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Post by Randy on Nov 3, 2005 8:18:50 GMT -5
I gave my wife Freda a Universal Roamer II camera for Christmas last year. Can anyone tell me why the photos from it would be out of focus when the lens is set at infinity? Also, what would be the year of production on this camera?  |
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Nov 3, 2005 9:23:34 GMT -5
Hi Randy, Freda's Roamer II, made by the Universal Camera Corporation, dates from around 1948-49. It should have an f/4.5 lens, but I'm not sure how many speeds the shutter has. It was an upmarket version of the Roamer I of the same time which had only an f/11 lens in a single speed shutter. I think Universal got into financial difficulties and went bust in 1952. The lens on the Roamer II focuses by moving the front cell, and barring physical damage the only reasonable reason that it's out of focus when set on infinity is that at some time someone has had the front cell off to clean it, or clean the shutter, and didn't get it back at the right setting for infinity. The best and most accurate way to check and reset it if necessary is, in my opinion, to use the 'two camera' method with an SLR (I believe you've got one or two of those!  ). If you don't know this method, come back and I'll post some notes on it. (I used it to set the lens on the old Voigtländer when I finished restoring it). Peter |
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Post by herron on Nov 3, 2005 13:04:29 GMT -5
Peter: Could you post some of your notes and thoughts anyway! I have the same problem trying to reset the infinity focus on an old folder I cleaned some time ago...and never got back together quite right.  |
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Post by herron on Nov 3, 2005 13:09:43 GMT -5
By the way, Randy, I wish I could give my wife a 50-year-old camera for Christmas -- that is, without having a dish thrown at me! LOL  She tolerates my collecting, but has never really been keen on cameras, beyond taking the occasional snapshots. Also by the way, this is one of those chit-chat messages that can go away without hurting much! ;D |
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Post by doubs43 on Nov 3, 2005 14:13:08 GMT -5
Randy, I believe Peter is on the right track. I have a beautiful Moskva-4 that wasn't in-focus at infinity or any other setting when using the rangefinder. I used a ground glass taped to the film plane and a 10x loupe to adjust focus and now the camera takes sharp images. Considering the condition of the camera, my theory is that it was out of focus when purchased new. The owner probably used it and wasn't satisfied with the results and, instead of having it adjusted, just laid it up where it remained until sold to me.
BTW, if there's no provision for adjusting the front cell of your lens for infinity, you may have to use shims (add or remove) to bring infinity to proper sharpness. That means removing the shutter/lens assembly from the mounting plate to make the adjustment.
Walker
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Nov 3, 2005 14:48:43 GMT -5
Ron Herron wrote:
No problem, Ron. Give me a short time to draw a couple of diagrams and I'll post the 'two camera' method. I know many people, like Walker, have had success with a ground glass screen and a loupe, and if you haven't also got an SLR it's possibly the only simple way.
Maybe it's my old eyes, but having tried both I honestly think the two-camera method is easier, simpler and leaves less chance for error. Also you can do it after dark in the evening because you don't have to go out and look for a distant object to focus on. Basically what you're doing is to use the two cameras as a very simple infinity collimator. Once inifinity is set OK the accuracy at nearer distances depends only on the accuracy of the camera's focus scale and/or its coupling to the rangefinder. Anyway, more soon.
Maybe the Work Bench section would be the best place to post it?
Peter
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Post by Randy on Nov 3, 2005 19:52:20 GMT -5
Freda went GA GA when she got this camera for Christmas last year. She was really let down when she got her pictures back though.
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Nov 4, 2005 14:28:11 GMT -5
Hi folks,
I've written a screed on setting a lens at infinity and posted it in the Work Bench section. I thought I might need to draw some diagrams, but I think the words explain it all OK. Any problems, yell and I'll answer.
Peter
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Post by Randy on Nov 4, 2005 18:51:07 GMT -5
Thanks Peter, now all I need is T I M E.
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