Bug inside a Rolleicord !!

[frogfroggy]

Hi everyone, my very first post in this wonderful forum. 😎Recently I have bought a Rolleicord in a very good condition. The shutters and apertures are all in very good working condition, but there is one minor flaw. When I open the aperture I can see a tiny bug inside or between the taking lens. I checked if its actually in front or at the back, however I am certain the bug "sits" between the lenses. Should I return it ? I still have seven days left to return the camera. Or should I keep the camera and remove the bug and improve the camera with a CLA (withing the EU)? Thank you very much.

Regards, David

 

[frogfroggy]

Oh btw another question the front name plate where "Franke & Heideke Braunschweig" are engraved the lines beside the taking lens is brown and not black. Is this some kind of special manufactured version of the Rolleicord Va ?
Thank you

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

There's a reasonable chance the front lens group will be loose enough to unscrew by hand from its thread in the shutter. Depending on whether the bug is in front of, or behind, the shutter blades, you may need to set the shutter to bulb and perhaps use a locking cable to keep it open while you extricate the insect.

If the front lens group is tighter you may consider using some rubber to gain purchase. The mount may have slots for a lens spanner but of course these can mark the mount if not used carefully, (and sometimes, even when they are). But there's a fair chance it will just unscrew for easy access.

I'd be inclined to take a good look over the rest of the camera. Given the front and rear groups screw into the shutter at either end it's not easy for an insect to get inside there. I would never send a camera out to someone with an insect in the lens. If this has been missed, what else is wrong? So I suggest giving it a careful inspection in any case, if you have a return option.
Regards
Brett

 

[Dan Daniel]

On the paint question, I've seen the paint brown on a couple of cameras, and always put it down to fading. Maybe in cleaning it got rubbed down, maybe a different supplier of paint one month at the Rollei factory, hard to say.

I've never heard it mentioned as a special production run by Rollei or such.

 

[frogfroggy]

Well, I think I am uncomfortable disassembling the lens elements. I checked everything and the other functions seem to work alright. As I stated before though I am wondering why this Rolleicord has a brown engravement of the "Franke & Heidecke Braunschweig" and not black as usual ? ? ?

http://johnsrolleionlypage.homestead.com/files/Rolleicord_Va_1924895_Large.JPG

On the paint question, I've seen the paint brown on a couple of cameras, and always put it down to fading. Maybe in cleaning it got rubbed down, maybe a different supplier of paint one month at the Rollei factory, hard to say.
I've never heard it mentioned as a special production run by Rollei or such.

Hmm perhaps. But then some letters should've been a littler darker but on my Rolleicord its all brown...

 

[Dan Daniel]

Hmm perhaps. But then some letters should've been a littler darker but on my Rolleicord its all brown...

If you want to have a collector's item, go for it then. Put it on Ebay and I'm sure someone will pay a premium for it. :bang:

 

[mkvrnn]

What kind of bug and how did it get there?

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Well, I think I am uncomfortable disassembling the lens elements. I checked everything and the other functions seem to work alright. As I stated before though I am wondering why this Rolleicord has a brown engravement of the "Franke & Heidecke Braunschweig" and not black as usual ? ? ?

http://johnsrolleionlypage.homestead.com/files/Rolleicord_Va_1924895_Large.JPG



Hmm perhaps. But then some letters should've been a littler darker but on my Rolleicord its all brown...

I don't believe anyone (including myself) has suggested you should dismantle the lens down to the individual glass pieces (although having said that, if cleaning is needed it's not particularly hard to strip the front group of a cord).

What I recommended was unscrewing the front group from its thread in the shutter, to access the space in between the front and rear lens groups. If you're not confident doing this fair enough. You may, however, want to avoid attaching the camera to a tripod, as this will involve inserting a fitting into the thread in your Rolleicords back, and involves the same level of complexity as removing and inserting the front lens group...OK, that is a slight exaggeration, but seriously, you simply need to unscrew the lens group to remove it as a unit, and set the shutter to bulb to blow the bug out. It's really not as complicated as you might expect and there are members here willing to offer good advice.

Of course, if you have other reasons for wishing to return the camera--fair enough--and I've already suggested giving it a careful inspection. But if the bug is the only issue with it this should not be difficult to fix, (unless some numpty has previously overtightened the front group in its thread, in which case some dismantling will be required). Happy to assist.
Regards
Brett

 

[PMCC]

Sounds like a straightforward bug fix. 😀

 

[Ronald M]

All mechanical and electronic things have bugs.

 

[Mablo]

I'm thinking it could not be a bug but a spot of mildew.

 

[frogfroggy]

Thank you everybody for your helpful advices. I have sent the camera back and will get my full refund.

@Sarcophilus thanks, but I am really not comfortable unscrewing the lenses. Because I still had the warranty I just have sent the camera back. But if I find another cord with a bug inside, I will come back to your advice ! Thank you 🙂

@Mablo its certainly a bug and not a spot of mildew, I see wings and the head/body!

 

[PMCC]

All mechanical and electronic things have bugs.

True that. But with wings?

 

[Rayt]

how big is the bug?

 

[PMCC]

how big is the bug?

If big enough, it might be a feature, not a bug.

 

[Dan Daniel]

If big enough, it might be a feature, not a bug.

Been working for Microsoft too long, I'd say.

 

[PMCC]

Been working for Microsoft too long, I'd say.

Smile when you say that, pal -- them's fighting words. 🙂

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Thank you everybody for your helpful advices. I have sent the camera back and will get my full refund.

@Sarcophilus thanks, but I am really not comfortable unscrewing the lenses. Because I still had the warranty I just have sent the camera back. But if I find another cord with a bug inside, I will come back to your advice ! Thank you 🙂

@Mablo its certainly a bug and not a spot of mildew, I see wings and the head/body!

No worries, the most important thing is that you've got a good outcome that works for your needs. You've also kept your options open for a better example to come along.
Regards
Brett