Agfa Isolette 1 focus stuck

<p>Hello,<br>

<br />I recently came into possession of an Agfa Isolette 1 (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Agfa_Isolette_I.jpg">see here</a>) with an Agnar 1:4.5 85mm lens. It is in nice condition and everything seems to function - except the focus, which is stuck just short of infinity.<br>

This is the first time I have played with a folding camera, and it's been a long time since I have actually used a film camera of any sort. So this is entirely new to me.<br>

I came across this excellent <a href="/classic-cameras-forum/00bJlu">thread </a>that gives me some ideas. However I have no idea how to remove the lens assembly (shutter etc) from the front of the bellows. <br>

Can a lubricant and/or alcohol be applied with the lens in situ? I have also read that you can try heating the focus ring with a hair-dryer to loosen the old grease. Is this something someone here has tried? Obviously I don't want to damage the thing. </p>

<p>Any advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>Laurie</p>

<p>The shutter is held to the front plate of the camera with a retaining ring, with goes around the outside threads of the rear of the bellows. The ring will have two or four notches in it. You will need a spanner wrench to safely remove the lens/shutter assembly from the front plate of the bellows. Easily available on eBay or from <a href="http://www.micro-tools.com/subgrouping.htm?cat=14017">Micro-Tools</a>.<br>

The "trick" is not tearing the bellows while loosening the retaining ring. You probably have to have the bellows extended to get to the ring, it's normally covered by the folds when the bellows are collapsed. Hopefully the ring has four notches, so that you don't need to run the wrench past the narrow sides of the bellows.<br>

The Agfa grease that corroded the brass threads and turned to green glue is <em>notoriously</em> <em>strong</em>, so you will need to find a solvent that will dissolve it without removing the paint from the shutter. You don't want to get the bellows wet with that solvent, so you do need to remove the shutter from the camera.</p>

<p>Hello Laurie. The stuck focus ring is the result of the "Green Grease" that Agfa used during manufacturing the Isolette cameras (all series). It ages into a crayon like material. When I got hooked on folders (about 5 years ago) I tried all the tricks to free the focus with few lasting results. A professional CLA (clean, lube, adjust) is the only way to put the camera into operational condition if you can not do the work yourself.<br>

Old Agfa folders also have terrible bellows due to the use of a synthetic plastic material which cracks with age. Your bellows might look good, but all three of mine had multiple holes in them. Patches might work, but a replacement would be the best way to go.<br>

The current cost of a CLA and bellows replacement is $120. I just sent an Isolette II off! The Agfa folders are great cameras when they are working properly. Bill</p><div></div>

I have unsuccessfully tried to soften Agfa grease with some solvents (lighter fluid, amonia, carburetor

cleaner, WD40) and heat (focussing the sun with a magnifying glass directly on the mount). Recently I

learned that WD40 now sells a solvent but I have yet to try it. I have two Solinettes with frozen focussing

mounts so please let us know if you find an answer.

<p>WD40 and similar "anti-rust", devil's-brew solvents can work, but can destroy things in the long term. They are just not a "good idea" even if they work in the short term.<br /> Stick with naphtha in very small quantities along with elbow greese. Dis-assembly is often a difficult step to avoid.</p>

<p>BTW, the "green grease" is most often a copper corrosion by-product called verdigris*<br /> <br />*[verdigris -- a bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on copper or brass by<br />atmospheric oxidation, consisting of basic copper carbonate. Also involved in "Zeiss bumps"]</p>

I will not use any solvent. But I was successful in using a hair

dryer to soften the green grease, plus some rubber sheets (for

opening jars) to get better grip. Of course you have to remove the lens shuttle assembly by loosening the retaining ring, and unscrew the rear lens module to limit the potential damage to other parts of the camera. Hope you have good luck with

hot air as well.

<p>If you really want to be able to enjoy using the camera, there's really no avoiding some disassembly. That's because you need to actually remove the old, stiff grease and replace it with new grease.</p>

<p>Even if you're able to soften the grease without disassembly by dripping in alcohol, you're still left with old, stiff grease. You can try that, and it might work for you. However, if you have to use undue force to focus the camera (due to the stiff grease), there's the risk that you will shift the position of the knurled ring on the front element casing, which means you'll be unable to properly focus the camera.</p>

<p>The Agnar is a three element lens which you focus by threading the front element in and out of the middle element. The front lens casing is thus threaded into the middle lens casing. Those threads are where the old, stiff grease is.</p>

<p>The solution involving the least disassembly requires un-screwing the middle element casing (which has the front lens element casing stuck in it) from the shutter. Then your task is to separate these two parts using heat, alcohol, etc., clean the old grease out of the threads, apply new grease, re-assemble and calibrate the focus.</p>

<p>1. <br />Loosen the three tiny set-screws just enough to remove the knurled ring with the distance markings.</p>

<p>2. <br />Find a way to grasp the brass lens casing and un-screw it counter-clockwise (these are normal, right-handed threads). There is no grease on these threads. DON'T use pliers. Try gripping it with a thin piece of rubber, or try duct tape plus hose clamp, etc. When you are using twisting force here, hold the camera by the shutter or lens standard (mount).</p>

<p>With this twisting, you may succeed in removing the front element from the middle element casing. In this case, you can proceed with cleaning the threads, re-grease and re-assemble. But what usually happens is that the twisting removes the middle element with the front element still stuck inside it.</p>

