Elmo 106 Questions

[Rick Palidwor]

I picked up an Elmo 106 today and had to clean corrosion from the battery chamber. I got it running but I have a few questions:

When I press battery check the needle only moves to 5.6 (the low end of the area that says "battery"). Am I expecting it to go past this? (I have had cameras that would go to f22 to indicate full power.)

I ask because I cannot get the aperture to close past 5.6 (pointing straight into a light in auto) and I cannot manually close it past 8, so I am wondering if I have less than full power and this is hindering the aperture?

Make sense?

Rick

[super8man]

I cannot answer directly but I have had a Bolex 155 that would not close down even when pointed at a super bright bare bulb...hence the sensitivity was shot so the camera got tossed in the dumpster...seems to me your camera may be a lost cause...again, I do not have direct experience with that camera though...

[James E]

Rick, fortunately for you I just happen to have a Super 106 (and a 104 and 2 103t's). If you look in the bottom part of the viewfinder you'll see it says "batt". If the needle falls anywhere betwen that range your good. f5.6 would mean your batteries are at the end rather than the beginning of their life.

As to not being able to get the needle past f5.6 this is a (common?) problem w/ this camera. Mine sticks at f1.8. With a little nudging of the camera and manuallly closing it down to f22 then point at bright light and turn back to auto. It will work fine. Just be sure to keep an eye on it. I have to keep an eye on mine so it doesn't stick at f1.8. Since the needle sticks at f1.8 so does the iris. Just fiddle with it and give it a few good raps and shakes and it should open up. Mine does every time. Not really sure why it sticks open. But once I pop it loose it tends to work fine until I stop filming and turn the camera of for a period of time.

You also will want to check to make sure the filter key actually engages/ disengages the internal 85 filter. Mine doesn't work and I exposed 2 carts outdoors w/ predictiable blue results. So I leave the filter key on the front at all times so that meter doesn't change it's setting.

I love my Elmo Supers. They're great cameras w/ great automatic metering range. Trying to hunt down A super 108 and best of all a Super 110R.
Happy shooting!

[Rollef]

Some of these use small button cell batteries for the light meter as well as the AA. Look in the cartridge chamber. On the left side on top there might be a small compartment for these batteries if you have one of the older elmos.
maybe that helps?

BTW, these are great cameras. Some of my sharpest footage is from a 110. Very big lens on the 110 though.

[Angus]

The 110 is great, I have a 103T too.

In battery test mode the meter probably won't go far beyond f5.6, my 110 never has. Its not supposed to go right down to f22 in battery test mode I think (from memory, I am at work right now) f8 would be the farthest.

However in "normal running" mode the full aperture ranges should be available even with a low battery.

[Rick Palidwor]

Rick, fortunately for you I just happen to have a Super 106 (and a 104 and 2 103t's). If you look in the bottom part of the viewfinder you'll see it says "batt". If the needle falls anywhere betwen that range your good. f5.6 would mean your batteries are at the end rather than the beginning of their life.

Thanks. This is exactly what I needed to know. I am at 5.6 so I have to load brand new batteries to judge further.

Rick

[Rick Palidwor]

However in "normal running" mode the full aperture ranges should be available even with a low battery.

This is what I did not want to hear as I cannot get the full range of apertures. I will look further into this and post my results.
Rick

[super8man]

That's kind of what I was saying...if you can't even get it to move through all the f-stops (I don't care how) then the camera is more than likely toast.

Yeah, I love the 110 that I have as well...very cool and very crisp results too. Last used in 2004 though...man time passes fast...

[James E]

Some of these use small button cell batteries for the light meter as well as the AA. Look in the cartridge chamber. On the left side on top there might be a small compartment for these batteries if you have one of the older elmos.
maybe that helps?

BTW, these are great cameras. Some of my sharpest footage is from a 110. Very big lens on the 110 though.

Yes, most of the much older Supers used cells for the lightmeter. But most from the early mid 70's have "self charging" cells. All of mine do. But if not look inside the left side of the film compartmentt you'll see a small area that can be opened that contains the cells. Also perhaps just leaving some good batteries in the camera for while may charge up the self charging meter cells.
Cheers,

[Rick Palidwor]

Aha
Found the little compartment with the meter button battery. Very elusive little compartment and I wouldn't have looked without advice from you folks.

1 minute later: And with a new button battery I have my full range of apertures. Meter in fact seems very responsive.

Thanks to everyone for you help.
Rick

[monumentalfolly]

"Aha
Found the little compartment with the meter button battery. "

I recently got one of these cool little cameras from a friend. I think the mercury battery needs replacing -- as in this thread, i can get the meter to read in the 5.6 range when i press the battery check, but no higher.

How do you OPEN that little battery compartment?? I can't figure that out. . .

jc

[monumentalfolly]

"Aha
Found the little compartment with the meter button battery. "

I recently got one of these cool little cameras from a friend. I think the mercury battery needs replacing -- as in this thread, i can get the meter to read in the 5.6 range when i press the battery check, but no higher.

How do you OPEN that little battery compartment?? I can't figure that out. . .

jc