Rolleiflex Tele lens separation

[mthomas]

Is this eBay camera showing separation/decementing of its front two lens elements?

Thanks very much,
Marc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233679760230?hash=item3668662b66:g😛bkAAOSwOwJfNbdz

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Is this eBay camera showing separation/decementing of its front two lens elements?

Thanks very much,
Marc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/23367976023...kAAOSwOwJfNbdz

Separation? They're in the middle of an acrimonious divorce!

 

[Beemermark]

I'd ask the seller what is it in the taking lens. Might just be a reflection of something (though I doubt it). Priced right but if that lens is really that bad it's just a part's camera.

 

[Cascadilla]

Definitely a separation (or acrimonious divorce as Brett would have it). I wouldn't touch it in that condition.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Ask if the "coating aberration" is on the surface of the front element. If not, then walk away unless the seller drops the price by $1500.

Phil Forrest

 

[rulnacco]

There definitely is some separation going on there. And the seller's description of it is more than a bit disingenuous.

At the same time, even in that condition, it's not just a "parts camera." It will still take great photos, particularly in black and white.

If you want merely a shelf queen, that's definitely not the camera for you (unless you want to keep that blingy lens cap on full time). If you're wanting to shoot it, it will probably work just fine.

But not at that price--that is indeed a major flaw (unless you don't give a damn and want it *only* for it's picture-taking abilities), that affects its value, so despite the cosmetic condition of the rest of the camera and the relative rarity and desirability of that model, the seller needs to temper his expectations significantly.

 

[mthomas]

Canadian balsam

Canadian balsam

Boy I'd love to know how to pry out that front element, smear it with some resin from a Balsam fir tree, and then stick everything back together.

(Thank you to everyone on this forum for making me psychotically hyper-aware of this problem.)

Marc

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I asked the seller out of curiosity and they said it is inside the lens, not on the surface.

Phil Forrest

 

[coogee]

My Tele Rolleiflex never had a hint of any separation. The glass was immaculate and the pictures from the Sonnar lens were too.

But after owning it for many years it developed this classic type of separation quite quickly and it did impact images quite significantly, causing a lot of vignetting.

I emailed Kanto Camera on the prospect of repair but I'd sold the camera for parts by the time they replied, many months later. The cost to attempt recementing the elements was more than the camera cost, at that time at least.

I'd abolutely love another. There is simply no camera like it for me. But every time I get the urge and start looking online I see so many with this exact type of separation that even if I could find one without it, I wouldn't place much stock this 60 year old Sonnar lens is going to last too long 🙁

Good luck finding one, perhaps with some separation at a price you can stomach rather than looking for one at a big premium that's probably going to go exactly the same way anyway.

 

[Beemermark]

My Tele Rolleiflex never had a hint of any separation. The glass was immaculate and the pictures from the Sonnar lens were too.

But after owning it for many years it developed this classic type of separation quite quickly and it did impact images quite significantly, causing a lot of vignetting.

I emailed Kanto Camera on the prospect of repair but I'd sold the camera for parts by the time they replied, many months later. The cost to attempt recementing the elements was more than the camera cost, at that time at least.

I'd abolutely love another. There is simply no camera like it for me. But every time I get the urge and start looking online I see so many with this exact type of separation that even if I could find one without it, I wouldn't place much stock this 60 year old Sonnar lens is going to last too long 🙁

For some reason the Tele Rolleiflex seem prone to lens separation.

 

[former member]

Zeiss used an early synthetic cement starting in the 1950s. Separation is common on these lenses. Will have a minimum effect on images. It can be repaired - but is expensive. Knocking the price down by several hundred is reasonable. I doubt anyone will pay a premium for a lens in need of serious repair.

I've used Index Matching Oil, like that used for oil immersion microscope lenses- to prevent Newtons Rings on a Canon 135/3.5 with separated elements. It works, going past 15 years now.

 

[farlymac]

There are other cameras shown in the Sponsored Items box, Marc, which are $500 less expensive and have no separation issues, though you don't get the box, filter, case, and that wicked lens cap. You can always add those later.


PF

 

[raid]

My Tele Rolleiflex has some separation in the taking lens since over twenty years now. It did not get worse, and I fo not see any effects on the images.

 

[mthomas]

Henry Scherer's opinion about Sonnar repair

Henry Scherer's opinion about Sonnar repair

Henry is a really good guy. Here's his response to my question about possible repair of the Tele Rolleiflex's lens:

"Hello Marc,

The answer to your question is I don’t know for sure. Some epoxy lens cements can separate and some will not. The only way to tell is to try and see what happens. It also depends if the lens element can be extracted from the camera at a reasonable cost. Rolleiflex cameras require a lot of special tools made by Rollei and I don’t know if the separated lens element can be gotten out of the camera without a lot of expensive surgery performed by a Rollei specialist who has these tools.

I’d be willing to make an attempt to separate and to re-cement the lens element if it is provided to me outside of the camera. I have no experience with Rolleiflex repair and cannot remove the separated lens element myself.

With such a camera as this you can be sure the seller has made more than an ordinary attempt to have the camera repaired before deciding to sell it in its current condition.

My advice is always never buy a camera that you know needs repair because there is always a risk entailed with the process of having it repaired..

I found this camera a few days ago. I have to admit its very beautiful and there’s always a good reason for this. The usual reason is the camera doesn’t work. If you want to buy this camera make sure you get a good solid return agreement on it from the seller before handing over any money.

Sincerely,

Henry

 

[Ronald M]

Mint- is a joke. Run do not walk away or offer $200 for case, filter?, and lens cap.

This is a parts camera, not Mint-

 

[mthomas]

There are other cameras shown in the Sponsored Items box, Marc, which are $500 less expensive and have no separation issues, though you don't get the box, filter, case, and that wicked lens cap. You can always add those later.


PF

Thanks, PF. Sage advice.

Marc