Old thread/new thread

[Murray Kelly]

I have here an old FED-1 which seemingly has the early and erroneous lens thread that is wrong. It only accepts the original f3.5 FED that came with it. I have checked and rechecked the lens register and it is spot on.

Any tender souls should redirect thier browser to another thread at this point.

I am keen to use other lenses from my stable on this (now) smoothly functioning camera. The banding is fixed and the speeds are consistent with the dial selector.

Is it possible to 'lap' in the threads (gently) with a paste so that the tiny difference in threads/inch will allow me to use the J-3 etc? At the moment I cannot seat these lenses down to the flange and enjoy the little camera with the rather beautiful lenses I have?

Natururally, the brass lens mount is much harder than the average alluminium barrel
of the J-3 etc but I do have a brass Summitar that is just 'so-so' in comparison to the FSU line-up which have the correct thread. I would use that as the tool.

Has anyone done this? What are the pitfalls? The lens register will in no way be compromised. I propose to do this with the flange off the camera so as no grit gets into the camera itself.

I just want to try more modern lenses in this most attractive old body. (not mine! 🙂

Any help appreciated.

Murray
Brisbane, Oz )

 

[ZorkiKat]

You can replace the lens mount from a later FED with the 'english' thread pitch and recalibrate the camera. I've done this to an old FED which had been orphaned of its original lens. The lens mount which went on it was an original Leica.

Doing this will no longer allow the old lens to mount. Rethreading the original lens mount will not be a very good idea or an easy thing to do either.

With a new mount on, there are two important things which need to be done.
First, set the lens flange to focal distance to exactly 28.8mm (+/- 0.02mm). Then, adjust the rangefinder for infinity and minimum focus. The former is done with the RF adjustment screw, and the latter by changing the angle of the rectangular (as found in the older FED) rf focus coupler/sensor.

Jay

 

[Murray Kelly]

Thanks, Zorkicat. Your suggestion I discard the old mount and put another newer one in its place is fine, except I don't have a newer one. The adjustments you mention would be necessary, I agree, and I have been down that road with other cameras so I aware of that..

Since I will have to throw out the old flange I might as well try my idea. The actual difference in the threads is quite tiny considering there are only about 2 or 3 turns involved.

Murray
Brisbane, Oz

You can replace the lens mount from a later FED with the 'english' thread pitch and recalibrate the camera. I've done this to an old FED which had been orphaned of its original lens. The lens mount which went on it was an original Leica.

Doing this will no longer allow the old lens to mount. Rethreading the original lens mount will not be a very good idea or an easy thing to do either.

With a new mount on, there are two important things which need to be done.
First, set the lens flange to focal distance to exactly 28.8mm (+/- 0.02mm). Then, adjust the rangefinder for infinity and minimum focus. The former is done with the RF adjustment screw, and the latter by changing the angle of the rectangular (as found in the older FED) rf focus coupler/sensor.

Jay

 

[Kim Coxon]

I would be wary. Whilst it would not be a problem if you damage the old mount, it is just as likely that you will damage the lens doing it.

Kim

 

[rxmd]

Thanks, Zorkicat. Your suggestion I discard the old mount and put another newer one in its place is fine, except I don't have a newer one. The adjustments you mention would be necessary, I agree, and I have been down that road with other cameras so I aware of that..

Since I will have to throw out the old flange I might as well try my idea. The actual difference in the threads is quite tiny considering there are only about 2 or 3 turns involved.

Firstly as Kim suggested you might damage the Summitar thread as well, since both are brass - unless you have a lens with a steel thread or something I foresee trouble. Secondly why do you insist on trashing the old mount? Would be a pity to spoil the old camera. If you ask and/or look around you should have no problems getting a lens mount from an old "parts" FED, maybe even here.

Philipp

 

[Kim Coxon]

I don't have many spares now but Spyderman had several "parts" Feds from me. Perhaps he can help. 😉

Kim

 

[Murray Kelly]

Thanks all. I will put the project on the back burner. I have plenty of cameras to play with (too many!) -I just like the feel of this one in particular. Having been in and eliminated the banding of exposure it'd be nice to try it out with something other than the f3.5 collapsible that came with it.

Murray
Brisbane, Oz

Tha atavar was taken with this combo.

 

[wolves3012]

It might be possible to use a thread-chaser on the mount IF you can get the right one (and that's a big IF) but I agree with the other replies that replacing the mount is a far better and easier option. It also means you can replace the original one if you want. It'd be a shame to spoil the history of such an old camera - isn't this the FED S from previous posts?

Incidentally, if you replace the mount you may well find the original lens still mounts - my early FED lens does mount on later bodies, even though the body won't take other lenses (don't ask, I hurt my head figuring how this can be - I think it's down to wear on the threads).

 

[Spyderman]

Kim - you sent me only one lens mount with the 4 FED bodies... therefore unfortunately I can't build another working camera even though I'd like to 🙁

So, unfortunately I can't help.