View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
bwfcnottingham
Joined: 19 Feb 2019 Posts: 123 Location: Nottingham, England, UK
|
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:12 am Post subject: Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm F2.8 Tessar - Focusing to Infinity |
|
|
bwfcnottingham wrote:
Hi All
I'm a recent convert (or is it addict) to using old legacy / vintage lenses on modern DSLR's
I bought a Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm F2.8 Tessar (circa 1962/63) from a charity shot and when attached to my Sony A6000 it focuses to infininty OK. The focus ring is a little tight and wont turn to the bottom end of the close up distances.
With that in mind I bought another Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm F2.8 Tessar from a different charity shop (this one has DDR written on it - serial number implies about 1967). However with the same adapter and same camera it will not focus to infinity !
Any ideas on why this would be? The DDR version is in excellent condition, but I was a little upset about the infinity issue ! It is obviously OK focusing close up for portraits macros etc.
Thanks
Phil _________________ Regards, Phil |
|
Back to top |
|
|
blotafton
Joined: 08 Aug 2013 Posts: 1534 Location: Sweden
|
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
blotafton wrote:
Are they m42 Tessars? I've had this problem most often with Canon FD but never m42. Could be a tolerance issue with the second one. The first one probably has old grease and needs to be cleaned out.
My universal solution, or rather workaround for focus issues on m42 and m39 is to use helicoid adapters. As a bonus you get almost macro close focus. Only works on mirrorless though. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bwfcnottingham
Joined: 19 Feb 2019 Posts: 123 Location: Nottingham, England, UK
|
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 1:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
bwfcnottingham wrote:
blotafton wrote: |
Are they m42 Tessars? I've had this problem most often with Canon FD but never m42. Could be a tolerance issue with the second one. The first one probably has old grease and needs to be cleaned out.
My universal solution, or rather workaround for focus issues on m42 and m39 is to use helicoid adapters. As a bonus you get almost macro close focus. Only works on mirrorless though. |
blotafton, yes they are M42 adapters, I had to google helicoid adapters as I am fairly new to vintage lens usage. I started in the summer of 2018 and I am really enjoying focusing manually and seeing thes old lenses brought back to life. I have acquired a whole set of nifty fifties, some 28 mm and mid range zooms. I particular like prime lenses.
This latest Tessar is the only lens I've had focus to infinity issues with
Thanks _________________ Regards, Phil |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary
|
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 3:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lightshow wrote:
Welcome to the addiction.
Do the screws look unmolested? If someone has been into it to relube it, they may not have put it back together correctly.
Anyways, a lens tech should be able to get them both working like new. _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3693 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
|
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 4:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Pancolart wrote:
Is it aluminum version or MC later auto version? _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bwfcnottingham
Joined: 19 Feb 2019 Posts: 123 Location: Nottingham, England, UK
|
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
bwfcnottingham wrote:
Pancolart / Lightshow
The lens is black , not sure about any MC.
Where do I look for screws? _________________ Regards, Phil |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 9:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
Lightshow wrote:
bwfcnottingham wrote: |
Pancolart / Lightshow
The lens is black , not sure about any MC.
Where do I look for screws? |
I don't know what lens you have without seeing pictures... Any screws, element retaining rings that show signs of abuse will tell you that someone with less skill/experience was inside the lens, some lenses hide them better than others. _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gerald
Joined: 25 Mar 2014 Posts: 1196 Location: Brazil
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 12:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Gerald wrote:
What is the furthest distance to which you can get focus?
Knowing that distance you can get a good idea if someone has improperly mounted the helicoids of the focusing mechanism during a lens cleaning/lubrication. _________________ If raindrops were perfect lenses, the rainbow did not exist. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
KEO
Joined: 27 Sep 2018 Posts: 756 Location: USA
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 7:31 pm Post subject: Re: Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm F2.8 Tessar - Focusing to Infinity |
|
|
KEO wrote:
bwfcnottingham wrote: |
Any ideas on why this would be? |
The threads where the inner and outer parts of the helicoid screw together must use the correct channel, or the focusing will be off. You can't just screw them back together carelessly (unless you get very lucky) without messing up the focusing. In short, there are several different ways to screw them back together (and they will appear to fit just fine), but only one way is the right way.
Without the experience to know which channel is the right one, the only way to fix it is to try each channel one at a time until you find proper infinity focus again.
Assuming this is the problem with your Tessar... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Pancolart
Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 3693 Location: Slovenia, EU
Expire: 2013-11-18
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2019 11:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Pancolart wrote:
If this is your lens: https://youtu.be/e3jezCKW4QY ?
Take good grip on the lens (focus ring included) with left hand and turn front lens part counter-clockwise. It should unscrew. Be careful front glass might pop out already. Then the the real problems begin. _________________ ---------------------------------
The Peculiar Apparatus Of Victorian Steampunk Photography: 100+ Genuine Steampunk Camera Designs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B92829NS |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bwfcnottingham
Joined: 19 Feb 2019 Posts: 123 Location: Nottingham, England, UK
|
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2019 12:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
bwfcnottingham wrote:
Pancolart wrote: |
If this is your lens: https://youtu.be/e3jezCKW4QY ?
Take good grip on the lens (focus ring included) with left hand and turn front lens part counter-clockwise. It should unscrew. Be careful front glass might pop out already. Then the the real problems begin. |
I will attach a picture tomorrow night, the camera is in the bedroom and the wife is asleep !!! _________________ Regards, Phil |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bwfcnottingham
Joined: 19 Feb 2019 Posts: 123 Location: Nottingham, England, UK
|
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2019 10:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
bwfcnottingham wrote:
Thanks everyone for your kind words and help.
I don't feel confident taking the lens to bits and attempting a repair .
I've got a tesssar where the focus ring is stiff and cannot get the close ups but does do infinity and another tessar that will do close ups but not infinity . So in theory I have the full range covered.
My main purpose of my nifty fifties ( and I've acquired a few in a short period) is portraits / headshots .
I might try a repair in a few months when I have more time to spare .
Thanks again everyone .
Slightly off topic...can anyone reccomend a good seller of an industar 55mm f2.8? I've seen some great pics created with it and think it would be an amazimg street lens for the summer events in the city of Nottingham _________________ Regards, Phil |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|