Rangefinder Magazine
August 2002

Problems and Solutions by Bill Hurter

Please accompany your questions with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish
an immediate reply. Alternatively, you can email me at: bhurter@rfpublishing.com.

Our apologies to Gene Martin, whose profile, “Gene Martin: Jazz Guy,” appeared on page 8 of the July Rangefinder. We inadvertently flopped the controversial image of Russell Gunn on page 9. With no disrespect intended, the American flag should have been facing the other direction. Our apologies to all concerned.

From: Curt Nordgren
Knuhm@aol.com
In your last “Problems & Solutions” column you state that film should not be frozen. I have frequently kept 35mm and 120 film in the freezer and noticed no problems. Why should it not be frozen?

I have never frozen my film, but I got a return e-mail from Curt, who dug up the following information. “I spoke to the owner of a professional processing lab today and he frequently freezes all types of film for critical work to prevent any color shift or change. 0°F storage is required by Kodak for their check samples, which are shipped on dry ice. 40°F slows change; colder slows more. There is no damage from ice crystals if kept in vapor-tight wrap.”

From: Dick Harrington
San Francisco, CA
photoassc@aol.com
I am trying to obtain a replacement apron for my Simon-Omega Tabletop Dryer (cat. #414001). It was originally made by Pako for Simon-Omega. Do you have a current address and or telephone number for Omega-Arkay? Thanks for any help you can give me.

Omega/Arkay in Westminster, MD is now Omega/Satter. According to the person I spoke with, the dryer was made by Arkay, which was purchased by Regal Photographic in Milwaukee, WI. For more information, call Regal at (800) 695-2055.

In last month’s “P&S,” we ran a query from another “Anonymous” regarding a plan to deal with some scurrilous competitors in his area. Here is a recent response from him regarding the problem.

“Since I wrote to you about a month ago, it appears the three photographers that were bashing me by using scare tactics with potential clients have both stopped and apologized. They also are not wedding photographers and do not belong to a single professional organization. I believe other photographers experience the same problem frequently. Thanks again for your reply and immediate attention to this matter.”

I’m just glad things worked out.

The cover of the July 8 issue of Sports Illustrated of Seattle Mariner’s superstar Ichiro Suzuki was done by our pal Howard Schatz. The image was also slated to be the cover of the July 15 issue of Time Magazine, Asia edition. You may recall that Howard also did Rangefinder’s June 2002 cover as well as our September 2001 cover.

From: John & Elaine Gittens
john_elaine@netzero.net
I just wanted to say that the “P&S” comments by “Mr. Anonymous” regarding the Ascor QC-1000s are possibly true—we never owned or used one of those. However, we did, for a number of years, own the Ascor 600 series power pack—a heavy 800WS power pack, true. The several Ascor heads worked extremely well and we had no problems regarding switches blowing and we had no “noisy” heads. In fact, when we purchased Norman 2000 power packs, we still used the Ascor 600 series heads and still have some to this day, as they are completely compatible (and reliable) with the Norman power packs. I believe Robal Industries at (323) 466-8662 still repair Ascors, in case you need to check for anyone… also possibly Holly Enterprises.

I checked with Robal Industries and they do indeed still work on Ascors: the QC 1000, CD 1200 and the Ascor 600s. They believe they can fix most Ascor problems and are amazed at how many Ascor systems are still out there and in operation today. For more information, contact Robal Industries, 1545 North Wilcox Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028; (323) 466-8662.

From: Al Velasco, Al's Wedding Candids
Alswedding@aol.com
I have a Leicaflex 35mm camera with a 1:2/50 Summicron-R lens. The focusing ring on lens slips a little. Can you direct me to a company that might be able to fix the slippage on the lens or maybe someone who may have a used lens?

I contacted Leica and they said they could not repair the lens—too old.

One of the repair facilities I used to recommend quite frequently still works on Leica gear of all types and they are quite easy to deal with. International Camera, 9 N. Wabash, Chicago, IL 60602; (312) 630-1017, Fax (312) 630-1019 and ICamera, 1444 Franklin St., Oakland CA 94612; (510) 763-4226, Fax (510) 763-4227 can both repair your lens. It is actually the same company in two different locations. The easiest way to get your lens repaired is to query them via their web site: http://www.icamera.com and the e-mail link (Support@icamera.com). They’ll respond with a course of action and a quote—they also have reconditioned Leica gear.

From: Bob Schulz
rhandppschulz@mymailstation.com
Thanks, Bill. You came through again! My Canon A-1 will come back to me even better than new! If you recall, you recommended J. Albert & Co., 1072 Casitas Pass Rd., #210, Carpinteria, CA 93013; (805) 684-4533.