27 replies to this topic

[QuickHitRecord]

I'd like to set up a post where people can talk about their experiences having their anamorphic lenses serviced and repaired. I have very limited knowledge and (fortunately) no experience with an actual repair so far, but please contribute if you have something that you can share here. Many of these lenses are very old and might need some work!

In no particular order:

GENERAL ANAMORPHIC LENS REPAIR

• Super 16 Inc (New York) - Bernie O'Doherty repairs and services anamorphic lenses. From Bernie: "A maladjustment of 1/64th to 1/32nd of a degree can mean the difference between a sharp image and one that needs a close-down to f4/5.6 to provide a decent image. And customers seem to accept lower image quality where anamorphic lenses are concerned. Of course, some lenses have imperfect design features which prevent optimum image quality, but, in general, after a good optimizing, most lenses, even anamorphic, benefit from such a servicing."
• Focus Optics (California) - They may service other anamorphic lenses. When I emailed them, I got a one-line reply that said something like, "Yes, we service anamorphic lenses". Which ones, I am not sure of.
• Abel Cine Tech (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles) - I came across a forum in which they offered their services when someone asked about a problem Kowa.

ISCORAMA REPAIR

• Focal Point Lens (Colorado) - John Van Stelten was the official one-man Isco projection lens repair service in the United States up until they were absorbed by Schneider a few years back. He has worked on lots of Iscoramas. He is one of the few lens repair specialists that I have talked who offers lens polishing and re-coating. It's not cheap and it can be risky, but in some cases, this process successfully removes any trace of scratches, coating issues, and fungus that has etched into a lens element. He also has an autocollimator, which is essential for re-callibrating lenses after they have been taken apart.
• Nippon Photo Clinic Service (New York) - They are listed in the Wikipedia article on Iscorama as being a repair show that can service Iscoramas. They can probably service Kowa and Bell & Howell as well. I need to give them a call to confirm (they are closed for the weekend).

LOMO REPAIR

• Olex Camera Services (Ukraine) - I have emailed back and forth with Olexandr quite a bit with questions about my Lomo square front. He is very knowledgeable. I have not yet had to employ his services, but Ed Lee of the Lomo Anamorphic User blog has, and he's given Olexandr high marks. I wish that Olexandr accepted PayPal!
• Super 16 Inc (New York) - Services Lomo anamorphic lenses. See mention above for more info.
• RafCamera (Belarus) - Rafael can install PL mounts and geared rings on Lomos.
• Focus Optics (California) - They service Round Front and BAS model Lomos.

[tony wilson]

Super 16 Inc (New York) - Bernie O'Doherty
bernie o is the man.

bernie has had a really superb reputation for donkeys years.
come on he worked on the best bond film ever
ohmss

lovely cinematography using early generation panavision anamorphics.

[au8ust]

Viktor from Spbsale http://www.spbsale.com/

He does lens mount conversion based in St. Peterburge, Russia.

[bluesteel]

DOES ANYONE HAVE THE EMAIL OR WEBSITE FOR NIPPON PHOTO CLINIC SERVICE????

Nippon Photo Clinic Service (New York) - They are listed in the Wikipedia article on Iscorama as being a repair show that can service Iscoramas. They can probably service Kowa and Bell & Howell as well. I need to give them a call to confirm (they are closed for the weekend).

[tony wilson]

red stan's sage wisdom and advice on good and shit anamorphics.
1.small optics give you an easier life and nice close focus.
2.focus test your anamorphic as soon as you get it if you cannot get a sharp picture get a refund or a discount.
3.do not take any crap bull from a seller especially if he has sold you junk costing over 250 dollars.
4.if your lens has major damage it may be beyond economic repair meaning it could cost 2-5 times it's value for the repair.
5.with repairs expect a wait from 6 weeks to 3 months any good repair guy is always busy.
i had a nikon lens take 6 months for a complicated repair once.
6.explain to repair guy clearly what you think is wrong it saves time and money.
7.except the fact that some anamorphics are just not worth saving or repairing
8.many ebay anamorphic optics are the same optics being purchased fiddled with then sold on.
if in doubt walk away.
9.if your seller can take a foto of the lens and put a lengthy cut and past bull shit discription with a price tag of a 1000 dollars plus.
ask him why he has not bothered to shoot through the anamorphic is it because it is soft : )
10.at least 35% of anamorphics need servicing why do you think rental companies and studios had camera lens service depts.
11.main problems optic to optic alignment issue giving soft picture.
dried out focus helicoid grease.
dirty internal optics, fungus and external coating problems.
lens separation.
a lens clean and service should optimize the system allowing use of faster taking lens.
why get stuck in the 1950s hollywood rut of f8-16
12.remember repairing a car after a major crash is gonna cost a lot more time and money than a simple service.
13.quality shipping box within a box method is a must.
bad shipping with several impact drops along the journey will give you a bad lens.
14.i did not like ending on 13.

[Kurt Schleier]

This might be the most ridiculous question to ask ever, but I'm going to do it anyway: Is there anyone who has a front anamorphic optic element for an Iscorama (first series, with 50mm taking lens) lying around?

