Originally posted by chickentender You're looking at the aperture through the back via open film door, yes? You can't see the aperture blades from the front unless the shutter is open.Stuck self timer isn't a good sign, but a drop of Ronsonol in it too could get it moving (very small) and VERY light pressure to help it along without forcing of any kind.If it is the self-timer and you can gently get it to complete, the rest may be usable again.
Yep, I was checking the aperture with the film door open. I tried your advice, the self timer can move a little bit but doesn't complete its course and it's firmly stuck.
Originally posted by stevebrot "to touch the self-timer is to wish for a visit with death".
That's what I know too. On this camera all the controls are fiddly, close by, and none of them lock. So it's quite easy to touch the self timer or flash mode (X or M) when adjusting other settings. The camera got stuck without the self timer, but I probably touched the self timer trying to figure out what was up with it. My guess it that the root cause of all these problems is that the lens is loose between the front and rear halves, and that allowed some little cog or spring or something to get misaligned.
Thanks for your pointers. I might send it for repair at some point, but it seems costly.
I'm posting a photo from my last roll of b/w film, since it's a shots thread
Kind of a weak composition, but I kept it because the shopkeeper is somewhere lost in all the busy storefront, looking at me through the glass