What is wrong here?

[bvandrasik]

Why do images from My Ikonta M look like they came out of a Holga? Seems to be sharp only at the dead center. First two were f/8-f/16, last one f4.5. Lens is the Novar-Anastigmat f4.5. I know it's not a Tessar, but I sure expected better than this!

 

[ZeissFan]

This looks to me like one of the lens elements is reversed.

 

[sojournerphoto]

A forerunner to the lensbaby?

Sorry not to be able to be more helpful, but it's fairly extreme.

Mike

 

[Muggins]

No, the Novar should be a lot better than that. Given that it's sharper in the centre I'd agree with ZeissFan - if the focus had been set wrongly, the entire subject would be out of focus. Someone's been in there before you...

Adrian

 

[bvandrasik]

Thanks, guys. It seems reasonable that someone could have put this back together wrong. I just got it and spent some time fixing light leaks, but did not disassemble the lens as it looks pretty clean. Any tips on how to identify which element is reversed?

 

[Windscale]

It may just be that the lens to film distance has been displaced. These are normally fixed by spacers (sometimes one, but may be two or three) Between the Lens/shutter unit and the body ring in front of the bellows. You can check if this distance is right quite easily by using a piece of ground glass, a tripod and a 8x (at least) loupe. If your infinity and 10 feet are both correctly set then you are all right. The 10 feet (or 3 meter) must be carefully measured physically. Use spacers to get this distance right and see if your pictures turned out better. A lot of people would dismantle a folder lens for cleaning and not realizing what the spacers are for and how important they are and just threw them away. I am sure once you have sorted this out you will be happy with your Novar. It is possible, but quite unlikely, for an element to be reversed on cleaning. There are only 3 elements and the chances of getting them in the wrong order must be minimal.

 

[Al Kaplan]

The center element could be installed front to back.

 

[FallisPhoto]

Why do images from My Ikonta M look like they came out of a Holga? Seems to be sharp only at the dead center. First two were f/8-f/16, last one f4.5. Lens is the Novar-Anastigmat f4.5. I know it's not a Tessar, but I sure expected better than this!

Looks to me like someone didn't screw the center element down tight.

 

[FallisPhoto]

I've cleaned a 75mm 4.5 Novar, and the last element is just held in place with a retaining ring. It would be very easy to put it back in the wrong way.
I'd try that first. Easy to correct if that doesn't help.

Edit: Oh, and people sometimes reverse an element on purpose to get this kind of effect.

Hope this helps.

Just got a spare Novar/Vario lens/shutter out and looked at it. You're right!

 

[bvandrasik]

Yup, the rear element was in backwards. Thanks, everyone.

Sure wish these cameras had instant LCD review...