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sdragin

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Hi there,

I recently got  Zeiss Super (High) Speed 35, 50, 85 MK3 version lenses. I'm very pleased with the picture they produce, but I'm not sure about using them with modern motor follow focus (I have Chrosziel Magnum with Heden motor). Do you think their mecanics are resistant enough? What about using clip-on? Any experience?

Gecko-cam is now rehousing them (for more then 3.000 euro per lens) in idea to improve their mecanics: https://www.gecko-cam.com/products/lenses/stealth-rehousing/  Any thought?

 

kind regards,

sinisa dragin

35mm_Stealth-Zeiss-HS_web.png

Zeiss SS 35.JPG

Edited by sdragin
I put the same picture 3 times
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If you can avoid using clamp-on matteboxes you will save your lenses from very fast wear to the threads. Also make sure to have them serviced with fresh grease every five or so years or if they get used in very dusty conditions. If the grease gets contaminated it acts like a lapping paste and very quickly wears the threads. Fast motion from motors accelerates this sort of wear.

The focus end stops on Super Speeds are pretty sturdy, so motors don’t usually damage them, but what tends to happen is that the focus ring gets a little loose. The tiny set screws holding the focus ring need to be gently nipped up and secured with locking lacquer to prevent them damaging and enlarging the holes they locate into, which will happen if the rings are left loose. Overtightening the screws will cause the focus to bind, and using the wrong size driver or failing to dissolve any potential sealing lacquer can lead to damaging the tiny screw head slots, so either be very careful or give this job to a lens tech. 

If you have the money, a re-housing will extend their working life far into the future, but I wouldn’t say it’s essential unless the focus threads are really badly worn, or the helical is out of round and causing tight spots.

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Thank you very much Dom!

I will ask a friend of mine to check the focus rings.

I have one more question. Wide open lenses (of course) have perfectly round bokeh. If you stop them down, bokeh becomes heptagonal (as the result of 7 iris blades) which I don't really like. Do you think original aperture assemble can be replaced with one with more blades, in idea to obtain round form bokeh all the way?

 

 

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In theory, sure, iris assemblies can be replaced. You just need one that has the same opening diameter and cage dimensions, and very likely you’d need to re-engrave or replace the iris scale ring. But manufacturing a custom iris assembly is very expensive and specialised. 

I heard that Gecko were offering to replace the triangular iris assemblies from early Super Speeds, but you might want to ask them yourself, and whether the new iris has more than 7 blades.

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