How bad does it have to be?

Roverman · Apr 20, 2012

Hi all
im looking at a Rollei on eBay and the vendor states the lens has scratchs and fungus on the taking lens, my question is how bad does it have to be before the pics are badly affected, can, if the marks are minor it be repaired, I could live with some minor defects, heck it might give a dreamy effect to the pics lomoesk style.
any advice welcomed

vedmak · Apr 20, 2012

if you can see the fungus in pics it is pretty bad, even if it is cleaned up, the lens surface is damaged, as far as scratches go, or cleaning marks you can use a hood to avoid reflections, or use a black marker and fill them in.

fotch · Apr 20, 2012

Hello Roverman and welcome to APUG. Save some money, buy a box camera instead.

darkosaric · Apr 20, 2012

I had couple of foggy lenses: they are giving some special efect that is ok for playing around, but not for excellent results. For example cheap but clear industar gave me better results than foggy elmar. So in your case - it is better to buy flexaret (or other cheaper TLR) in exc. condition that foggy, full of fungus rollei

ambaker · Apr 20, 2012

Fungus and haze are the larger problems. Check the link below for an article on how bad scratches can be, yet still give a decent image. The example is extreme, but very informative.

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2008/10/front-element-scratches

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summicron1 · Apr 20, 2012

fungus indicates more damage inside -- you don't want that camera. You can do far better for not much more money.

that lens rentals deal is a real gas, however.

tkamiya · Apr 20, 2012

Amazing amount of scratches have little effect on the image. HOWEVER, fungus is a major problem not because little will affect the image but it will spread if not cleaned properly.

I had an enlarger lens that had a good amount of fungus. It has eaten into the coating and in process of cleaning it, major part of it flaked right off. In other experience, just a light fungus cleaned off by simply wiping it with regular lens cleaner. I don't know how much money you are talking about but you really won't know if it will clean acceptably until you try it.

I wouldn't purchase a lens (or a camera with lens) with fungus. If you want a dreamy image, you could use a filter.

ambaker · Apr 20, 2012

Here is an article on fungus from a Contax repair site. Info should apply to all lenses however. I never knew about the two types of fungus.

http://www.zeisscamera.com/services_overhaul-cIIa-lenses.shtml#lensfungus

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Roverman · Apr 20, 2012

Thanks for the fast replies, those two artilcles made good reading.
knowing the way things work on eBay I've got a feeling that the camera will go for silly money even with these flaws, I may just take a punt on it, but a a low price.
quite like the idea of a baby Rollei, how hard is it to get the 127 film, I suppose I'd have to develop it myself, will it produce images of an equal character as a big rolleiflex?

filmamigo · Apr 20, 2012

Roverman said:
how hard is it to get the 127 film, I suppose I'd have to develop it myself

Only two makers of 127 film left that I know. EFKE make an ISO 100 black & white film, and Bluefire make a colour negative film. (Suspected to be reloaded Kodak Portra 160.)

http://www.bluefire.ca/BluefireMurano.htm

The EFKE you could easily develop yourself. I have shot the Bluefire and had it processed (C41) at a pro lab. Results were very nice, much closer to 6x6 quality than 35mm quality.

There's a reason that 4x4 SuperSlides were popular, they deliver really nice results (in a size that still fit most 35mm projectors.)

BobD · Apr 21, 2012

Rollei Retro 80s is available in 127 size:
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/810827-Rollei-Retro-80s-ISO-127-size-with-plastic-can?cat_id=403

EASmithV · Apr 22, 2012

I wonder why Ilford doesn't cut 127 film in limited runs.

Roverman · Apr 25, 2012

If their are only two makers of film is it worth getting a 4x4?
how do you recut the flim to size?

zesbaugh · Apr 25, 2012

127 is running $10+ per roll these days. You can cut down 120, but it's a bit of a PITA. Check out you-tube for instructions.
I would not recommend PURCHASING a baby Rollei over a full size for the above reasons...unless you find one for next to nothing or plan to start a 127 collection.

How bad does it have to be?

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