Thank you very much for your very clear and helpful video! It allowed me to completely overhaul my ancient (preset aperture version) Biortar 58mm F2 lens! I would never have attempted it without your video. Before I worked on it the lens was almost impossible to focus because the grease was dried and stiff. Now it focuses very smoothly. It was also out of adjustment, and would not focus to infinity. By trial and error (several trials and errors!!) I was able to readjust the helicoid and it now focuses to infinity and the distance scale is quite accurate. Thanks again.
This was very helpful. Thanks to your video I was able to clean the fungus and haze in my lens. I discovered that rubber tires from Lego sets are perfect for unscrewing the front name plate because they come with different sizes and are quite "sticky".
Thanks for the guide! Just an advice: cotton stick amd alcohol will never clean the old grease perfectly from the helicoid. For that i use some warm water, a bit of dishwasher gel and a toothbrush. It does a perfect job and i'm not wasting alcohol and cotton sticks.
An excellent, detailled, presentation-Thank You! 🙏🏼 I will be trying this soon on a Biotar 58/2 that I just acquired and which is both VERY hard to turn (although smooth!) and which has a blue ring of haze on the back of the front element Hopefully, the haze will respond to cleaning My version is 10 blades and does NOT have a red T Thank you, again
I just re lubed my Biotar. Thanks for the info! Couldn’t find the tweezers... Was able to make that tool out of a bent coat hanger that I sharpened with sand paper. Also managed to lube the aperture :)
I really thank you for this useful tutorial. Min. 24:00: on my lens there is another ring that prevents the cemented pair to come out. I had to unscrew it before removing the cemented pair.
great video. 28:24 when the ring is loose i'd advise using a wooden toothpick rather than any metal incase you slip, the wood wont damage the lens, masking tape doubled over so sticky side is on the outside like a ring helps to undo the name ring using the plastic bottle (for the 35mm ziess i used the rear plastic end cap as the size was correct)
Gréât job indeed !!! I got one on eBay but with fungus. I think I will clean it with your help. I am more used to canon and nikon lenses and this way of dismounting optical group from mechanical group is quite original and can t be found by chance … thx again for that tip.
Retro Foto House: Thank you. I managed to do it. My copy was quite a bit tighter, so the latex glove trick didn't work. But instead I used double sided silicone tape and voila! (That thing is strong). The other problem was that the front lens of my Biotar was quite scratched and opaque, so I decided to replace it with the front lens of a Helios 44-2 which was impeccable. So now it's a Heliotar or something. It doesn't sound like the ideal solution, but the truth is that the image has improved a lot. Both crystals appear to be identical. Thanks again. Greetings from Lima, Perú 🇵🇪🙌.
Great tutorial. I am really scared to touch the lens to do service. My perceptible understanding is not good enough to perform service. May I request you to document your tutorial or even conduct Optical service classes will be of great use...
Should my inner helicoid ring also match that mark between 3 & 4 meters? Or is it different for every lens? Mine is exacta mount, but the lens distance markings looks the same. I found the lens in rough shape and don’t have an exacta camera to test if I’m reaching infinity correctly. I don’t know if the previous owner had focus calibrated either - no way to test it
Well, I got this beauty after my grandfather, but there is lot of dust and dirt inside... I really hope I'll put it back together when I'm going to clean it😂
Добрый день! У меня версия Biotar послевоенная 50-ого года с 17 лепестками диафрагмы. Сам по себе объектив мельче чем его поздние алюминиевые собратья. По конструктиву он так же сделан? Так как хочется всё-таки смазать ему фокусировку, спустя 70 лет она туговато и неравномерно крутится. И вопрос по смазке. Какую зарубежную хорошую вы посоветуете заместо Циатим если я не найду оную?
I don't know what tessar do you have exactly, but there should be no lubrication on the aperture ring. Especially not anywhere near the blades. It is a common issue of the Zeiss lenses that the lubrication goes between the blades, causing them stick together and impossible to stop the lens down. But for some reason some people think it's a good idea to flush the blades with gallons of oil.
Thank you for the tutorial… I’ve done a full service on the optics and helicoid. I do have a question though…. I’ve got a travel on the focus from infinity to 0.5m (although it’s not marked as such on my version) but when I actually use the lens on camera infinity is found prior to the infinity mark and stop. But I still get focus to 0.5m at the other end.. have I done something wrong or is this just an oddity ? Or could this be related to the adapting to gfx, although it’s quite a lot and actually gets infinity at 6ft marking rather than infinity. It’s consistent across adaptors also. Thoughts?
