Cleaning the viewing lens on Rolleiflex Automat

Alex Benjamin · May 28, 2022

Just got a Rolleiflex Automat K4 / 50. Viewing lens needs cleaning. Is it possible to unscrew it without removing the front cover?

Dan Daniel · May 28, 2022

What needs cleaning? Back element? Remove the focus hood.

Alex Benjamin · May 28, 2022

Dan Daniel said:
What needs cleaning?

Not sure. Image is pretty dark on the viewfinder. I did clean the glass, but that didn't change much, so I'm thinking the viewing lens must be in need of cleaning.

Dan Daniel · May 28, 2022

Mirror. Open the hood and look through the lens to see if the mirror is tarnished or covered in dust, etc.

Rolleiflex Standard neu K4 640 Front Surface Glass Replacement Mirror | eBay

It is made from a piece of 1.6mm thick FSM (front surface mirror).

www.ebay.com

And clean the ground glass. And realize that it is going to be dim and with a hot spot in the center and fall off to the edges compared to modern camera unless you change the focus screen.

Alex Benjamin · May 28, 2022

Dan Daniel said:
Mirror. Open the hood and look through the lens to see if the mirror is tarnished or covered in dust, etc.

Rolleiflex Standard neu K4 640 Front Surface Glass Replacement Mirror | eBay

It is made from a piece of 1.6mm thick FSM (front surface mirror).

www.ebay.com

And clean the ground glass. And realize that it is going to be dim and with a hot spot in the center and fall off to the edges compared to modern camera unless you change the focus screen.

Thanks Dan. It's indeed the falling off to the edges that's throwing me off.

Dan Daniel · May 28, 2022

Suggest you shoot a roll or two to shake out the rest of the camera. If it is working well, think about a screen like from Rick Oleson.

250swb · May 29, 2022

I've had a Automat K4 for about a year now and the factory glass screen just wasn't bright, after you've taken the hood off everything else is accessible for cleaning so there is only the screen left as a culprit. I already had Oleson screens in my Rolleicord and Autocord so got one for my K4 and it makes a big difference, not just brightness but also clarity of detail. And Rick's screens don't break the bank.

gone · May 29, 2022

I would suggest a new mirror. You can find them very inexpensively on eBay, and that will improve things measurably. A better focus screen could be swapped into the camera if the mirror doesn't help enough.

Cleaning the viewing lens on Rolleiflex Automat

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