Repair a soft lens?

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silverJON

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Jonathan
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My Rikonar 55mm f/2.2 (PK mount).

Is there any way to fix it? I don't mind taking it apart! If I screw it up, it's no big deal - it's pretty useless as it is. I don't understand why it's so soft, because presumably it wasn't like that when it was new, and I can't see anything physically wrong with it.

Cheers!
Jonathan
 
Some lenses were just not very good...... you might want to check to see the state of the coating or any minor fungal growth.

The fact that it improves with stopping down maybe an indication of the original quality of the lens. Maybe you don't want to hear this. But, in all my days' involvement with photography, I've never heard anybody say, "Rush out and get a Riconar F2.2 55mm" :(
 
aww - I don't mind thanks, it only cost me £20. The coating is fine and nothing's living inside.

Just found this, in an eBay listing (http://cgi.ebay.com/Pentax-Collecti...QQihZ018QQitemZ280144627484QQrdZ1QQtcZphoto):

55mm F-2.2 Ricoh Riconar with 52mm Filter Ring

Ok, this is the strangest lens and dependent on the user it is either an awesome, strange variant or unusable. This lens produces the softest images I have ever seen (I own the 85mm soft lens, which this one beats hands down with regards to softness), these images may be too soft for most people, I have used this lens with success for certain shoots and conditions…if you want to shoot simulated foggy conditions, this is the lens for you, if you want to take soft portraits of people, here you go…but for crisp images, do not even consider it. There is no reason, glass wise, that this lens should take these kinds of pictures, there is no mold and only a wee bit of dust on the lens…Cosmetically the lens is great, almost looks new. Blades are fast and clean.

Comes with Front lens cap (not original, but a CPC cap) and a rear lens cap.

Sold as “Guaranteed to Function” Condition (sans the soft images it produces)
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But, in all my days' involvement with photography, I've never heard anybody say, "Rush out and get a Riconar F2.2 55mm
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GLOL. :lol:
 
When I were a lad I bought two lenses out of Amateur Photographer, both 'Carrenar'. One was a 135mm -the other was a 28mm wide angle the two for 30 quid. The 135 was passable I suppose, but the 28mm!! I went up Long Mynd in Shropshire to do some infra red landscapes. I took some shots with the car in the foreground and even the edges sf the number plate were blurring. :D

Sorry to say, I think Chuckles has put his finger on the problem. :shrug:
 
Thanks guys - I'm sure you're right, though in some ways it's hard to believe something quite so terrible exists:lol:

Won't stop me taking it apart to see what I can play with...
 
Well I can recommend Carrenar. :lol:
 
Sorry, just realised that wasn't a very feeling response to your plight was it silverjon. :bonk:

It does look like that's what it does and it's not going to change. You are left with a couple of options though. If you wanted to see how lenses are put together, it's a good candidate for demolition.

It does offer some interesting possibilities for shots that play to it nature too. I'd certainly want to get some intersting images from it.
 
Cool - if I can get anything vaguely artistic out of it,

ideas please!
 
ideas please!
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my first thought was crops, flowers or trees that would be softend by the wind and a long(ish) exposure. Also, perhaps something that would normall be seen hard edged and sharp. A pile or nails/drawing pins, buildings with lots of hard edges or something really abstract with lots of colours that could be further distanced from reality with it's special brand of softness.

Of course there's always the market of over made up and neglected ladies that might like the a wistful soft portrait. Perhaps around the f4 mark. ;):lol:
 
rofl! Thanks - that's a great starting point - and when I get going, I'm sure I'll think of more things that might look OK through the lens.
dazzajl said:
Of course there's always the market of over made up and neglected ladies that might like the a wistful soft portrait. Perhaps around the f4 mark. ;):lol:
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Perhaps that could be a basis for a woman-rating system... she's not a 'four-pinter', she's an 'f2.8er' :lol:
 
If it only cost you £20 and you have no intentions of keeping it 'safe' then by all means take it apart.

I would love to see how my .22 rifle would handle a threw and threw with it to be honest.

Post some pics when you take it apart,...
 
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