Setting TLR infinity focus?

[Scott]

Okay, so I am opening a separate DIY thread for the new Rolleiflex...

Before loading it today, I decided to check focus against a ground glass.  Actually, I was in the top, looking at all the "cleaning marks" on the viewing lens through the near-pristine new mirror that someone else has installed.  Okay, viewing lens marks aren't the end of the world, but after I put the hood back on, I noticed that the camera didn't appear to focus to infinity.  Pulled the back off, laid some ground glass on the rails, and it's true - no infinity.

Now, I know there's a set screw that locks the viewing lens in place.  Loosen that, turn the lens until it matches the taking lens.  But what about setting infinity on the taking lens?  Not sure how to change that, short of removing any shims that might be under the standard.

Ideas?  I'm feeling worse and worse about this camera... :rolleyes:

Scott

[epatsellis]

scott,
It's been years, but going from memory:

If it's focusing closer than infinity, remove shims behind shutter, if beyond, add shims.

Then adjust viewing lens to match taking lens.

some googling yields;

http://www.panum.de/rolleiflex_screen.htm

wayne's response is helpful here:

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/messages/6900/4988.html?1123392847

and from the rec.photo.equipment.rollei newsgroup, Richard Knoppow:

http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.recreation.photography.equipment.rollei/23506

Hope it helps. Sounds like if you can't get the infinity adjustment by the focusing knob, then it's the shim route.

[Scott]

Thanks, Erie.  FWIW, I can turn the knob already a little further than the board travels. The board is racked in, the knob turns a little more without moving the board. Then, if you let go of the knob, it slowly rotates back to a stop position. I'm guessing shims need to be removed at this point, but what if there are none?

BTW, my spanner is useless for removing that collet.  Just twists and slips.

[Scott]

Well, I'll be dipped.  The collet doesn't come off, as much as it loosens.  Got it loose, turned it all the way back until it hit the infinity stop, and tightened it down.  Focuses infinity wonderfully now.  The viewing lens doesn't agree, but that's a little more basic to fix...

[Scott]

Well, FWIW, I've got the focus within a hair's breadth of perfect.  Focus on the ground glass on something, and the screen image is a slight turn away from dead-on.  But daylight's failing, and I've got a son to take to Five Guys.  Gonna have to wait until tomorrow.  But I'm hopeful. 

[Mike Kovacs]

I can turn the knob already a little further than the board travels. The board is racked in, the knob turns a little more without moving the board

This indicates to me that the board (if you mean the outside board, the face plate) is not shimmed properly.

Get your lenses setup properly with the outside board off (sounds like you got it), then your last step before final reassembly is to shim the board until it just touches the camera when you focus to infinity.

[Scott]

Good to know on the shimming, Mike.  I'll check that tomorrow.

[Scott]

Well, I dug back into the project Rolleiflex, albeit briefly, this morning.  I was using a small scrap of ground glass to check focus on the film plane, but began suspecting that the glass wasn't fitting the film gate precisely, and that that may've been throwing agreement with the viewing screen a little.  Cut a new ground glass, made to fit the film rails exactly, and taped it in place.  Now, throughout the focus range, the film plane matches the viewing screen as closely as I could hope.  Very pleased.

Loading up the only B&W I have now.  And ordering s'more.

[EDIT] Ah-ha.  Still don't have infinity with the front shroud on, but had it before reinstalling.  I think Mike's right - whoever got into this camera before (which is obvious) lost the brass shims to hold the shroud out from the base when the standard is racked all the way in.  I'm cutting new shims of some 220-grit sandpaper now...

[Scott]

Hmm.  The washers made of sandpaper, and also of thicker leather, didn't do it.  Took the shroud off to check, and without it on, it focuses to infinity.  With, no luck.  I can't imagine, though, that it could be that far out of alignment.  Guess I need to see if I can make some decent shims now...

[EDIT]  Well, I've made shims so thick that the screws just barely grab, and still no good.  Not sure if I need to get back in to the focus knob and tweak the adjustment there or not.  Crap.

[EDIT, AGAIN]  I thinned the shims down a bit (they were old brass locking nuts from some long-forgotten camera project - that's why I throw nothing away!) using sandpaper, the shroud's in place, and the infinity focus is just almost there.  Stopped down to f/8, you don't notice it.  I think I can get into the focus knob adjustment once more and it'll be good.  But I'm trying to get some work around the house done at the same time.  Too many masters...

[Scott]

Well, I've got it as close as I'm able.  Time to load it and see if this lens is worth the effort.

[Scott]

Well, the SFX200 is hanging.  Near as I can tell, looking at the negatives through a reversed 50mm lens, the images are sharp as can be, exposures seem about right, and everything's groovy.  Shot a bunch of images of the kids at the Super Pilot's reading, and they all look nice.  About half or so were through a Rolleinar 1; those look very sharp as well.  Proof'll be in the scans - but I'm optimistic about the Xenar on this Rolleiflex.

Stay tuned...

[LarryD]

Well BINGO. I have been watching this and it is amazing what we do for our hobby.

[Scott]

In today's mail was a package from Mike Elek - Les' old Automat that had a run-in (get it?) with a car.  Just in time for some Christmas break tinkering.  My inclination is to use my Rollei to revive Les', but the taking lens on Les' is pushed in a bit.  Might could replace the standard with the other one to fix that, but not sure yet.

Anyway, the Rollei project just became active again!  Woot!  Thanks, Mike!

Scott