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Ryanesta
Tinkerer
Username: Ryanesta
Post Number: 1
Registered: 04-2013
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 26, 2013 - 11:40 am: | 
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Hi!
I've had a Lubitel 166+ (from Lomography) for a year or so now and it is hands down my favorite camera. Recently, I took a trip to Mexico and when I got back, I think someone inspecting my bags tampered with my camera. Now, when I turn the lens to focus, it gets REALLY tight and it used to be buttery smooth, gliding all the way from 0.8 to infinity.
It's to the point where it hurts your fingers when you turn it's so tight, which basically made me so mad that I stopped taking photos for a while. I tried calling every camera repair shop I could find, even emailing some ones online and none of them want to touch this camera. So that's when I stumbled upon this site.
I read online that a little petroleum jelly helps to make it rotate but it only helped a little bit. I'm really bummed because I paid $250 for this camera and since I bought it on ebay, Lomography will not repair it. I don't want to have to shell out another $250 or more for this camera since photography isn't my profession or anything (yet). Has anyone had this problem before?
Keep in mind, I have ZERO experience with taking apart cameras. But if you know of any way, please let me know!
Also, here is a side view of the lenses:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40674270/Lubitel.jpg
It may be hard to tell, but it looks like the top lens is being pushed up a little bit and the bottom lens pushed down. Essentially, I think they may be too close to each other, which is why it is so tight to turn. And that red mark on the hotshoe metal thing? Yeah, that was done by US customs as well. Apparently they have no regard for personal belongings when it comes to travel. |
Br1078lum
Tinkerer
Username: Br1078lum
Post Number: 542
Registered: 11-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 26, 2013 - 02:12 pm: |
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Could have been dropped. Hard to tell from the gear teeth, as I don't see much deformation. Take a tooth brush to the gears to make sure they are clean. Get a straight edge (a metal ruler will do), and place it across the lenses to see if there is a gap towards the center or the ends. This will tell you which way any misalignment is.
PF |
John_s
Tinkerer
Username: John_s
Post Number: 118
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 26, 2013 - 05:02 pm: |
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Look inside the back of the camera, you should see that the lower lens / shutter assembly is attached by (either 3 or 4) screws. By loosening these screws - there is little play in the screw holes - it should be possible to move the lower lens very slightly away from the upper lens, thus allowing them to rotate more freely.Try to keep the gears meshed together otherwise you will lose the focus.
($250 for a Lubitel! If you can't fix it do consider getting a better TLR, for example a Rolleiflex or Rolleicord, or a Minolta Autocord) |
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