Ansco Regent (Not a frozen focus ring btw)

JD3711 said:

Good Morning,
I have inherited some interesting cameras recently and one of them is a little Ansco Regent (not a Super Regent). While the focus ring was immovable until I gently added some rubbing alcohol to the ring over a period of days, the ring movement does not appear to be the problem. It moves easily now that I've gotten the green goo so weak it will no longer act as the epoxy it can become.

However, while the ring turns easily-not too easily, but feels responsive and not loose-the picture/viewfinder-whatever I'm pointing the camera at-doesn't change in focus. the picture simply stays as if it is on infinity. that's fine, because I'm not taking pics of microbes with an Ansco Regent. But I would like to get the camera into full working order.

I'm thinking someone in the past tried to turn it and it broke something in the lens because they weren't aware you must be gentle and patient getting that green goo to let go. Yet, I do not know this.

Any suggestions concerning this problem will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
JD
Tulsa, OK

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Kino said:

JD,

Welcome to Photrio.

The Ansco Regent is a viewfinder type camera that you have to scale-focus; the viewfinder is simply to compose the shot. There is no rangefinder or other means of determining focus. That's why you see these vintage auxiliary rangefinders that clip into the accessory shoe on Ebay.

Estimating focus is pretty easy.

Here's the manual: https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ansco/ansco_regent/ansco_regent.htm

Be sure to drop Butkus a couple of bucks to support his free service of offering vintage camera manuals for download.

Cheers.

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albada said:

BTW, welcome to Photrio!

Mark

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