<p>3. <br />If you have removed the middle element with the front element still stuck inside it, you can try putting it in the oven at 200 degrees F for 20 minutes, or submerge it in strong alcohol for a couple of days. If you try heat, twist them apart while the pieces are still hot.</p>

<p>I've fixed dozens of these over the years. Solvents are fine, and exactly what a pro uses when they do a CLA. The trick is to soak the lens assy in a coffee cup filled w/ 91% alcohol for several days. It will usually screw right on out if you do that w/ no trouble. BUT, if you don't know how to take things apart on these, and how to reset focus afterwards, don't get involved.</p>

<p>$120 is far too much to pay for a CLA on a camera that is worth $40 tops. Simply sell the one you have and be patient. You can find one on eBay or Etsy that is working properly for about that price. You have to watch out for holes in the bellows on the models w/ the shiny bellows too.</p>

<p>Thanks for everyone's great responses. I appreciate it.<br>

<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=714827">John Shriver</a><br>

Thanks for the info John. I managed to remove the lens/shutter assembly quite easily. I was lucky in that the retaining ring had 4 notches and the bellows didn't cover the ring so I was able to do with the bellows closed.<br>

<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=287732">Bill Bowes</a><br>

I like the photograph Bill. I don't think a CLA would be worth doing at that price, and besides I would have to find someone local here in Poland. I am happy to give it go myself and see what I can do. Shining a torch around the outside of the bellows didn't show up any holes (perhaps it has been replaced already), but the proof will be in the pudding, as they say.<br>

<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=915536">Charles Stobbs</a><br>

Charles, I will post here on my success or otherwise.<br>

<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=1841065">JDM von Weinberg</a><br>

Thanks JDM - I appreciate your long-standing wisdom in these forums. I have managed, very easily, a partial disassembly, which should help getting the solvent where it is needed. I will have to try and source naphtha locally. Elbow grease I have.<br>

<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=139223">Bruce Z. Li</a><br>

Thanks Bruce. I will certainly try the heating option before going to solvents.<br>

<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=5764975">John Cogburn</a><br>

John, thank you for taking the time to post such detailed instructions. They are incredibly helpful in understanding how the lens goes together.<br>

<a href="/photodb/user?user_id=7259562">steve mareno</a><br>

Thanks Steve. I will try the heating method before the solvent and see if I get anywhere. Although I have never taken lenses apart I have worked on small electronic and mechanical devices so I should be okay.</p>

<p>I also found this <a href="

which is for the disassembly of an Agfa Agnar lens. Maybe this will be of help to others.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all the advice.<br>

Laurie</p>

<p>Success!<br>

Again, thanks for everyone's input. <br>

As in John Cogburn's post above, when removing the lens from the housing the middle lens element came away with the front focusing element still stuck in it.<br>

I removed the green grease from the join between the two lens elements and then tried heating it with a hair-dryer. Apart from the difficulty of handling hot metal, the two elements remained stuck fast. I put the lenses in 96% proof alcohol and after 24 hours I was able to unscrew them just with my fingers. Of course this may not work for everyone - I guess it depends on how "stuck" they are.<br>

One further question: What should I replace the grease with once I have cleaned it all up, or can it be left ungreased?<br>

If it would be helpful to anyone I could try to take some photos of the disassembly process over the weekend. Let me know if anyone is interested.<br>

Thanks.<br>

Laurie</p>

<p >Just screw the middle element casing back snugly as far as it will go into the shutter-- just needs to be tight enough so that focusing the lens wont loosen it. No grease is needed on those threads. </p>

<p > </p>

<p >For the focusing threads on the front element casing, I wipe a very, very small amount of clear silicone grease on the male threads—just enough so that you won't feel any friction.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >I use so-called di-electric grease that auto parts stores sell. Probably vaseline would work OK.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Once the focusing lens is in, then you'll want to set the focus (set the knurled distance ring at the proper position on the front element casing). You don't need any special tools, besides a cable release with a locking mechanism (to hold the shutter open on "B"). It does help to have a loupe or at least a large magnifying glass in order to check the image at the focal plane. The task is a bit easier if you have a tripod to mount the camera on.</p>

<p>Thank you once again John. For the moment I have re-assembled it with out grease, and actually it works smoothly without it. But as soon as I am able to get some I will apply it.</p>

<p>Thanks again for your help.</p>

<p>Laurie</p>

<p>Please find a series of photos with labels showing the disassembly of the Agfa lens. Hope this is helpful to someone. Please feel free to use these images for non-commercial use - but preferably link back here to photo.net.<br>

<a href="/photodb/folder?folder_id=1093790">GALLERY</a><br>

Cheers<br>

Laurie</p>

<p>Thank you for pictures and all instructions. I was able to use it to fix focus lens on Franka Rolfix Jr.</p>

<p>You're welcome <a href="/photodb/user?user_id=3725177">Michal Miksatko</a>. I am glad it helped you out.</p>

<p>Laurie</p>

Thanks everyone! I know it's a old thread but I'm glad it's here. I've got my assembly soaking in alcohol now so hopefully it will come apart. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to set focus during reassembly? Is there something I can do before separating the front and middle to make it easier to set later?

It will not be possible to solve this problem without disassembling the focus mount.

 

To get it loose again, you should warm up the lens mount with a hot air gun and try to turn the focussing ring. As soon as it is somewhat loose, disassemble the focus mount and dip both parts into household alcohol over night. This will remove any residues in the threads. To regrease, there are special greases available but I had good results with silicon grease. DO NOT use any mineral oil based grease.