Bronica SQ 50mm lens question

[Horatio]

My Japan Post order from April arrived today, containing a 50mm lens. I attached the lens and everything seems functional, but it will not focus on the ground glass. My two other lenses (80mm and 150mm) are just fine. The helical is not binding and the rear element moves in and out, just like the other lenses. Any ideas? I'm thinking something is wrong internally, but I have no idea what. Google is no help, and there's nothing in the manual.

 

[moto-uno]

Is there even a hint of evidence that it may have been worked on previously ? Also , if you shake the lens by itself , is there any noise that not evident
in your other lens ? A single element that can move ever so slightly can cause noticeable focus issues . Don't ask how I know . Peter

 

[Horatio]

Is there even a hint of evidence that it may have been worked on previously ? Also , if you shake the lens by itself , is there any noise that not evident
in your other lens ? A single element that can move ever so slightly can cause noticeable focus issues . Don't ask how I know . Peter

There's nothing obvious. It rattles a little, but so does my 80mm. It came from Japan, but I don't recall anything in the original listing about repairs.

Edit: I think it's just a POS. No wonder it was so cheap! lol

Anyone know a good lens repairman?

 

[Grim Tuesday]

Send that lens back! Even if the seller has "no returns," eBay will force them to pay return shipping if you request a return for the reason "Item not as described." If you try to get it repaired, the best case for you is a lens element in backwards, worst case is a missing element entirely, and no lens repair person can fix that now days.

 

[halfaman]

Is the image focus not moving at all while moving the focusing ring? (same defocus image in the ground glass), or is image focus moving but can't get never get a sharp image?

The first thing is that focusing group is not moving, strange as you say the rear element does (where it is normally), second thing is that the focus is out of calibration. Nevertheless, I don't see you solving any of these issues at home. You will need to send the lens to a camera shop.

 

[Daire Quinlan]

The first thing is that focusing group is not moving, strange as you say the rear element does (where it is normally), second thing is that the focus is out of calibration. Nevertheless, I don't see you solving any of these issues at home. You will need to send the lens to a camera shop.

If the rear element is moving then the focusing mechanism is working fine, the bronnie lenses are pretty simple, they're front and rear element groups screwed into a shutter (Copal 0 size, for anyone interested in re-shuttering an SQ lens) and the shutter moves as the lens focuses, there're no internal cams or complicated focusing groups or anything. From disassembling them, I would say there isn't enough play in the mechanism to bork it up to the extent that it would just not ever focus at any position, I'd hazard that, as someone points out above, it's been disassembled for cleaning or something and reassembled wrong, either an element back to front or missing.

 

[Horatio]

Is the image focus not moving at all while moving the focusing ring? (same defocus image in the ground glass), or is image focus moving but can't get never get a sharp image?

The unfocused image does not change.

 

[Horatio]

Send that lens back! Even if the seller has "no returns," eBay will force them to pay return shipping if you request a return for the reason "Item not as described." If you try to get it repaired, the best case for you is a lens element in backwards, worst case is a missing element entirely, and no lens repair person can fix that now days.

Perhaps. It was sold “as-is” but not parts only.

 

[Daire Quinlan]

Perhaps. It was sold “as-is” but not parts only.

Ah ...
How much did you pay for it ? Seems to be a pretty broad range of prices on Ebay, sold items from typically £100->£200 or so.
Have you a lens spanner handy ?

 

[Horatio]

Ah ...
How much did you pay for it ? Seems to be a pretty broad range of prices on Ebay, sold items from typically £100->£200 or so.
Have you a lens spanner handy ?

$90 USD. Know where I can source a spanner?

 

[Horatio]

If the rear element is moving then the focusing mechanism is working fine, the bronnie lenses are pretty simple, they're front and rear element groups screwed into a shutter (Copal 0 size, for anyone interested in re-shuttering an SQ lens) and the shutter moves as the lens focuses, there're no internal cams or complicated focusing groups or anything. From disassembling them, I would say there isn't enough play in the mechanism to bork it up to the extent that it would just not ever focus at any position, I'd hazard that, as someone points out above, it's been disassembled for cleaning or something and reassembled wrong, either an element back to front or missing.