Perhaps from a damaged and unusable Iscorama? The thing is, I won a bid on a blurry Iscorama (but thankfully did not pay yet) when I noticed that in some additional photos the seller sent me what the problem probably is, it looks rather empty on the inside. Someone has taken out the front anamorphic element (and put the iscorama back together again unproperly)! This is easily noticeable by the fact that when you look straight into the lens from the front, everything on the inside is just round, not oval shaped like on any other anamorphic (and I have owned a few over the last few years).

This is obviously a big issue, but I think repairable if I find a donor, to return this Iscorama to its former glory. As it is otherwise complete and undamaged I want to give it a try if I can find the proper parts.. Otherwise I'll cancel the sale and save quite a few €€ and stress.

So please let me know and spread the word, perhaps anyone has the treasure trove I'm looking for in the back of some old shop or drawer!

[tony wilson]

no oval shape no cylindrical optics means no anamorphic picture.
that sounds like a car crash.
sounds like an expensive spherical lens that will be poorer than a 10 dollar helios.
i remember years ago someone was flogging an iscorama with optics missing and pleading ignorance.
if the isco has the cylindricals then it is still a major
i have some old french focus optics that may work in theory but it will change the field of view add plenty bent field distortion lower the contrast and will never be as unbelievable and as sharp as a set up iscorama.
unless it is cheap ish and a full return guarantee it is a gamble.
my guess is it would have to be 60% cheaper than a working model to be worth a gamble 60% cheaper than proper auction end price not buy it now which are for the rich and impulsive.

[Kurt Schleier]

Well I had to move quick and won the bid, but have made sure I could cancel the auction afterwards and not risk losing a heck of a lot of money. It is in fact 60% cheaper than a working model (looking at todays prices), but that is still a lot of course! I have been buying and selling anamorphics, and taking them apart, doing them up with very good results. I was happy to take the punt with the information in the description but I first thought there was something wrong with the focus, as that according to the seller didn't focus to infinity. Looking closer at an additional photo after auction taken from the front I noticed there was no oval shapes within. I don't think the seller tried to hold this back for me, probably wasn't aware of this. But it does mean I think I will have to cancel my purchase, reluctantly. Or some isco front cylindrical optic might turn up in one or two days?! The Isco company can't help me, so I hope someone from the anamorphic world can.. But it'd have to be quick as I'll cancel the purchase within a day or so if no luck..

That would mean, just forget about another Iscorama! I have missed out on so many with the M42 50mm back lens (which is the best for my purposes, as I also like to do some photography and don't want have the hassle of clamps anymore) in particular it's frustrating. Can anyone offer one?

[Kurt Schleier]

Sale now cancelled, so anyone look out for an iscorama without the front cylindrical bit on the web, no doubt some other punter will pick it up who doesn't know about this big issue!

[richg101]

Those lens wipes and fluid are superb.

[Kurt Schleier]

Those lens wipes and fluid are superb.

I'm missing something here I guess ;-)

[richg101]

I'm missing something here I guess ;-)

sorry man. wrong topic.

[tony wilson]

calotherm

and caloclear

[QuickHitRecord]

I recently got my 35mm Lomo NAS Squarefront back from Olex Camera Services. Besides the fact that it sat in NYC customs for three weeks (not Olexandr's fault!), I have no complaints. The lens functions smoothly and focuses perfectly. He did a good job and I would recommend him.

[au8ust]

Dima Turaev (dimaturaev at gmail) based in Russia.

 

He does lens mount conversion. Price varies from $350-$500 and $150-$200 for 32 pitch arri gear ring.

 

I don't have personal experience with him but his works look nice. 

[tony wilson]

just another shout for an old  irishman ex londoner bernie o at

 

http://www.super16inc.com/

 

many people are doing diy repair on anamorphics which is great if you trust yourself.

some lens i think are getting kind of rare so for the sake of a few hundred dollars get it serviced by a legendary old fella before he gets the shakes and cannot do it no more

he has been repairing motion picture gear since the 60s and is a real decent super talented bloke.

 

the cameras being released in the next year will greatly benefit from a well set up anamorphic .

a service alignment adjustment clean and re greased will probably be the biggest improvement possible allowing you to shoot in lower light with a less heavy f stop.

[QuickHitRecord]

just another shout for an old  irishman ex londoner bernie o at

 

http://www.super16inc.com/

 

many people are doing diy repair on anamorphics which is great if you trust yourself.

some lens i think are getting kind of rare so for the sake of a few hundred dollars get it serviced by a legendary old fella before he gets the shakes and cannot do it no more

he has been repairing motion picture gear since the 60s and is a real decent super talented bloke.

 

the cameras being released in the next year will greatly benefit from a well set up anamorphic .

a service alignment adjustment clean and re greased will probably be the biggest improvement possible allowing you to shoot in lower light with a less heavy f stop.

 

I second this. Bernie is great. I have made it a practice to have all of my higher-dollar vintage lens purchases shipped to him directly so that he can look them over.

[jgharding]

Does anyone know of anyone in London who does vintage lens adjustments? I'm looking to Et an old angeniuex collimated for the mount I'm using... Any help would be appreciated, many thank,

[tony wilson]

what is the lens send a link what mount?

[jgharding]

what is the lens send a link what mount?

 

Ah I don't have an image here, it's an Angeniuex 20-120 t3, 1972 I think, the mount is pretty easily removable, the type with screw thread and red dot to line up, but it seems as though it may be too close to sensor.  curently it's OCT19 for Konvas 35mm, using a Ciecio7 adaptor