Help with Old Camera? ASAP?

[HorseFeathers]

Hey all-

I was recently gifted with an old film camera, a Yashica FX-3. Thrilled to have such a cool "new" toy (my love of photography and antiques combined at last!), I stuck some film that was in the case into it no problem. I happily started snapping away but when the roll was filled up, I couldn't get it out. Here's why: the little knob with which you wind the film, and that you pull up all the way to release the door to get at the film? Well, that's stuck. It won't turn, won't go all the way up or back down, it's just stuck halfway.
So how do I fix it, or at least get it open without breaking the camera? I'd be fine if I could just get the knob down, at least.

Thanks!
Olivia
(clueless in the ways of the film camera)

 

[way2gomom]

I had this problem with an old camera once too and ruined many a film roll before I figured it out. On the bottom of the body of your camera, there is a small film rewind button on the right hand side. So flip your camera upside down, and you will see a very small, very unmarked button that you depress to allow the film to be rewound. You just have to push the button once, you don't have to hold it down. Push it, lift up the crank to rewind the film, crank it until there is no more tension, then you can feel confident in popping open the back of your camera and not exposing film.

Here's a link to a great manual for your camera: http://www.butkus.org/chinon/yashica/yashica_fx-3_7/yashica_fx-3_7.htm

 

[HorseFeathers]

Thanks! That button may be broken, though... it just goes back in place when the camera gets turned back over, and nothing happens when I turn the crank. The think is, I think the crank thing is *really* the problem... it's completely stuck.

 

[ParkfieldFarm]

Have you tried opening the back in complete darkness? If you can at least get it open you can wind the film by hand then take it out into the light to check out the mechanism. Maybe you can manipulate it enough in the dark to get it open. If not...you'll likely have to take it to a camera shop to get it taken care of.

 

[Penturner]

Sounds to me like the film canister itself may have gotten twisted inside. the knob should not have been lifted until the film was rewound. also lifting the knob may be what opens the back of the camera. Big hint, get used to the camera as much as you possibly can before loading film lol. the best you can do is open the camera in a completely dark room and see if you can get everything back in place. close camera and then turn on light and try the rewind thing again. this time don't pull the knob out.
it is very unlikely the handle is stuck. there really is not a lot to them. mainly it is a metal bar that goes through the middle of the film canister. Don't break a camera over one can of film. not worth it.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Thanks everyone... I can't seem to get the back open either, I think I'll just take it to a camera store.

 

[FourPawz]

Many camera stores don't work on classic cameras anymore, sadly, so you may have to send it off for repair. Here's the link to a true Yashica expert (he used to build them in his native country):

http://markhama.home.comcast.net/~markhama/

I've got a 1970's vintage Yashica that my dad left me. I don't use it a lot but it was really advanced considering what was available at that point in time.

Good luck,

Mary

 

[verthandi]

HorseFeathers,

Check with the Portland Camera Club. They don't meet during the summer, but I bet if you try the contact us link , someone will get back to you.

http://www.portlandcameraclub.org/