My new old Agfa Karat 12

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I bought an Agfa Karat 12 about a week ago at a thrift store for $10. The problem is that the helical focusing is VERY stiff. I've done some research and discovered that it's that evil old grease causing the problem. I'd like to take the mechanism apart and soak it in a solvent and re-grease it. Has anybody done this before?

 

[David Lyga]

I am not entirely familiar with your model but, countless times, I have had to degrease and then re-grease. Here is the problem:

Almost all manufacturers of SLR lenses and RF cameras used too much damn grease on the helical. Nikon was one of the few who did not and you can get an ancient Nikkor 2/50 that still focuses smoothly and easily. But for the rest you are going to have to get at that helical and use lighter fluid and a soft brush to remove that gunk. WIth SLR lenses I dismantle the whole lens and remove all the filth, then re-grease. With some RF cameras, only the front element focuses and this makes life easy. But with some, like the Canon QL17 the WHOLE lens set moves forward and backward to focus. What I do here is remove the top and bottom and carefully squirt a few drops of lighter fluid onto a portion of the helical and work it in with the focus lever, then wipe with a Kleenex. This has to be done multiple times to do it right. Alternatively, I can fully remove the whole front section but this take much more time.

I think that I saw a focusing lever when I searched the net for a picture of the Karat 12. If so, the helical moves the WHOLE lens and not merely the front element. If it were solely the front element you could loosed the set screws around the front element, remove the metal ring, and do the work easily. If the helical moves the WHOLE lens set then you will have to see exactly where that helical is. SOMETIMES you can gingerly and gently squirt a little lighter fluid onto the helical without actually removing it. This requires patience and forbearance and repetition: remove a little gunk at a time and use a Kleenex to wipe the drips. After you squirt a little, move the lever fully to get the fluid throughout the helical and, again, use a Kleenex to wipe what you can. Oftentimes, this will be sufficient but a few days later, when all is dry, you just might find you have to do it again because you did not remove enough. If you have to ever re-grease because you removed all the original grease, feel free to use petroleum jelly, but very, very sparingly so as not to repeat the 'crime' of the manufacturers. Too little is better than too much: a couple of tiny, tiny 'drop' of petroleum placed in the center of the helical will worki it way into the whole helical. If you manage to get some lighter fluid between the lens elements you will have to remove the front and rear elements to wipe it out thoroughly, including the front and rear aperture blades (at all stops) and shutter blades, frustrating but doable.

All I can say is that manufacturers made a SERIOUS mistake (except Nikon) when they used so much grease. And, yes, I do adore cats, especially yours. - David Lyga

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Hi David,

Thanks for your in depth explanation. I guess grease can be too much of a good thing. I've heard the condition all called the "Agfa disease". Fixing the problem sounds like a delicate operation. I'm going to take my time. I've seen pictures taken with Agfa Karat cameras and the lenses are pretty sharp. Wish me luck!
Best,
Don

 

[David Lyga]

Yeah, Don. If it were mine I would have removed the front and rear element and blasted the innards with lighter fluid, redundantly. That would hurt nothing on the camera of your type. But, of course, in the process, an oily residue mixture would settle upon the aperture and shutter blades (which I am used to cleaning perfectly).

I did not want to cause you to 'assault' the camera and blame me for not being able to rectify it. My 'experience' is founded upon a graveyard of cameras and lenses that, for decades, I had bought cheaply. I say that in case anyone has the foolish temerity to call me smart. I better know something by now. - David Lyga

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I did fix the focus on my Karat 12. I did have to remove the rear element when the bellows collapsed. I checked on some posting on the internet and the proper way is to completely disassemble the lens and soak the helical threads in a solvent. I didn't want to go that route for fear of ruining the camera. I opened he back, removed the back element so it won't be ruined then I used a teflon oil. With the small tube that was included with the oil, I put small drops on the helical threads around the perimeter and turned the focus ring back and fourth. Then I used a Qtip to soak up the excess oil with the green gunk. I repeated the process until the focusing mechanism was loose enough to use. That's the long and the short of it.