To accompany their new Super Dm camera in 1973, Topcon presented a modified eye level viewfinder modestly named the 'Control Center'--CC Finder for short. This new viewfinder added a front overhang, above the aperture setting ring on the lens, housing a tiny optical relay system to display the engraved numbers of the aperture ring setting in a little window above the viewed image. I personally never cared for the CC Finder finding the overhang masks the aperture reading when referencing the depth-of-field scale. But this is a personal preference and I expect some photographers find it worthwhile.

But now, mount either the chrome finish 200 mm F/5.6 or zoom lens and look for the aperture setting in the CC Finder's window--you see nothing but smooth brushed chrome. Why is this? The answer is simply that neither of these lenses were designed for use with the CC Finder and the engraving of the aperture rings is out of view.

Look at the image at the left. In front is a 135 mm lens with the narrow, rear mounted aperture ring typical of almost all RE Auto Topcors. Next in line is the 200 mm and then the zoom lens. Note the aperture setting numbers engraved on the aperture ring of the 200 mm is considerably further from the rear plate than is that of the 135 mm, and for the zoom lens this distance is even greater.

The problem with these lenses working with the CC Finder shows best in the two images below--the 200 mm at the left and the zoom at the right. Note that in both cases the engraving on the aperture setting ring lies at, or beyond, the front edge of the viewfinder overhang putting them outside the field of view of the relay optics.

When Topcon modified the 200 mm lens and the zoom lens to the last configuration--matte black to match the black finish of the Dm--they also moved the aperture ring to the rear to make it compatible with the CC Finder. The bottom images show that the aperture ring is now in position to be viewed in the CC Finder.

Old Model 200 mm lens.

Old Model Zoom lens.

New Model Zoom lens.

New Model 200 mm  lens.

After many years of using, examining, refurbishing, and repairing Topcon equipment, I have came up with four reoccurring problems known to me as the "Topcon Curses". These problems are probably due to the aging process rather than design or manufacturing errors. The RE Supers/Super Ds, and their lenses and accessories, are rugged and reliable; as witnessed by the number that still operate faultlessly after 25 to 35 years. But if you buy any Topcon equipment you should be on the lookout for these problems.

Some of the "curses" are not important to equipment operation and have no impact on the photographic process. Some of the others make the equipment unusable and correction of the defect can be expensive. So it is buyer beware--in addition to normal examination, be sure to check out the following points.

I am open to suggestions regarding any additional 'curses', e-mail me if you want to nominate another 'curse' to add to the list.

Curse No. 1    Oil on the lens diaphragm. For whatever reason, Topcon chose to use aluminum on aluminum for the lens focusing helixes. This choice resulted not only in reduced weight but also, when the helixes were properly greased, the silky smooth focusing action the Topcor lens were renowned for. But, with age the grease can wreck havoc. It seems that oil from the grease migrates from the helixes to the aperture area, contaminating the diaphragm leaves and making them sticky and unresponsive. This seems to happen mostly with the normal lenses, but can occur in moderate wide angles and telephotos. There is no solution for this problem except the services of a trained camera repairman--one willing to work on old Topcor lenses. And the cost is not inexpensive.

Curse No. 2    Disintegration of the foam rubber mirror damper at the top of the mirror box. The material Topcon chose for this function had a built-in "self destruct" property and after so many years it spontaneously returns to its natural oily, sticky, state. I have examined over 25 Topcon bodies, and without exception this strip of foam rubber was either missing or almost gone. The damping action of this material is not all that important since the linkage slows down the mirror just before it is fully closed. However it does result in a metal-on-metal click when the mirror snaps up. The second purpose of this foam is to make the mirror box light tight and prevent light entering the viewfinder from finding its way to the film. You can probably live with this problem if you don't mind the added noise, and you block direct sunlight from the viewfinder (especially the waist-level finder). A new strip of foam rubber is fairly easy to install, but again, it is difficult to find a camera shop willing to work of this 'ancient' equipment.

Curse No. 3    Crumbling of the cushioning material in the lens cases. Like the mirror damping foam, the material Topcon used in their lens cases also 'self distrusts' after time and reduces itself to a white powder. This is an aggravation if you use the lens cases since it covers the lens with a white dusting. If you are handy with tools you can replace the degraded material with Styrofoam, as I have done with most of my cases. Or, keep the cases for display only and store your lenses in something else.

Curse No. 4    Film advance frozen. Most SLR cameras have an interlock that prevents film advance when the shutter release is pressed, and to prevent shutter release when the film advance is not complete. On occasion, at least in Topcons, this interlock gets out of 'sync' and inhibits both operations--resulting in a totally inoperative camera. I have never been able to find the root cause of this malfunction and have not been able to deliberately induce it. Since I did, on one occasion, experience a 'freeze' while using a Motor Drive it would not seem to be caused by operator misuse. Probably, some parts have worn enough to allow this situation to occasionally occur. The only correction is removal of the bottom cover where one of the gears in the film advance train can be removed and reinstalled--usually the purview of a skilled technician. I have included this 'curse' not because it is as common as the others, but because when it happens it is so catastrophic.