I'd be willing to try taking it apart. My only reservation would be inadvertently damaging the electronics. Not sure I have enough/correct tools. Every YouTube video I've watched they have huge rubber cups and what looks like a compass. Any suggestions on finding an online manual?

 

[Daire Quinlan]

I'd be willing to try taking it apart. My only reservation would be inadvertently damaging the electronics. Not sure I have enough/correct tools. Every YouTube video I've watched they have huge rubber cups and what looks like a compass. Any suggestions on finding an online manual?

There are a few videos/walkthroughs on the net about specifically Bronica lens disassembly i.e. http://www.thecircleofconfusion.com/2014/07/cleaning-mould-from-bronica-ps-lenses/ tools he has there are what you'll need. I wouldn't cheap out on the lens spanner. In your specific case I'd hunt down a diagram of what the internal elements look like and check what the lens actually looks like once you get access to the elements.

 

[Horatio]

There are a few videos/walkthroughs on the net about specifically Bronica lens disassembly i.e. http://www.thecircleofconfusion.com/2014/07/cleaning-mould-from-bronica-ps-lenses/ tools he has there are what you'll need. I wouldn't cheap out on the lens spanner. In your specific case I'd hunt down a diagram of what the internal elements look like and check what the lens actually looks like once you get access to the elements.

Thanks. I’ll check it out. There’s a place in FL that sells reprints of Bronica manuals, if I can’t find anything online.

 

[polka]

"The lens does not focuse" is a rather vague diagnostic :
Before attempting to "repair" the lens, could you please tell us, at what distance it focuses when set on infinite ? and at what distance it focuses when set at the nearest distance ? which is ? Sometimes a lens will be sold with an expansion ring "inadvertantly" added. If so, remove the ring and the lens may be OK. And rejoice ! you have got a free expansion ring.
POLKa

 

[glbeas]

If it does have an extension tube left on it you may have to mount it on the camera to take it off the lens, a good reason the seller may not have realised it doesnt belong there. How about a picture of the lens from the side so we can see?

 

[Horatio]

"The lens does not focuse" is a rather vague diagnostic :
Before attempting to "repair" the lens, could you please tell us, at what distance it focuses when set on infinite ? and at what distance it focuses when set at the nearest distance ? which is ? Sometimes a lens will be sold with an expansion ring "inadvertantly" added. If so, remove the ring and the lens may be OK. And rejoice ! you have got a free expansion ring.
POLKa

It does not focus on anything. The groundglass remains OOF. The split microprism does not change. Where would one find this "expansion ring"? It's appearance is similar to my other lenses.

If it does have an extension tube left on it you may have to mount it on the camera to take it off the lens, a good reason the seller may not have realised it doesnt belong there. How about a picture of the lens from the side so we can see?

I'll post a better photo tonight.

 

[John Koehrer]

the compass is the spanner mentioned earlier. If you need to remove the beauty ring I've used rubber plugs from the local hardware joint.
To size it take the lens along to get a test fit.
You may need some JIS screwdrivers. The screw may look like phillips but the angle and tips
are different.

Spanners are all over ebay.

 

[Horatio]

You guys rock.

 

[Grim Tuesday]

The rubber tools are called "buchner funnel flask adapters" if you don't want to overpay for them

 

[Horatio]

“Focused“ at infinity

Close “focus”

 

[glbeas]

Definitely no extension tube on it. Have you looked through it towards a bright light source to see if anything doesnt look right?

 

[Horatio]

Definitely no extension tube on it. Have you looked through it towards a bright light source to see if anything doesnt look right?

I’ve shined a bright flashlight into it. Nothing seems out of place. Looking through it I see an upside down image, just not clearly. I’ll know more when I can disassemble it. Maybe this weekend, or as soon as I can get some rubber cones. My compass/spanner is not up to the challenge!

 

[JPD]

The unfocused image does not change.

If you hold the lens in front of a piece of paper, can it project an image on it?

 

[polka]

Yes that's a good question and then, what is the distance from the paper to the lens mount, compared with the distance between the lens mount on the body and the film plane ?

 

[choiliefan]

JPD's suggestion is excellent.