Ansco Super Memar w/Solagon 2/50 and Syncro-Compur

[farlymac]

The Super Memar's (USA twin to the Super Silette) came in two flavors, the less expensive rangefinder with an f3.5/45mm Apotar triplet in a Prontor-SVS, while the other model carried the f2/50mm Solagon six element lens in a Syncro-Compur MXV.

I purchased the latter (and I believe better) of the two models from a gent on another forum, but it did not come as advertised. The shutter was sticking on the slow speeds, and after a little cleaning, I could see the front element was totally scratched up. I went ahead and tore it down, and after a broad learning curve on the Syncro-Compur, was able to get it back into working condition. Well, except for the bunged up lens. It will take a complete other lens to finish the repair, as the Solagon was manufactured in matching front and rear optical sets.

I shot a test roll of Kodak 200 down at the Community Arboretum in Roanoke, VA. It's too bad the photos have so much glare in them. But at least I hadn't spent the entire day running around the whole county getting shots that would be hard to duplicate. The pics were well focused, and a couple even came out pretty good, IQ wise. Exposures seem to be good. But I'm just really bummed about that lens.

Anyway, here is a link to the repair photos on Flickr for anyone who would want to go diving into a Syncro-Compur.

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCbMYma

And the very first photo on the roll.


47310001_0 by br1078phot, on Flickr


PF

 

[farlymac]

I've posted the rest of the test roll shots on Flickr at
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCcfvZ7

PF

 

[Dave S.]

This lens is prone to flare. Get a lens hood and avoid shooting into your light source (e.g. the sun) unless you want that "effect". You might also find this thread tangentially interesting:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110549

 

[farlymac]

Well, Dave, I did use a hood, and most of the shots were not into the light. As you can see from the example here, it's flaring on anything that is brighter than the rest of the scene. A severely scratched up front element tends to do that.

PF

 

[Greyscale]

It is a terrific performer if you have one with a good lens.


SM004 by Greyscale3, on Flickr


SM002 by Greyscale3, on Flickr


SM007 by Greyscale3, on Flickr

More here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/greyscale3/sets/72157645128088294/

 

[farlymac]

Yes, and when I get around to swapping the lens, I hope to have a decent camera. I finally have the parts donor, just have to fit it into the line-up for benchwork.

PF

 

[hanskerensky]

Too bad about that scratched up lens Phil !

Guess I must have a second Super Silette somewhere with a Solagon lens.
They are real nice performers but, as stated already, a lens hood is needed as the glass sticks out quite far.

 

[farlymac]

I spend a lot of money on hoods for lenses, Hans. Saw one the other day for $2,500.00! Man, am I'm glad I'm not all caught up in the Leica thing.

PF

 

[rick oleson]

I had that same model once ... the lens was a mess on the front surface. It didn't look really like scratches, it was almost like a glass marble that had been dropped into hot water, a pattern of little lines all over the surface. I don't think they were really fractures but they had that appearance. Needless to say, the lens was very soft and there wasn't much I could do about it. It was a lovely camera except for that little issue.....

 

[Greyscale]

I had that same model once ... the lens was a mess on the front surface. It didn't look really like scratches, it was almost like a glass marble that had been dropped into hot water, a pattern of little lines all over the surface. I don't think they were really fractures but they had that appearance. Needless to say, the lens was very soft and there wasn't much I could do about it. It was a lovely camera except for that little issue.....

I have a Super Silette with the Apotar lens that has the same issue, and a Memar that has a slight case. The Memar works OK, but is very prone to flare. I think that the Agfa coating might be softer than most, and more likely to suffer from scratching from over zealous cleaning and environment-related failure (high humidity, sea air, etc.).

It is almost like what starts as a "cleaning mark" type scratch will lead to crazing, and ultimately flaking of the lens coating.

 

[farlymac]

I parted out a Super Memar because it looks like someone tried to re-coat the Apotar lens. I tried every solvent I have, and couldn't clean it off. While some of my Silette/Memar models have minor coating issues, none of them were scratched up like the Solagon. The replacement camera I got is pretty well corroded up, but the lens/shutter assembly looks really good.

PF