Agfa Super Solinette info wanted

[charjohncarter]

Yes, you have to open the back and click the film gear forward to use the shutter. I have a cheaper model and the bellows is leaking, and is impossible to replace. So I prepaired by going to the inside and putting black silicon into the offending areas.

 

[Ranchu]

Was just going to suggest that you check the bellows for holes with a flashlight in a closet.

 

[Pioneer]

I believe the filter thread is 27mm.

My focus was stiff when I first picked it up. If you open up the back and look in at the lens from the rear you can see the focus helical. I have cleaned out most of the hardened grease from the back and put a little lube on the helical with a toothpick every now and again. Over time I have repeated this cleaning and lubing an it has loosened up the focus somewhat but it is still pretty stiff. At least I don't have to use leather gloves anymore to focus the camera. 🙂

BTW, if I am collimating a lens I typically just duct tape some wax paper across the film rails to use as a ground glass to check focus.

 

[Scrambler]

Filters in the old days were marked outside diameter, then changed to inside diameter through to the present. I have a collection of Kodak filters in 32mm and 28.5mm that screw into each other - the same actual size despite the different markings - both Kodak original. I would suspect that 27mm would be about right for you from my above but cannot confirm.
As for ground glass - I have used Scotch tape on the film rails (you can use with adhesive side out if you want, or adhesive holding the tape on if you are prepared to clean.)

 

[seany65]

@johnnyrod, the butkus manual says:

"Diameter of the super solinette lens mount is 30mm".

I used this info some weeks ago to get a skylight filter and lens hood.

But 30mm threads aren't small enough to screw in and not big enough to slip onto the lens.

I then got a 28mm filter to try and it seemed small enough, but it wouldn't screw in properly, as if the thread is a different pitch.

@charjohncarter and Ranchu, I've had it CLA'd. The assistant in the shop took it into a room and checked the bellows for leaks, and he said there weren't any, but I imagine another check was made by the technician who did the CLA.

@Scrambler, I found out myself about this 'outside diameter size' marking silliness, when I looked at the screw-in Agfa UV filter marked '37mm', and the slip-on Agfa Yellow-Green filter also marked '37mm' which came with an Agfa Ambi Silette which I bought last friday.

 

[brz62]

Thread size

Thread size

Does anyone know of the pitch of the thread in the front of the lens? I bought a 28mm skylight filter and even though it's narrow enough to fit, it doesn't really screw in.

Were the filters and hoods etc. actually of the 'slip-on' type?


Any help would be much appreciated.

The correct thread size is 27.5mm

 

[seany65]

Thanks brz62. I've done ebay searches for that size, but nothing of inetrest comes up, so I've decided to stick with 30mm push-on filters which do show up occasionally. I'm waiting for a UV filter from Lithuania. Depending on how that goes I'll buy the other filter(s) that they may have over the next month or so.

 

[seany65]

I've got a few more questions I'd like to ask:

1) Is there any way of dating a super solinette by it's serial number?

2) I've read that some have plastic bellows and others have leather bellows, and that the plastic ones aren't too good. Does anyone know if the different types were used at particular periods of production, such as plastic early on and leather later?

3) Would the bellows situation be exactly the same for the ansco super regent, or did Ansco specify a particular material?

Any help would be much appreciated.