Camera Talk

You persevered, Scott, and another Agfa camera will have new life!

PF

titrisol wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:24 pm

PFMcFarland recommended PB Blaster... after 3 days in the stuff it moved!
I'm a believer!

It smells like a combination of aliphatic and aromatic low weight hydrocarbons and it dissolved the agfa green goo.
A paper towel full and 3 qtips of green

It also works in corroded battery chambers!
I got a Spotmatic set, and the battery chamber was rusted shut
Bottom plate out, and 3 days with PB BLaster + 4h in vinegar did the trick!
I added some vaseline to prevent this to happen again (just like you do when installing car batteries)

Nice duo! I have the Isolette III with Apotar lens and I am also very pleased with the results from that lens. The focusing ring was slightly 'lazy' but not frozen solid, so I could use the camera from the first day I got it. Things improved further after I sent it to Jurgen Kreckel for a CLA, a new red bellows and brassing. That was many years ago - today I think I'd be able to replace the bellows myself and I would not have the camera brassed anymore. And if the shutter ever needs repair I would send it to Alex now.
Have fun with your cameras.

Alright - update from nigh on four years ago:

Few weeks ago, replaced the bellows with a burgundy set from Sandeha. Went in very nicely, required no trimming or adjustment. Very smooth install. Gave the Pliobond way more time than necessary to set. Very happy with the look.



Today, with Snowmageddon upon us, decided to tackle the completely frozen rangefinder (which is, TBH, completely unnecessary and superfluous, as it's uncoupled, but still). Sandeha has a write up on doing this, so I thought I'd follow along. Which helped, as it's been long enough that I only had a vague remembrance of the process. Aside from the initial step to free the wind side of the top being incorrect for the original era body I have, it was all good.



Had a bear of a time freeing the pivot arm. Required alternating application of Goof-Off and RemOil on the top of the post, and wiggling the arm back and forth. Was ultimately able to lift the arm off with a smooth needle nose. Cleaned, greased, works great. Same with the dial. Loosened with Goof-Off, and RemOil dripped back in. Completely free now, and didn't have to disassemble the two wheels.



Cleaned all the lenses in the rangefinder; it's remarkably clear now. Vertical and horizontal are both way off. Adjusted the vertical; need to find my tripod and set the horizontal. When the weather clears, then, I can collimate the lens and confirm focus. Need to do that on several cameras, will batch it.

I am not a fan of the Isolette III/Special R. Have had a bunch of them, always sell them. I just don't like transferring distances manually. That said, this camera is turning out lovely. It's smooth as hell, the bellows are sparkling. I'm hopeful. And we're spending enough time running around now that I enjoy having a small corral of cameras to play with. Worse comes to worst, I'll use it for scale focus. Looking forward to buttoning this one up.

Now, the Super Memar that was also on this post: Largely abandoned. I need to play with the glass a little more to see if it's in usable shape. Rangefinder is completely frozen, film advance yada yada. Not sure I care enough about 135, especially with the Super Regent. We'll see.

Nice work. Like you, I really like these little cameras as engineering art, but am not much into 135 these days. So I've got a couple, one needing work, and I mostly just let them be shelf queens. So many cameras, so little time!

Robert

Yeah, that is a bear!
I added some superlube instead of rem-oil and its been fine since

I love the lens in the Jsolette 3 and mostly use it as scale focus but sometime the RF is very useful.

scott wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 19, 2025 4:39 pm

Had a bear of a time freeing the pivot arm. Required alternating application of Goof-Off and RemOil on the top of the post, and wiggling the arm back and forth. Was ultimately able to lift the arm off with a smooth needle nose. Cleaned, greased, works great. Same with the dial. Loosened with Goof-Off, and RemOil dripped back in. Completely free now, and didn't have to disassemble the two wheels.

I've been wondering if an ultrasonic cleaner would loosen that Agfa grease, but I haven't yet tried it.

melek wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:03 pm

I've been wondering if an ultrasonic cleaner would loosen that Agfa grease, but I haven't yet tried it.

I'll have to try that, Mike. Like I said, I have the Super Memar with glued up everything. If I decide to keep it, I'll have to sonicate something to see if it helps.

Okay, beauty shot:


Really, probably the nicest one of these I've ever had. I don't know that the Solinar version even exists in the wild anymore - the Apotar version is ridiculous for what it is. Stupid BIN prices... Anyway, everything is smooth as butter, running smoothly. Need to order film at some point (I only have a few rolls of FP4+ left, and about 5 rolls of original Acros that I should probably use, all earmarked for the Fujica and Super Wester, which is next on the docket) and test it out. Again, will likely use this as a scale focus camera, but looking forward to using it. Sure is purty...

Solinar version does exist, dont know if a Solagon version was ever made but that would be yummy

Yeah, I know it EXISTS, but it’s been a l-o-n-g time since I’ve seen any come up for sale. Last one I had in hand was probably ten years ago. I was being hyperbolic, sorry.

That said, that’s one of the things I’m happy about with the Super Regent -has the Solinar. Need to adjust infinity on that yet…