Anyone had a lens seviced?

excalibur2

excalibur2

My F4's Broken...
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Brian
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Well some guys are recommended for fixing cameras but can they do lenses as my Canon 19mm seems decenter-ed slightly and even at f11 (last one F16) I can't get a sharp picture to the edges...it's always sharp at the centre even at f3.5 and gradually the sharpness spreads out as I stop down.
As the lens was made in the 60's maybe this was the best results technology could achieve then, but with this problem it would annoy many photographers inc me. Maybe some one has done a CLA in the past and put an element back in the wrong way. :(
 
I had my Pentax-M 85mm f/2 services by Miles Whitehead, but it was only for sticky aperture blades.
 
I had my 20mm fixed and calibrated by Nikon, it came back just as soft in the corners as when it left, because it just is.....soft in the corners..:D
 
Newton Ellis dismantled and cleaned my OM 50mm F1.2 and it came back in perfect condition for £80. Well worth calling them.

Several other camera repair places told me they couldn't clean it because the elements are sealed, which apparently is wrong.
 
Send Miles Whitehead an email explaining the issue and he'll let you know whether he can do anything with it. He's looked at a few lenses for me and only had to return one unfixed as it wouldn't have been cost-effective to repair. Naturally there was no charge for that one.
 
H'mm thanks guys..Johns reply makes me think the Canon 19mm is just soft in the corners and that's that for a 1964 lens :( It might be great on a digi camera that cuts off the corners ;)

The 2002 Kodak gold is OK at box speed.

Canon 19mm at f3.5


at f11


at f11 even the back wheel isn't sharp



What a difference with a Canon 28mm at f5.6
 
excalibur2 said:
H'mm thanks guys..Johns reply makes me think the Canon 19mm is just soft in the corners and that's that for a 1964 lens :( It might be great on a digi camera that cuts off the corners ;)

The 2002 Kodak gold is OK at box speed.

Canon 19mm at f3.5


at f11


at f11 even the back wheel isn't sharp



What a difference with a Canon 28mm at f5.6
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Embrace the quirkiness, make it work for you :thumbs:
 
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When you read this http://www.mir.SPAM/rb/photography/companies/canon/fdresources/fllenses/ about the FL 19mm

"World's highest quality super-wide-angle lens with the fastest lens speed of f/3.5 in its class. Because it is a retrofocus type, through-the-lens focusing can be performed, and the entire 96-degree field of view can be recorded on film. Optically, the various aberration compensations are excellent. It is especially free of astigmatism and image distortion is held to less than one per cent. Therefore, clear and sharp images are possible to the outermost edges, and overall sharpness is superb. It is a lens that is regularly used by professional photographers."

You wonder if they talking about the same lens as mine :rolleyes:
 
It's my bet they didn't pay a tenner at a car boot sale for their copy.
 
Well Nick I thinking:- if it's such a great lens then why isn't it more common h'mm and no one to talk to, about what they think of it and google isn't much help.
 
It's not common because if my research is correct it was produced only up to 1964 when most people were still using Box Brownies, TLRs and the occasional Leica. 19mm is pretty much outside of the realm of most folks photographic kit even now, let alone in the early 60's and I should think it was also out of reach of all but the very rich and the pros.
 
RaglanSurf said:
It's not common because if my research is correct it was produced only up to 1964 when most people were still using Box Brownies, TLRs and the occasional Leica. 19mm is pretty much outside of the realm of most folks photographic kit even now, let alone in the early 60's and I should think it was also out of reach of all but the very rich and the pros.
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Seems to be a one off also, as when Canon changed to the FD breechlock they produced a 17mm f4 and a 20mm f2.8.
 
I would get one of the repairmen to check it out, but there's a very real chance that what you are seeing is just the actual performance of a super wide from the early 60s.
 
freecom2 said:
I would get one of the repairmen to check it out, but there's a very real chance that what you are seeing is just the actual performance of a super wide from the early 60s.
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Well unless anyone who owns one can confirm my results, you are right......makes you think that did the person who wrote about this lens in my link actually use one or is just parroting some sales leaflet. :rolleyes:
 
excalibur2 said:
Well some guys are recommended for fixing cameras but can they do lenses as my Canon 19mm seems decenter-ed slightly and even at f11 (last one F16) I can't get a sharp picture to the edges...it's always sharp at the centre even at f3.5 and gradually the sharpness spreads out as I stop down.
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I don't know whether there's actually anything wrong with your lens or not, but Miles Whitehead serviced my Bronica 80mm lens very early this year and it came back in top shape.
 
skysh4rk said:
I don't know whether there's actually anything wrong with your lens or not, but Miles Whitehead serviced my Bronica 80mm lens very early this year and it came back in top shape.
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Thanks but unless Miles has actually seen how the the lens is supposed to perform (by results as a reference) all he can do is check that the elements are in the correct position, and John has already said his Nikon came back from servicing with no improvement....so could be about £50 wasted.
So would think Miles would need a digital camera (for quick shots) with another identical lens to compare the two.
 
thorton said:
I'm positive that's due to an element being in the wrong way round, we had a 35mm Summicron in a while back that Nick was piecing together and on a test roll it had the same effect (see below) which ended up being an element in the wrong way.

