Problems focusing 200mm with Bronica S2a?

StephenT · Sep 18, 2016

I have the 200mm f4 and it does not have a focusing collar itself. It must use the helicoid focusing collar of the body. It's rear element does not protrude any farther into the body than does the 75mm 2.8.

I do have an S2A body that shows some scratches at the bottom of the mirror as if some lens at some time in another owner's hands did protrude too far - probably one of the ones mentioned above that required a spacer ring.

I also think that there is an issue with that particular lens.

TheTrailTog · Sep 18, 2016

Thanks again everyone for your input! Much appreciated!!!

I can find no issues with the helicoid. No stray screws, edges, burrs, etc. Based on the conversation and the marks on the lens, it seems that most likely the issue is it received an impact on the rear element that threw the focus off or it was not reassembled correctly. I shot a bit with it today for what I intended it for, portraits where I'm not focusing to infinity anyway. Based on the results from my other 2 lenses I have no doubt that what I saw on the ground glass will come through on the film I shot today. If all turns out well I will still be happy for what I paid. I knew I was taking a chance buying cheap and as-is. Sometimes you win, sometimes you get a surprise

TheTrailTog · Sep 29, 2016

Soooo, an interesting turn of events. I got in a 75mm Nikkor today that included one of the older helicoids that gives scales for 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, and 200mm lenses. For the heck of it I tried out the 200mm and guess what, the 200mm focuses perfectly. And the plot thickens...

moto-uno · Sep 29, 2016

Goody for you sir ! Peter
I enjoy happy endings

TheTrailTog · Sep 29, 2016

Yes, definitely a happy ending. That said, I am left with even more questions now that are going to drive me nuts until I figure it all out...lol

Alan Gales · Sep 29, 2016

Xia_Ke said:
Soooo, an interesting turn of events. I got in a 75mm Nikkor today that included one of the older helicoids that gives scales for 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, and 200mm lenses. For the heck of it I tried out the 200mm and guess what, the 200mm focuses perfectly. And the plot thickens...

That's great news!

papagene · Sep 29, 2016

Now have fun using that camera. I love my S2A and can't wait to get out to desert mountains and bring back some good images.

TheTrailTog · Sep 29, 2016

papagene said:
Now have fun using that camera. I love my S2A and can't wait to get out to desert mountains and bring back some good images.

Already planning a backpacking trip in the White Mountains for Columbus weekend. Looking at either 2 or 3 nights along the Pemi Loop

N4646W · Oct 5, 2016

Xia_Ke said:
Already planning a backpacking trip in the White Mountains for Columbus weekend. Looking at either 2 or 3 nights along the Pemi Loop

Great! Glad for you. I have 5 of the focusing rings, only two of them look the same internally. Just slight differences in the other three.

Hope you have a great time.

Ron

Sixbysix · Aug 7, 2022

Hello all. I am new to this forum but I was very interested in this thread. I have a S2A with three magazines, the 40, 50, 75, 135 and 200mm Nikkors and the Zenzanon 75 and 150mm.
According to the books by Tony Hilton and Peter Brazcko there were three focusing units, with different scales.
> For the S2 and the early S2A: 200 and 75mm with silver lettering and 135 + 50mm with red lettering, scales in feet.
> For the S2A: 100, 80 and 75mm in meters,
> For the EC 100 and 75mm in meters.
I have all three focusing units but I cannot remember to have encountered any problem mounting the Nikkor 200mm on the units meant for the S2A and EC. I would have to check...
But great to read that the problem regarding the 200mm is solved for the topic starter.

ags2mikon · Aug 8, 2022

The 100mm will scratch the mirror if removed or installed wrong! Always rack the helicoid all the way out when mounting or dismounting. I have all 3 focusing mounts and they all work with my 200 Nikkor P.

reddesert · Aug 8, 2022

Several years later, we're unlikely to know what the problem was, unless the OP comes back. I have a guess though. It was clearly a mechanical interference problem. I think the light baffle that extends rearward from the lens was a little out of round, and it hung up on the interior baffles of the focusing helical, which are black semi-circular pieces with ridges. These baffles are fastened to the helical with screws, and if one of them was a little out of position the lens could have hung up on it. The clearance between them is modest even when the parts are all in good shape. If they were both a little out, it may have caused an interference only with one lens-helical combination.

It should be possible to diagnose such a problem by removing the helical from the body and looking at it from the rear as the lens is focused in and out.

ags2mikon · Aug 9, 2022

Necro posting like I did earlier doesn't help the original poster but it does add to the knowledge base in general. Many of us old timers that are familiar with these old cameras are quickly going 10-7 or to rest homes.

reddesert · Aug 9, 2022

ags2mikon said:
Necro posting like I did earlier doesn't help the original poster but it does add to the knowledge base in general. Many of us old timers that are familiar with these old cameras are quickly going 10-7 or to rest homes.

I agree, I don't mind necro posting especially when it adds information to a thread. There is a reservoir of information in forums like this that is searchable by google or other web crawlers and useful down the road.

(A reason to hope forums stay alive, I'm not a hater of social media but searching it is typically terrible, so discussion on social media winds up in the maw of a social media company and not retrievable as global knowledge.)

Problems focusing 200mm with Bronica S2a?

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