I picked up a used Agfa Ventura 69 folding camera which from all appearances is in excellent condition. All pictures were out of focus and a ground glass viewing screen placed the point of focus about 1/4" behind the film plane. A well established camera dealer confirmed that it has the correct lens on it. Any ideas?

-- Harv Jenkins (hjenkins@prcn.org), January 05, 2001

Answers

The lens has probably been disassembled for service and was not reassembled properly. 1/4 inch is a heck of a long way to be off, though, the focus travel shouldn't be more than 8mm or so at the film plane. You may be able to correct it by removing the set screws from the lens ring/footage scale and removing it, turning the lens until it focuses to infinity on a groundglass, and reattaching the lens ring oriented at the infinity setting.

If this doesn't work, something more serious is amiss: possibly the rear element isn't screwed all the way into the shutter, or one element has been removed and accidentally put back in backwards.

rick :)=

rick_oleson.tripod.com

-- Rick Oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com), January 08, 2001.

Many thanks for the suggestions. I had already tried resetting the focus ring but to no avail. A camera repairman gave it a quick look at his counter a while back and suggested that the front lens mount seemed overly loose in the threads. Would anyone know if it has the proper lens in it? Agnar 1:6.3 / 105. It's marked in feet, 3 to inf, with 10 ft and 30 ft in red.

-- Harv Jenkins (hjenkins@prcn.org), January 08, 2001.

That sounds like the correct lens.

rick :)=

-- Rick Oleson (rick_oleson@yahoo.com), January 08, 2001.

I guess this camera will become an ornament unless someone who owns one needs parts. I reversed the rear lens element with no noticeable change. Get this though - it focused better with the front lens removed. Too bad because I use 120 film and this camera would have been perfect for a lightweight takealong.

-- Harv Jenkins (hjenkins@prcn.org), January 08, 2001.