Weebles wooble, but they don’t fall down.

While researching the Konica Auto S3 I kept encountering people discussing that the lens woobles … well my two cameras do the same. Since one of them is now my parts camera I decided to take a closer look.

Both S3’s that I got had this issue … if I adjust focus the entire lens moves a bit. Hmm, I wonder if this is because cameras were for repair.

Ok, so first thing I thought of is that the securing ring is loose … well that did not fix it, so that means the lens is not held on to the body entirely by friction.

Looking at the lens I can see a pin (the pic shows it at the bottom end)… and the body side (pic shows it at the top) there is a register slot.

It appears that the lens is secured to the body and the register notch keeps it in place … but it appears to be wide enough to let the lens move.

A larger pin would solve the problem … or possibly add some shims before the securing ring to add more pressure??

S3 … for parts or repair.

Sooo, I got a Konica Auto S3 that was for parts/repair … what else is new.

The Auto S3 started life in 1973 … as the Japanese know it, the C35 FD. The Japanese model was available in chrome and black, while the Auto S3 (export version) was only made black. It was a shutter priority auto exposure camera.

Due to a Modern Photography article the Auto 3S became a “famous” camera for it’s optical quality, the Hexanon 38mm f/1.8 lens with 6 elements in 4 groups … “One item on the S3 that passed our tests with flying colors is the lens – one of the best semi-wide angle optics of its speed we have ever tested.” Many today still swear by it.

It is a small camera, but it does feel good in the hand as a compact camera. You will find many good “reviews” online about this one.

Ok, so … hmm, looking at online info about common problems … like Family Feud, the number one answer is … battery contact wire.

I took a look at the bottom, and the battery compartment can be take off with a couple of screws. Ok, lets take it out  … well no wires connected!!! Now I should be able to wind and trip the shutter without power (shutter speed and aperture will be fixed at ) … well can’t wind, can’t release the shutter.

Ok … so out come the tools.

Hmm, not a simple camera to take apart … lots of parts …

Well, I found that it is has some broken/missing parts … some non-working parts … and I lost a spring.

Now it is a parts camera … maybe lucky to get another cheap one.

… well, it appears that I did get lucky as I now have another Konica Auto S3 … this story to be continued.