@@RetroFotoHouse yes I think it is an adaptor issue.. I’ve ordered some 0.1mm shims so I’ll see how much each needs adjusting to get them clocked properly.
Hello, I have another version of the Biotar 58mm. Can't mount it back. Could you please point me at what I'm doing wrong in this video : th-cam.com/video/yksKOyfvei4/w-d-xo.html
Your work. Your videos. Your pace in speaking. You are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your skills and talents for our benefit. 🙏🏼
Thank you very much for your very clear and helpful video! It allowed me to completely overhaul my ancient (preset aperture version) Biortar 58mm F2 lens! I would never have attempted it without your video. Before I worked on it the lens was almost impossible to focus because the grease was dried and stiff. Now it focuses very smoothly. It was also out of adjustment, and would not focus to infinity. By trial and error (several trials and errors!!) I was able to readjust the helicoid and it now focuses to infinity and the distance scale is quite accurate. Thanks again.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent work - Thank you so much for the detailed process of cleaning and lubricating this great piece of history.
This was very helpful. Thanks to your video I was able to clean the fungus and haze in my lens. I discovered that rubber tires from Lego sets are perfect for unscrewing the front name plate because they come with different sizes and are quite "sticky".
… sehr schön erklärt, danke !
Thanks for the guide! Just an advice: cotton stick amd alcohol will never clean the old grease perfectly from the helicoid. For that i use some warm water, a bit of dishwasher gel and a toothbrush. It does a perfect job and i'm not wasting alcohol and cotton sticks.
with kerosene is even better
@@RetroFotoHouse yeah, but I save that for my 747. :D
An excellent, detailled, presentation-Thank You! 🙏🏼
I will be trying this soon on a Biotar 58/2 that I just acquired and which is both VERY hard to turn (although smooth!) and which has a blue ring of haze on the back of the front element
Hopefully, the haze will respond to cleaning
My version is 10 blades and does NOT have a red T
Thank you, again
I just re lubed my Biotar. Thanks for the info! Couldn’t find the tweezers... Was able to make that tool out of a bent coat hanger that I sharpened with sand paper. Also managed to lube the aperture :)
A German Quality tutorial like Always ! Thank you !
Thank you!
@@RetroFotoHouse I just do that during my free time and now and enjoy again to focus with this beauty !
Ive been wanting to buy a gummed Biotar and completely restore to good condition. This will be super useful!
I really thank you for this useful tutorial. Min. 24:00: on my lens there is another ring that prevents the cemented pair to come out. I had to unscrew it before removing the cemented pair.
Yes, I am seeing that as well. I can't just have the inner element pop out like in the video at min 24:00.
great video.
28:24 when the ring is loose i'd advise using a wooden toothpick rather than any metal incase you slip, the wood wont damage the lens, masking tape doubled over so sticky side is on the outside like a ring helps to undo the name ring using the plastic bottle (for the 35mm ziess i used the rear plastic end cap as the size was correct)
Gréât job indeed !!! I got one on eBay but with fungus. I think I will clean it with your help. I am more used to canon and nikon lenses and this way of dismounting optical group from mechanical group is quite original and can t be found by chance … thx again for that tip.
Thanks, the video is informative and you present it in a way that is easy to follow.
OMG. Thank you! Was waiting for a detailed repair video with this lens!
Klasna!
Thank you!
Thanks for the video. I will try to do it today with my Biotar. The Helios 44-2 is much more easy to dissasembly.
Good luck! :)
Retro Foto House: Thank you. I managed to do it. My copy was quite a bit tighter, so the latex glove trick didn't work. But instead I used double sided silicone tape and voila! (That thing is strong). The other problem was that the front lens of my Biotar was quite scratched and opaque, so I decided to replace it with the front lens of a Helios 44-2 which was impeccable. So now it's a Heliotar or something. It doesn't sound like the ideal solution, but the truth is that the image has improved a lot. Both crystals appear to be identical. Thanks again. Greetings from Lima, Perú 🇵🇪🙌.
also useful for tessar 40/4.5 🙌👏
Thanks
Great tutorial. I am really scared to touch the lens to do service. My perceptible understanding is not good enough to perform service. May I request you to document your tutorial or even conduct Optical service classes will be of great use...
thanks so much!! It works again :))
very useful tutorial
but you didn't show how to relubricate the aperture ring!
mine has friction after 5.6... :(
well, it will come in next videos, just let me get anoter one like this in my hands.
