of 200. There is also a B setting that works fine, and I can slow the shutter manually by using my finger as a retard. (!)

There is something loose inside the shutter -- it sounds like a spring or a screw rattling around in there.  Maybe that is why there is only one speed?   Does that sound right to those who know shutters? 

I am afraid to open it myself because I think I'll just screw it up even more. But if it's likely that is what is causing its one-speed shutter, I'll take it to a local shop.

Anyone know this camera?

[Philip]

By the way, this Sunscope seems to be an up-scale Halina AI. The AI is reported to have a two-blade shutter -- the Sunscope has three blades. The AI is reported to have only three speeds (1/25, 1/50 and 1/100), while the Sunscope is labelled with five speeds (the others plus 1/10 and 1/200, and B besides). Mind you, mine has only two that work: B and 1/200 or so.

.

[Julio1fer]

You already know this, but that shutter needs a bit of TLC.

Try the lens at 1/200, triplets are much better than one would think at f/8 and below.

[Philip]

Julio, I'm planning a roll of Fuji 400 colour film in it. I've got to get my mind around restricting my Sunny-16 rule to a 1/200 second shutter speed:   "Let's see. It's two-stops-down-cloudy.  So that's 1/200 at maybe f/22. Yeah. Sorta." 

I really should  be using a meter, I think.

[br1078lum]

My Lind's List has your camera with a meniscus lens, made in 1958.  So maybe yours is a later model.  It didn't give any info on the shutter.  Sometimes a spring will work it's way off the shaft that is holding it, and that's probably what you hear rattling around inside.  Could have been dropped, or the shaft may have sheared off.  The spring could have also broken where it is at the shaft, so it will need to have the loop put back in it.

Yours is a good looking example, and I hope you get much joy out of it Philip.

PF

[Dean Williams]

It looks quite a lot like a Ricohflex, the early style, before they came out with the Diacord types.  Shutter sounds
just like a five speed Ricoh, too, which have the same speeds as yours.  They often crop up with similar shutter
troubles, too. 
I think it's a good idea not to take it apart yourself, unless you are good at it.  I've worked on a number of them
in the past.  Bit fiddly.  I'd use it like it is, and if you find you enjoy it, send it to a repairman to get her fixed up.
You probably wouldn't enjoy working on the shutter, and if you did get it fixed, you probably wouldn't enjoy getting
the geared lenses timed, either. 

Dean

[Philip]

Thanks, guys.  I've discovered I was wrong about it being a Halina.  It's a Crystar Sunscope. It sure looks like the Halina AI, and no doubt like the early Ricohs, too.  There is a page devoted to the Crystar TLR models: http://www.tlr-cameras.com/japanese/Crystar.html

[Philip]

I ran a roll of old (2008-expired) Fujifilm Pro 400H film through the Sunscope. Even with its limited shutter speed (1/200) I was able to use it in a variety of lights. I've made a set of several pictures on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flipflik/sets/72157626102132337/with/5510874058/

Next step is to shoot with the roll of Kodacolor II that came with it.