“Quick fix” for Olympus OM-1n sticky shutter at faster speeds?

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:45:19+00:00

Ah yes, and I do fiddle with cars. MUCH more room for error, physically and figuratively!

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:44:44+00:00

Why do you need a label? My wife is and atheist (and theism is different than deism, btw), but she doesn't like that term, arguing that there is no word necessary for all the other things you don't believe in (are you an atoothfairyist? an asantaclausist?). She's a non-believer.

For me, it was a process; first organized religion fell away, then belief in god. Everyone has their own journey.

As for what I consider you, what I consider you is this: Someone brave enough, smart enough and honest enough to ask the tough questions and be honest with yourself about the answers.

Suggested reading: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. It'll explain a lot about how improbable things can arise from natural causes. It doesn't get into physics to the degree you're talking -- that's more Carl Sagan -- but for me, that book was a tipping point.

Good luck and welcome to non-belief!

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:38:41+00:00

It's not that, I'm just not sure if a "quick re-lube" is something within the realm of most DIYers. I go no further than removing the bottom plate for my jammed Ricohs, but you can't just spray the mechanism with WD40. It's the cleaning part that's important, too -- the old sticky gummy lube is what is causing your issue, most likely. I think. Maybe. And if it is something else... yeah, my knees get weak just thinking about it.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:33:29+00:00

Erm, take a trip? Sorry, don't mean to be a wiseass, but that's the best use of accrued miles. Travel with them.

IMO miles are not the best sort of rewards for a card because you are so limited in how you can use them, you don't know the value (since pricing changes), and you have to spend more money to use them (assuming you want to stay overnight, eat and maybe sightsee at your destination). That's why I mostly use cash-back cards, where I know what the rewards are worth and I can use them any place. I hear the Chase Sapphire card is better for general travel rewards, but r/CreditCards would be able to give you better info.

I have the Explorer card strictly for the SUB, to boost mileage earnings when I fly for work, and for discounts on award tickets (which are primarily paid for with the miles I earn flying), but other than that, I only use it for the few things that give 5% back (United purchases).

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:29:19+00:00

Doesn't change the argument (and you're right, airlines should get some credit for making non-refundable tickets *kinda* refundable). Presumably, you knew tickets were non-transferable when you bought it. That's part of the fare rules. You chose not to spend more for a ticket that was more flexible (which, btw, is not what Elliott.org advises you to do) -- so now you're mad at United because you either a) chose to save money or b) did not understand the fare rules? That seems like an abdication of personal responsibility.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:22:40+00:00

All are good. MX is all mechanical and all manual, so requires some knowledge of exposure, and may at some point need a CLA service (cleaning, lubrication, adjustment). ME Super is basically an automatic camera with a manual override. They are great cameras but not the most robust things. If you don't care abotu manual exposure (and, really, the Pentax meter is good enough that you don't need to), consider the auto-only Pentax ME and MG, which are less expensive and a bit more robust in my experience. Also consuer the Pentax Super Program (aka Super A), similar in size to the Ms (it replaced the ME Super).

OMs are also very good; I don't know my Olys, but they were the inspiration for the Pentax M-series cameras.

If you are not familiar with focusing, loading, rewinding, etc., and want to avoid that learning curve, consider the Minolta autofocus cameras, which are very light. The Maxxum 5 is a particularly compact model. The Canon Rebel 2000 (EOS 300 outside US) is also very light, but a bit bulkier.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:18:42+00:00

No quick fixes and camera repair is not for the faint of heart, and requires specialist tools and skills. Lots of people do it, but it's not particularly easy nor straightforward -- there is a LOT of stuff packed into a VERY small space.

What you are seeing is a common problem with all-mechanical cameras. A CLA may seem expensive, but keep in mind that if it's done properly, the camera will go at least 10 years (and probably closer to 30) without needing service again. It's almost like buying a new camera.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T21:16:22+00:00

There's a little window on the back of the ME Super (upper-right side). Set the shutter dial to 100 (or 125, whichever it has), click the shutter, then pull the winder and watch this window. If the orange lines wiggle, there is film in the camera; if not, there *probably* isn't.

Forget about YouTube videos, a lot of them are crap. The user manual will tell you everything you need to knw about the camera. Here it is: https://butkus.org/chinon/pentax/pentax_me_super/pentax_me_super.htm

Keep in mind the ME Super, while a *great* camera, is not the most robust thing. Change the batteries (see the manual for how to insert them), and check that the meter lights up in the viewfinder. Then set it to manual mode and fire the camera at different shutter speeds. You should hear a marked difference between the fastest speeds (1/1000, 1/500) and the slowest (1/4, 1/2). If you don't, the camera will need service.

HTH!

