Re: Spud lens adjustment

[E R Swanson <ers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Brenda, I talked to Tom about this, and near as we can determine, the
information about two adjustments that went out awhile ago was incorrect.
There is only one point of adjustment, and it's the front element in the
triplet array.

Here's how to adjust it without a big buck collimator...  Take a piece of
clear acrylic (good quality-- 1/8 inch or so) and scratch a bunch of fine
lines across it. Tape it to the back of the film plane so it's absolutely
flush. Set the camera at infinity focus and the aperture wide open. Set
the shutter at B. Connect a locking cable release. Press the cable release
until the Spud shutter opens, and lock it there. Have the camera aimed at
a reflective source-- a sheet of white paper with a light on it is fine.
Take your slr and set *it* at infinity focus-- mox nix what kind of lens
is on the slr.  Aim the SLR at the lens opening (front of the Sputnik). 
Rotate the front lens element (the one that screws), all the time looking
through the SLR finder, until the scribe lines are razor sharp. When they
are, the Spud is set at infinity focus, or close enough for government
work. Re attach the front ring. Do the same with the other side. 

I removed the heavy grease on the front lens and replaced it with Radio
Shack Teflon gel (won't migrate, won't attract dust, won't get hard and
gummy).

The above is based on the principle that parallel lines converge at
infinity. Einstein was right!

--Elliott

On Sun, 25 Apr 1999, Brenda Nowlan wrote:

> Elliot,
> Could you please post where you found the info.  I have to adjust the lenses
> on my Sputnik before I use it again.  Thanks-Brenda
> 
> E R Swanson wrote:
> 
> > I remember seeing a post about the Spud having two adjustments possible
> > for the triplets. I only see one-- the front element in the screw housing.
> > Looks just like the Kodak in terms of setting infinity focus.
> >
> > Did I overlook something?
> >
> > Elliott
>