Pentacon Auto 4/200 MC pics with FF

pandreas68 · Joined: 24 Jan 2020 Posts: 95

Some other Pentacon 4/200 Auto MC pics. All at f-stop 11.

Electric line, built some 100ys ago. As out of camera but downscaled.

100%Crop Resolution 24Mpx as out of camera.

View to mountains, as out of camera, but downscaled.

100%Crop Resolution 10Mpx as out of camera.

Indigo82 · Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Posts: 61

Hello all,

Does anyone maybe know how to disassemble this lens in order to regrease focus helicoid? I could take it to someone for repair but I'd like to do it myself.

I searched for info everywhere but couldn't find.

It's been incredibly stiff since the day I bought it, but I never bothered to use it too much. Now I want to use it, but I guess it would be much easier if it was focusing smoothly.

Thanks.

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2495

I would be interested in that too. I have one with a broken aperture (Meyer like zebra version Pentacon) and would like to fix it, but got stuck trying to open it up :p

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1121

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F5kBfp6LfnU
Is this one you guys need?

Indigo82 · Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Posts: 61

The one in YT video is with preset aperture.

This one is different as shown in below photo:

With some drawing or idea what to do it would be much easier to start.

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2495

Indigo82 · Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Posts: 61

It seems that Pentacon MC Auto 200mm f4 shares the same design with its little sister Pentacon MC Auto 135mm f2.8. Basically they look identical from the outside.

Guess I will be following this video on how to disassemble it.

Pentacon auto 2.8/135 MC M42 part II. : Focusing mechanics cleaning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CRqYfFri8I&t=0s

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1121

Indigo82 · Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Posts: 61

So I couldn't wait and followed the video above to regrease my sample.

Basically you have to unscrew 3 screws first at the front. That is some sort of very simple ring that will slide towards the mount of the lens. You can take it out. After that the connection of the front lens group will be visible where you will find only one small screw. Unscrew it. Now it is possible to unscrew the entire front lens group in counterclockwise direction.

Here you don't have to unscrew anything else because focusing helicoid is visible. Mine didn't have any grease and was very stiff. I used some alcohol from pharmacy and added a little bit by using ear cotton swabs to the helicoid to clean it. Then focus back and forth until the alcohol penetrated deeply to the entire helicoid. Add more alcohol and focus back and forth. At one point the mechanism was completely free and focused freely. I cleaned everything with new cotton swabs and added lithium grease with toothpick. Again back and forth with focusing several times and added some more grease. Repeated the operation.

Finally removed surplus grease and closed the lens. It focuses like new now.

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1121

Now that was fast lol

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2495

I think the zebra version is different from the later Pentacon preset, because there is no way I can get out the front group by screwing it out. It is probably more like the Orestor 135mm 2.8 in this video so I am now going at it from behind. So far a found the lever screw that operates the aperture has probably broken off leaving the leverage bit inside the screwhole..

https://youtu.be/BoLnLiAMUmE disassembly seems to be quite similar.

kiddo · Joined: 29 Jun 2018 Posts: 1121

So 3 versions and all different, beautiful.... Do they share same optics or diagram?

D1N0 · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 2495

They probably do but I doubt all lens elements are interchangable

pandreas68 · Joined: 24 Jan 2020 Posts: 95