Rolleiflex T - Is this lens separation?

Hello All,

Recently purchased a Rolleiflex T along with a Medalist II from the same seller. As regards the Rolleiflex T, which has very sticky slow shutter speeds at least up to 1/8sec, I also noticed this (see attached photo). Is this lens separation? (No "rainbow" visible, top of lens in photo)

Thanks for your opinions/assesment.

Cheers.

Yes.

I don't know the solution. Maybe there isn't one. Maybe someone else will know.

And I am not certain on its effect. Some lens defects look bad but have no effect on images.

Here is a ray-trace of a tessar with edge separation like yours showing how stopping-down the lens can mitigate image deterioration from the abnormality.

Just my usual answer. If not as described, return it for a full refund including all your shipping cost. If you experience pushback, let ebay/paypal/card whatever resolve the problem. Life is too short to have patience with dodgy sellers.

Dan, thanks as always - not just for your responses to my threads, but seems like you're on every thread I look at as well be this site or others.

IC, thank you for the diagram - good info to have.

Nitro, damn straight... it's going back. On the upside, I don't have any reason to believe they're that dodgy. Just an antique dealer that didn't know what they were looking at.

Did you get a good deal on it? Any camera that age will need the shutter to be serviced. That could still make a great camera to use.

The Rolleiflex was $350, cosmetically excellent, but not CLA'd. So a bit of a gamble. Just developed the test roll from the Medalist II ($209), which was CLA'd and converted to 120 - really surprised how well it turned out, not the least because I sunny 16'd the whole roll. Bear in mind that I haven't shot film for almost 25 years (but did 3 years as a BFA Photography major back in the 90s, work study job was 3 years in the dark room).

The seller is an antique dealer up in Canada who was selling off a friend's collection and just using his notes. He has a return/exchange policy and pretty sure I'll just be out return shipping for the Rolleiflex. Got a discount for buying both and, given how well the roll from the medalist turned out (even frame spacing, aperture, shutter, winding, etc.,), have to say I don't mind being out the shipping... just commenting in the quality of the exposures, density, and what not... photos are crap... maybe got one winner.

I've yet to find a 6x9 camera with a better lens than the Medalist II.