A-NASTI-GMAT

[Louie]

Hi
I recently acquired some Cine-Kodak Magazine camera gear. Attached to the camera body is a rather large F-2.5 38mm lens that appears to be a telephoto.

The mechanical problem is that the focus is frozen very tightly.

Here is a URL for a detailed photo... http://www.geocities.com/louie7.geo/Cabin/F2_5_38mm.jpg


Two questions...........
1. What purpose does the side-mounted spring-loaded knurled knob serve?
2. How can the frozen focus ring be unfrozen?

I presume this is not a commonly used lens and that it might have been used effectively on a tripod at a sporting event, or filming ships at sea or other 'remote' subjects.

I searched the internet for mechanical data regarding Cine-Kodak Lenses, but found nothing.
Any opinions, information or advise would be welcome.

Thank you kindly,

Louie Seven

[Matt J Heaton]

This may be a bit too simple but is that a small screw I see in the focus ring?

Try taking that out. It looks like it is holding in the ring.

[Louie]

Hi ~ sorry...already tried that. Actually there are two screws. Makes no difference.

NEW INFO regarding this lens.....It has been established that it is NOT a zoom or telephoto lens, but rather (and I shall quote) "....a largish normal lens; 25 mm being normal."

It has also been put forward that the cause of the frozen condition is due to hardening of the thread grease resulting from non-use over many years. That sounds convincing to me, but I still have not been able to loosen this up. I'm going to try a heat gun.

Wish me luck.
LOUIE SEVEN

[Matt J Heaton]

Oh you tried that. I though it was a bit simple. Is the lens usless with the frozen ring? If it is you might as well try to turn it with as much force as you can, until it breaks free. You gotta be brutal sometimes right?

Does the ring that is frozen include the piece with the screw in it?

[johnny16mm]

quick thought:

Could the lens just be gummed up with dirt, dust, and various crap? Maybe a thorough cleaning? I have a Nikon super Zoom 8 that was hard as shit to turn (it has motorized zoom) and the zoom ring was so stiff the poor little motor couldn't even turn it. I had a friend at a photo shop take a look at it and with a nice cleaning it was A-OK!

Later,
J16MM

[Louie]

ok...here's the scoop. After several doses of HOT air from the heat gun, I finally wrapped lens with a soft cloth and took a pair of LARGE pliars to it. Eventually I persuaded the focus ring to loosen and move.
The new problem is that when the lens cools, the focus stiffens again; Not frozen hard like it was, but stiff enough that it's painful to operate.

Another discovery (once it began moving) is that the spring-loaded knurled knob on the side serves as a 'stop' at various points in the overall travel of the focus ring.

A friend of mine suggested that the stops may represent some type of Kodak concieved 'preset' arrangement for a moving subject going from point 'a' to point 'b'. He reasoned that preset focus stops would be convenient on a camera that does not offer 'through the lens' viewfinding. OPINIONS?

[Louie]

Well, Mr. Johnny 16MM, perhaps you were right. Perhaps not; but either way you caused me to disassemble the entire unit. As result the threads were cleaned and relubricated and it now operates like a dream! So thanks.

btw; you needn't use potty language with me, I've moved beyond it and you can too!
LOUIE 7

[Matt J Heaton]

Was that necessary?

[Louie]

Oh yes, it was. Care to debate the point?

[Matt J Heaton]

Not really.