Re: Sputnik

[Greg Erker <erker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Speaking of Sputniks. I purchased a second seemingly mint Sput a few
>months ago and noticed that the left image always was out of focus. I
>checked it with a ground glass a it seemed that the left lens was
>focused beyond infinity. Also the lenses are off vertically. When
>mounting there is about 5mm difference. The lenses are apart now on my
>bench and I am pretty sure I can correct the focus, but any ideas on the
>vertical problem? I noticed that the inner lenses which are held in
>with  clips are sitting in crude castings. The clips are different
>thickness and one looks ready to pop off. Sam "the hacker" mentioned
>using a black magic marker on this inner lens but It looks scary to put
>the clips back on.
>RDS

  To correct my gear slipping I had to move the right
lens up about 2mm to get proper gear mesh. I live
with it because the mounts can hide this amount of
offset.

  I don't know about your 5mm of difference. Perhaps
you can move on lens down a bit and the other up a
bit while still having proper gear mesh. If you get
the misalignment down to 2 or 3mm then you should be
okay I'd say.

  I did remove my front elements and blacken the edges
but it probably doesn't make much difference unless
you shoot wide open. Stopped down the apertures shade
the bright edges of the front element from the film.

  I had a heck of a time getting the spring clips back
in. After almost scratching the elements due to pliers
slipping I ended up hooking the spring under my thumb
nail and working it in that way. Painful but I got them
in. (Worry about cleaning off the fingerprints after you
get the spring clips back in).

  I wouldn't recommend taking them out based on my
experience. Unless they are oily or very dirty perhaps.

Greg