Thanks for the video. What grease is recommended?
Should my inner helicoid ring also match that mark between 3 & 4 meters? Or is it different for every lens? Mine is exacta mount, but the lens distance markings looks the same. I found the lens in rough shape and don’t have an exacta camera to test if I’m reaching infinity correctly. I don’t know if the previous owner had focus calibrated either - no way to test it
Well, I got this beauty after my grandfather, but there is lot of dust and dirt inside... I really hope I'll put it back together when I'm going to clean it😂
Hope I can CLA my Exakta mount version of this lens in the same way.
please try and let me know if it worked out, i do not have exacta version of this lens
Did you do it? i also have an Exakta version of this with a very stiff focus ring
Добрый день! У меня версия Biotar послевоенная 50-ого года с 17 лепестками диафрагмы. Сам по себе объектив мельче чем его поздние алюминиевые собратья. По конструктиву он так же сделан? Так как хочется всё-таки смазать ему фокусировку, спустя 70 лет она туговато и неравномерно крутится. И вопрос по смазке. Какую зарубежную хорошую вы посоветуете заместо Циатим если я не найду оную?
нет, там констуктив совершенно другой
смазку можно литол использовать, он показал себя с лучшей стороны
@@RetroFotoHouse спасибо за ответ
Incredibly helpful tutorial as always. How much different is the 17 blade 58mm biotar?
i did not test them both, so i can't say, unfortunately....
Thanks for sharing. How can I lubricate the aperture ring? I also got a Tessar 50mm and the aperture ring also is very tight.
Greetings from Sweden
I don't know what tessar do you have exactly, but there should be no lubrication on the aperture ring. Especially not anywhere near the blades. It is a common issue of the Zeiss lenses that the lubrication goes between the blades, causing them stick together and impossible to stop the lens down. But for some reason some people think it's a good idea to flush the blades with gallons of oil.
I'm going to open the optical block on my copy since it has some fungus. What product should be used to clean the glass? Thanks
i use an ammonium hydroxide(ammonium water) in my part of world it can be found in drugstores
Thank you for the tutorial… I’ve done a full service on the optics and helicoid. I do have a question though…. I’ve got a travel on the focus from infinity to 0.5m (although it’s not marked as such on my version) but when I actually use the lens on camera infinity is found prior to the infinity mark and stop. But I still get focus to 0.5m at the other end.. have I done something wrong or is this just an oddity ? Or could this be related to the adapting to gfx, although it’s quite a lot and actually gets infinity at 6ft marking rather than infinity. It’s consistent across adaptors also. Thoughts?
I think it can be adapter thickness if you re-assembled lens porperly.Try to cut adapter a bit(with turning lathe) and porblem will be solved
@@RetroFotoHouse yes I think it is an adaptor issue.. I’ve ordered some 0.1mm shims so I’ll see how much each needs adjusting to get them clocked properly.
Can this be adapted for Nikon to have infinity focus 🤔
it has to be readjusted internally using metal cutting machine
hi how do we strip and clean/regrease the aperture control ring mechanism because mine is stiff...
i do not know, i never looked in
@@RetroFotoHouse its fine i managed to do it...
Hi can you do a comparison between 17 blades and 10-12 blades version? Thank you
i do not have them actually, but will do in the future for sure.
where did you find those tweezers? I find It hard to find a tool that works to unscrew the focus part!
Try the ifixit tools, their tweezers are nicely made, you can order it on their website
Hello, I have another version of the Biotar 58mm. Can't mount it back. Could you please point me at what I'm doing wrong in this video : th-cam.com/video/yksKOyfvei4/w-d-xo.html
the same process of removing focusing block for helios 44-2?
no, completely different
Helios 44-2 is much more easy.
where can such tweezers be purchased?
I've bought mine pointed forcepts at local beauty store for woman. Than i shaped it according to my needs using big pliers
Can I send you my 58 Biotar for disassembly and cleaning?
Hi!
Right now i do not take such work because of important shortage of time, sorry...