on 6/18/03 9:30 AM, Andrew Dacey at frugal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I've had this camera for several years (at least 5-6), haven't dared run a
> roll of film through it.
>
> I got it from my grandfather. I suspect it's 60's era although it could be
> 50's.
>
> The camera in question is a Beauty Lightomatic II made by Beauty Camera Co.
> Ltd. of Japan. It's a fixed lens rangefinder with a 45/1.9 Biokor-S (yes
> that's how it's spelt) lens mounted in a 5 blade Copal-SV shutter, it takes
> 46mm filters, smallest aperture is f/16.
Somebody else looked it up, but that's a pretty standard 'consumer grade'
configuration from the late 1950's to the mid-1960's.
>
> It does have a meter in the form of a metering cell in the top left hand
> corner of the front (CDS cell?). I've never bothered to check if this still
> works because of the other "feature" of this camera. That feature is that
> the lens is badly gummed up. Focus still works but is very stiff. Setting
> the aperture and shutter speed will select the correct settings but the
> rings are so gummed up that usually both rings move as one. I call this a
> "feature" because it automatically moves the other ring to compensate for
> proper exposure. For instance, right now I've set the lens at 1s and 2.8, if
> I move to 1/2s for shutter speed, the aperture turns to 1.9, all by itself!
> Years ahead of it's time. Seriously though, this is a complete pain, the
> easiest way to get a different setting is to keep turning the ring when the
> other ring is at it's max setting in that direction.
>
The focus is stiff because the grease the helical threads were lubricated
with has dried out or stiffened up. The best way to fix this is to
disassemble the lens mount, thoroughly clean all the old grease, and relube
with some suitable modern grease. Some of us do this for fun...
The shutter speed/aperture linkage might be a true feature. Many cameras of
this era used "EV" settings, the meter tells you "EV 12" (for instance) and
you set the lens to that setting. Then you can move the shutter speed or
aperture to where you want and the corresponding offset is automatically
applied. Often there is a small release lever that you can press to allow
turning the aperture (or shutter) without the linked offset working. This
allows setting the proper "EV" in the first place.
> Couple of questions:
>
> 1. Has anyone else on this list ever heard of this camera?
I have a different camera by the Beauty company, a 'Super L' I think. I'd
have to dig it out, its a future project.
>
> 2. Is it actually worth anything? I seriously doubt it in it's current
> condition. Although I'm sure I could get creative with an ebay listing and
> talk about how "rare" and "hard to find" this camera is.
There are some people who buy these and fix them up just for fun... and the
pictures can be surprisingly good sometimes. The lenses are not up to the
caliber of a modern lens, but often the results will surpass a modern AF
Point-and-Shoot easily.
>
> 3. Any recommendations on how to clean this up? I don't see any real easy
> way to disassemble the lens but I wonder if some type of solvent applied to
> the outside could work it's way in through the gaps to help loosen this up a
> bit (such as apply to the lens set at it's closest distance and then focus
> to infinity and then back)?
Generally you want to disassemble things and clean them individually, then
reassemble them with (usually very minimal) lubricants applied where needed.
This isn't too difficult to pick up, but if the camera has sentimental value
I'd practice on some thrift store $2.50 cameras of similar type and vintage
first. Most of the cameras of that era are 'similar' in configuration and
construction, and only a small quantity of specialized tools is needed to
start with this fascinating (to some) hobby. Or you could just wind up with
a lot of junk cameras around...
--
Jim Brokaw
OM-'s of all sorts, and no OM-oney...
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