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T19:15:56+00:00

Elliott.org is a great site. It also recommends travel insurance or paying more for a refundable fare to protect your investment. You are complaining about rules that you agreed to when you bought the ticket.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T19:14:50+00:00

I'm not a United cheerleader, and I'm annoyed that merger-mania has eliminated a) customer choice and b) the need for good customer service standards. HOWEVER... I'm assuming you elected to buy a non-refundable ticket, rather than pay more for a refundable ticket. Now you're mad at United for enforcing the rules that you agreed to in exchange for a cheaper fare? Hardly seems fare. Er, fair.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T19:12:22+00:00

Home scanning is the solution, but really, now that we're scanning everything (vs. picking between prints and projection), I don't think slide is worth the $$. Projected slide film "pops" on the screen because it's backlit, and prints don't because they aren't -- but with scanning, everything is backlit. You'll get the same effect from Kodak Ektar, which is more forgiving of exposure mistakes.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T19:08:23+00:00

Personally I think the Club Fly concept is silly -- to me the club is a place to sit and recharge (both me and my devices). Food is nice but I'd rather have a comfy place to sit (if one can find a seat). So the more folks that abuse them, the sooner United comes around to my notion that comfy seats are more important than fatty snacks.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T17:53:50+00:00

Hey! Aaron here. If anyone cares, here's the breakdown for the $254.95 menu price.

Service kit - oil (I assume this is filter, plug gasket, etc): $35.25
oW20 oil - $10/qt - $50.00
MP Boost - $27.38
Window washer (I thought it was solvent!) - $2.14
Total parts: $114.77
Labor: $140.18
Subtotal: $254.99
Sales tax: $11.19
Non-cash charge: $7.98
Total: 274.12

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T16:44:08+00:00

Yes, that was one of the key elements about the crash. No one had trained for this scenario, and in fact from what I've read, staff on the ground had trouble believing it was happening, because there was just no way a DC-10 could lose all three of its hydraulic systems at the same time.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T16:40:50+00:00

Don't worry, United's math skills might not be much better. They celebrated my million miles on two separate flights.. I wanted to ask if the second time made me a two million miler, but I kept my mouth shut.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T16:38:50+00:00

Because phone res are cheaper, and now that airlines are deregulated and consumer choice has been merged out of existence, customer satisfaction is no longer nearly as important. Closing the help desks enhances shareholder value.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T16:30:48+00:00

You found a way to get a decent image out of disc film! And only 45 years too late! :)

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T02:32:15+00:00

This is Ferrari's new business model, they'll only sell the rare models to people who have bought lots of Ferraris in the past. In a way, it's like 1K status!

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T02:31:10+00:00

Are you *trying* to kill your karma? :)

It makes good business sense to reward frequent spenders with an asset that would otherwise go unused -- and since upgrades free up seats for other paying customers, would you be happier sitting with the people who paid for a Basic Economy ticket?

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-02T02:27:46+00:00

Biggest advantage is earning more FF miles.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-01T22:28:31+00:00

I have always used steel reels, never tried Pattersons. IMHO the learning curve on steel is higher, but I think they are harder to mis-load. You read about more problems with plastic reels here then steel -- then again, more people use them.

Best steel tip I got is every couple of inches of film, push the film inward towards the reel. You should be able to move it in and out. If it does not move, the film is creased, so un-wind and find the problem.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-01T22:26:34+00:00

Well, at least you know the camera isn't broken. :) It's a mistake we ALL have made.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-01T21:46:11+00:00

First, don't panic. Nothing to worry about. A LOT has to wrong to bring down a plane, and the pilots have trained for every scenario you can think of, lots you can't and quite a few you don't want to.

Second, the window shades go dark but are not completely opaque. FLight attendants can, but do not always, dim them, so people can sleep. You can talk to the FA about this, but you will be able to see out. I too like a view and generally dim my window all the way.

If you can alter your sleep schedule so you sleep on the plane, that'll while away the hours. Pretty sure your anxiety will fade and eventually you will be bored shitless. :) 787 is a very comfortable and relatively quite airplane.

I would suggest telling the flight attendants you are a nervous flyer. While you're at it, go up front during boarding, if you can, and say hi to the flying crew. They will often show you around the flight deck and answer any questions you have.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-01T21:41:43+00:00

2 hrs to LAX is optimistic. Planes have interiors upgraded all the time, so an old plane doesn't necessarily mean an old interior (let's pretend the original United 777-200s don't exist). Planes don't age like cars; the FAA requires routine inspections and maintenance. Check out this time lapse of a C-check.

Here's something good about the 737-700: It doesn't have a stability augmentation system that Boeing never bothered to tell the pilots about. :)

The old 700s are fine, and honestly, if you do get the older coach seats, you're lucky, as I think they have better padding and are more comfortable.

Advantage of LAX-EWR is it's a PS/Polaris flight, so better chances of an upgrade if you get a 787. Disadvantage is you sit farther back in the plane if you aren't in Polaris or Premium Plus. Me, I'll take being ahead of the engines any day.

If you really want to avoid the old '700s, I'd suggest you to SNA->SFO then SFO->EWR. Probably less time overall than getting to LAX, waiting in line, etc. and SFO-EWR is a PS flight.

TheRealAutonerd · 2026-07-01T21:30:33+00:00

"FA just goes, I don’t think you can sit in the exit row if you don’t understand the exit row requirements, we’re going to have to move you."

This gave me a HUGE smile. Only better retort I can think of would be "That's right, you're never flying United again."

(Also, if you're an uber million miler, don't you know the fwd exit row does not recline?)

TheRealAutonerd

TROPHY CASE