Orion-15 massively back focuses

[Besprosvet]

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Hi,

I just received a copy of the Orion-15, sharp and everything, BUT, it back focuses like nothing I've ever seen before.

Does anybody know if it's easy to open and shim?

[Besprosvet]

I just tried putting some thickness between the adapter and the lens, and it works, but it was ...paper.

Do you have any idea on what to put that is more "solid and reliable" than paper?

[frame-it]

which mount and version of the orion?

[Besprosvet]

13 minutes ago, frame-it said:

which mount and version of the orion?

It's a silver one m39 mount

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Edited February 21, 2023 by Besprosvet

[frame-it]

difference in flange distance, the Soviet M39 was not always the same as leicas M39

[Besprosvet]

32 minutes ago, frame-it said:

difference in flange distance, the Soviet M39 was not always the same as leicas M39

yeah it's a real pita, I'll shim the adapter, I just need to get the right shims and then the lens is never ever gonna leave the adapter. For now paper will work

Edited February 21, 2023 by Besprosvet

[romanus53]

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shim-rings made of paper were not so uncommon in those days, one can find the between lens-mount ring and body sometimes

[Huss]

My Orion 15 focused perfectly on my Ms.  It seems that there may be quite a bit of sample variation.  Perhaps send it back and try another?

Edited February 22, 2023 by Huss

[Besprosvet]

15 hours ago, Huss said:

My Orion 15 focused perfectly on my Ms.  It seems that there may be quite a bit of sample variation.  Perhaps send it back and try another?

Ah, it's going to be a burden. Its lenses are in a good shape at least. I'll just open it myself, it seems doable http://www.pentax-manuals.com/repairs/orion15service.pdf

[Alberti]

My Orion 15 was perfect on my M240 and M9 Monochrom . . . but less so on my M10-R. Now it backfocusses just a bit. (It was adjusted by the Ukranian seller on an M8.)

Or one might say, I see more artefacts now.

• For shimming a J3 I used, instead of ordinary paper, the brown PFAS-coated paper for the oven.
• It has a reliable thickness and will never wear down. It is mil 15 or so. And . . . it can withstand grease.

I'm not going to adapt my Orion (because I bought it for the M9M)

On MMonochrom, M240:

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I do tend to go beyond F8, half a stop further. At F5.6 my copy is soft.

 

[Besprosvet]

15 hours ago, Alberti said:

My Orion 15 was perfect on my M240 and M9 Monochrom . . . but less so on my M10-R. Now it backfocusses just a bit. (It was adjusted by the Ukranian seller on an M8.)

Or one might say, I see more artefacts now.

• For shimming a J3 I used, instead of ordinary paper, the brown PFAS-coated paper for the oven.
• It has a reliable thickness and will never wear down. It is mil 15 or so. And . . . it can withstand grease.

I'm not going to adapt my Orion (because I bought it for the M9M)

On MMonochrom, M240:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

I do tend to go beyond F8, half a stop further. At F5.6 my copy is soft.

 

Mine wide open is tack sharp (hazes a bit towards the edge, especially on the left maybe is a bit decentered), nice contrast and very slight halo in highlights. Excellent vintage lens rendering.

It's indeed a beautiful lens, if you get the right copy. Getting soviet lenses is a real pain, a russian roulette (pun intended)

[SamMen]

I’ve successfully used the tops from yogurt cups, all have the same thickness, as shims for all my FSU lenses.  You may have to cut a few to get the correct distance.

Edited April 2, 2023 by SamMen