camera threads

[Glynn BarhamParticipant @glynnbarham89700]

Can anyone please tell me what thread is used for the cable release fitting for cameras which have that facility. I know it is tapered bit I am sure it is a standard thread cut into a tapered hole, can anyone please comment as I would like to make an adapter for my DSLR.

Glynn Barham

[Glynn BarhamParticipant @glynnbarham89700]

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Glynn

 

I don’t have an answer but, looking at the thread on my Bronica cable release, you are quite correct – it is tapered. The large end is 3.92mm and, putting a Whitworth thread gauge on it , I think 48tpi fits. I’m a bit surprised at the mechanical release on your DSLR – mine  has a socket for an electronic release. ( In fact it’s just a switch !)

 Hope that may help a bit.

Regards

Norman 

Edited By NJH on 23/07/2010 14:21:30

[Glynn BarhamParticipant @glynnbarham89700]

Hi Norman

 

Yes you are correct, my DSLR does have a switch to fire the shutter, I just have a requirement to fit a cable release for a particular job, so need to make an adaptor.

 

Regards

Glynn

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I’v put a diagram in the photo album, might be of interest.  Ian S C

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Again Glynn

 

See  – just ask the question and someone knows the answer – in Ian SC’s case he also has the diagram!

Just a thought though unless you are looking for a challenge you could buy a cable release and modify it to your requirements. Have a look under Photography on ebay and search for cable release. Early in the list there is one at 75p!  so maybe this is a cost effective solution!

 

Regards

 

Norman

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I also saw on the net that little adapter pieces are/were available to adapt or match the threads with the camera, its possible to find a photographer who has some of this stuff, they’r like model engineers and often keep a junk box.Ian S C

[Glynn BarhamParticipant @glynnbarham89700]

Hello again to Ian and Norman

Many thanks for the information, As you say possibly the answer might be to make an adapter to take the plain shank rather than try to cut a thread although after trying a few ideas in the workshop last night the closest appears to be a BA threadform possibly 4BA

 

once again many thanks for the replies/ ideas

Glynn

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Glynn

Or maybe 4mm Fine ? – The  Pitch of a 4mm ISO Fine is 0.5 which is approx. 50 tpi so that may well be the 48 tpi which looked OK on my gauge.  I don’t have any metric fine taps & dies so I can’t check further I’m afraid. Do let us know how you get on especially with the taper!

Norman

[Glynn BarhamParticipant @glynnbarham89700]

Hi Norman

No I donn’t have any metric fine either, and as you say the taper could cause a problem, I can’t see how the thread can have full depthon the taper unless it is cut with a taper attachment. It should also be born in mind that this thred goes back as far as the very early days of photography so CNC would not be used and “fancy” modern equipment was not available. This also leads me to think that it might not be metric but who knows. I did also ask the science museum but they could not answere it either.

 

Regards

Glynn

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Glynn

 

 Your reasoning against metric would tend to be bourne out by the fact that,as far as I know, all tripod bushes are 1/4″ BSW . However I also seem recall that the standard enlarger lens had a 42mm thread !  Maybe, in a less regulated and standardised era, they mixed the two systems freely. ( I must admit that at times measuring wall papering or woodworking with an expanding rule I might measure (say)  “63in and 4mm” because the marks line up! )

Back to the cable release though why is the thread tapered do you suppose?

 

Regards

 

Norman

Edited By NJH on 09/08/2010 12:58:30

[Glynn BarhamParticipant @glynnbarham89700]

Hi Norman

I can only assume that the tapered thread was for ease of location with it being such a small thread and also to possibly prevent cross threading.

 

Glynn

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

Although I have no idea of the thread details, I believe from experience that the thread is tapered for rapid connection to the camera. Likewise, it is quick and easy to remove.

 

Conversely, the Leica thread (on earlier models, eg. IIIf) was of a normal thread design, but with the cable release having an external knurled nut for attachment purposes. From memory, it required a turn or two before it was firmly attached.

 

Sam

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I have a Yashicamat twin-lens reflex. The shutter has gone sticky

I’ve only ever put two films through it and it’s more a curio than a working camera now. Even so I’d like to fix it, I imagine that an air-blast aerosol is probably all that’s needed to fix it, but does anyone have a clue how to get in?

 

Neil

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

Hi Neil,

I have no idea about how to access your camera. However, a problem with some shutters (in-lens as opposed to focal plane ), is that oil in the grease used to lubricate the rest of the action, separates out. This oil can coat the blades of the shutter, causing them to stick together.

On a couple of cheaper cameras, I have very carefully `mopped out’ the oil from the shutter blades using meths-soaked cotton buds. This was a tedious process and may not be the recommended (industry) standard, but it eventually worked.

If you are going to venture inside the camera, watch out for all those tiny hidden springs, they have a habit of flying apart.

Good luck

Sam

Edited By Sam Stones on 10/08/2010 22:05:07

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

Hi Neil,

Just a couple of extra thoughts, which may be obvious. The mopping-up I mentioned should be done to leave the shutter blades completely dry.

I also mentioned focal-plane shutters. I then realised that my Canon digital camera has a focal-plane shutter (just in front of the sensor). Although I shall never touch them, it has about four titanium blades which, unlike earlier focal-plane shutters, travel vertically.

Should oil ever migrate onto these, I would expect the same stickiness would result.

Sam

 

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Neil

 

My first medium format camera was a Yashica 124G and very good it was (is – if I could get back into the darkroom!) These cameras are modelled on the Rollei and their quality is pretty good. What’s more the lack of automation and L-R reversal on the viewfinder screen demands a considered approach to photography  – particularly useful in landscape work!

If you can free up the shutter do put some film through it whilst you can still get it. I have taken some if my favourite black and white images with this camera.

 

So to your question there is some advice here :- http://www.mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/yashicamat_124.html  which should help I hope.

 

Norman

 

[Sam StonesParticipant @samstones42903]

Neil,

 

Forget what I said about my digital camera.

 

I incorrectly mentioned that my Canon digital camera had a titanium focal plane shutter.

 

Actually, the shutter was on my previous film EOS. Put it down to my `Old-timer’s disease’.

 

That’s a great website Norman!

 

Sam

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