Leeds German Market by Tom Horton Photo, on Flickr
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You could be right as I've had this problem before with another lens. This lens is in excellent condition and doesn't need a clean or has sticky blades, but looking at the rear lens with a magnifying glass, the slots of the lens retaining ring although matt black are not parallel, as though someone had used a shorter spanner than a full one (to the extent of the slots)....so someone could have reversed an element.
I should really email Miles with my shots and ask "what does he think".... maybe in his life he has came across this lens, but to repeat a quick answer and it would be "what did you expect for a new super wide angle made in 1964"
 
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if it's really that posh a lens, call/email Canon at Elstree and ask them... they will at least have more chance of having the proper techical notes for it...


cci_servicecentre@cuk.canon.co.uk

Unit 130 Centennial Park
Centennial Avenue
Elstree Hill South
Borehamwood
Elstree
Hertfordshire
WD6 3SE

Tel: 0844 369 0100
 
That's handy Mark as it's not too far from me to call in.
 
it'll NOT be cheap mind... but if the lens is something special and rare, then the manufacturers service technicians are worth at least the price of a phonecall.
 
TheBigYin said:
it'll NOT be cheap mind... but if the lens is something special and rare, then the manufacturers service technicians are worth at least the price of a phonecall.
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Well I don't mind paying if I knew it was going to be as good as the info in the link i.e. ;)

"World's highest quality super-wide-angle lens with the fastest lens speed of f/3.5 in its class. Because it is a retrofocus type, through-the-lens focusing can be performed, and the entire 96-degree field of view can be recorded on film. Optically, the various aberration compensations are excellent. It is especially free of astigmatism and image distortion is held to less than one per cent. Therefore, clear and sharp images are possible to the outermost edges, and overall sharpness is superb. It is a lens that is regularly used by professional photographers."

It might give better results for distant shots, so will try it once more for farmland scenery or distant buildings. And I did do a brick wall test and the distortion is quite good but only the centre is sharp at f8.
 
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excalibur2 said:
It might give better results for distant shots, so will try it once more for farmland scenery or distant buildings. And I did do a brick wall test and the distortion is quite good but only the centre is sharp at f8.
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I think you have to be careful not to get too carried away shooting brick walls, but the distortion doesn't look that good to me; I'm seeing some pronounced moustache distortion. I'm far from an expert though and don't shoot wide angles much (in fact, I no longer own anything wider than 75mm on medium format), so take my comments here with a serious grain of salt.
 
If you want to use some film up..what better than to shoot some brick walls ;)
 
Just an update AAMOI for anyone getting a FL lens for a FD camera....it fits a T70, T90 and AV1 but after about 3 mins fiddling couldn't get it to mount on an A1 (it's not on the banned list in the manual)...well maybe like members here, this lens doesn't like a T70 and gives crappy results :D So I'm using the T90 and hope it likes this camera for another load of shots and will go from there.
 
It doesn't look that good tbh Brian, I'll be surprised if its any better on a different camera, if that's shot at f8 I'd say there's something misaligned or wrong with it, but hey......it only cost you threepence halpenny and a bag of cola cubes to find out.
I bought the 20 afd very cheap knowing it was damaged and factored in the repair which was £120, its not perfect but it never was, there are always caveats to consider in the design of WA's, its light and compact, its decent wide open, sharp corner to corner @ F5.6 and onwards and cheap comparatively, but for that you get a bit of CA, lots of distortion and vignetting.
Financially, I dunno if your lens is worth a repair, the 20 was.:)
 
Well yes clutching at straws anyway lets see what the scenery shots are like......but the overall annoying thing is:- the lens looks better in the viewfinder than it does on film ;)
 
Just had the next test of photos done and the scenic views are crap...sharp in the middle and everything out of focus. So there must be an element in the wrong way as no lens is this bad.
Whether I take the lens apart and check with a lens chart or send it off, I'll have to make a decision sometime. I've managed without a 19mm lens all my life so not in a hurry.
 
I can ring our repair guy tomorrow and see what he says if you like? If he thinks he can sort it through a description over the phone you're welcome to send it up to us for him to take a look, if nothing can be done the only cost would be the postage :)
 
thorton said:
I can ring our repair guy tomorrow and see what he says if you like? If he thinks he can sort it through a description over the phone you're welcome to send it up to us for him to take a look, if nothing can be done the only cost would be the postage :)
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Well I would be grateful if you would do that maybe this shot, you could show him that at f8 only the centre is sharp.
BTW the film was colorplus exp 2008, Asda dev and scan

 
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Found a picture using a FF A7 digital at F11 and this is how the picture should look, so my lens is faulty:-
Both shots from http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1338082&page=121 sony a7 (r) image sharing thread...So if the Canon lens is set right it's a very good lens.

12215865424_da2664579c_b.jpg


Leica-R 21mm F4 Super Angulon @ F11 and ISO100
12216062636_f89b39ce39_b.jpg
 
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Couldn't get through to our repair guy today, will try again tomorrow. Just to confirm, the lens is the FD 19mm f/3.5 FL, the one with a fat front element, right?
 
thorton said:
Couldn't get through to our repair guy today, will try again tomorrow. Just to confirm, the lens is the FD 19mm f/3.5 FL, the one with a fat front element, right?
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Thanks, it's the FL lens (lens before the next FD line) and it's the "R" version for SLR cameras...so it would be Canon FL 19mm f3.5 R

Edi: I've added another shot from the guy's A7 as he has compared it to a Leitz lens, also added a link where the shots came from in case of any copyright arguments.
 
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Hi Tom could you please delay the phone call as it's going to be a dry day where I live and am going to take a motor bike ride to Canon (about 12 miles away) and find out prices etc...I've looked at the block diagram for the elements in the lens, and one culprit could be one element that could be the wrong way round...thanks for your interest and will let you know what happens.
regards Brian
View attachment 23338
 
Well called in to Canon today and they are useless ....They must be so rich and busy they are not interested in old lenses just EF and "L", well if their engineers can take apart a EF zoom with no problem an old non plastic prime lens of 1965 would be a piece of cake.
Their film cameras that they service are a joke as they are compacts:-

http://www.canon.co.uk/Support/Consumer_Products/product_ranges/cameras/other/
 
So what did they say Brian?
 
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