Re-gresing an old folding camera, Moskva-5

I wanted to share my experience of re-greasing a lens of a 50 years old folding camera I've recently purchased. Moskva-5 (Moscow-5) is a modified copy of Zeiss Ikonta, it's a 6x9 or 6x6 medium format camera.

It doesn't have an explanation on how the focusing mechanism works so I had to figure out that by myself.

Follow me to see sneak previews:

[ftera]

Thank you so much for posting this excellent instructional video. I have a Zeiss Super Ikonta 531/2 and I had a smudge on the inside of the front element (apparently from a lubricating brush from a repairman) and I didn't know if it was a scratch or smudge and I was afraid to try to remove the front element properly. You gave me the confidence to do it properly and I was able to remove the focus ring and front element to clean the inside of the lens. It is all clean now. Now I just need to find some good helicoid grease to re-grease the threads.

[cibodor]

After doing this you have to collimate the lens setting the front element to actual infinity and putting the setting ring that couples with the rangefinger in infinity and tightening then the screws

[arsinoeivlostprincess]

I recently got a stopped mechanical chiming pendulum clock. I took it out and oiled it with Mobil 1 motor oil full synthetic. And my developing improved when I always use a water filter. I adapted a see through plastic small engine fuel filter and a rubber shower hose to fit the sink spigot. There is scale and stuff in the water supply. Made a big diff. On the clock I used a very very fine artists brush and wiped off the excess on the pivots.

[lesberkley]

Don't rub the glass so hard. Lighter fluid is good for removing old grease, so you're okay on that. Microfiber cloths are good for GENTLY cleaning lens surfaces. Make sure there's no grit, then breathe on the glass and rub with light force. If the glass doesn't clean, use lens cleaner or isopropyl alcohol. You also use too much grease.

[harrystevens]

You used enough grease there to lubricate the Titanic's propeller shaft.

[НаильШарапов-чх]

Т.е. если объектив туго фокусируется достаточно только переднюю линзу снять? А в механизме с малым колесиком и линзе для дальномера, нужно смазку менять?

[ast]

Hi there ;) ..I hope you marked the position of the lens thread where it leaves the lens thread when you unscrewed it.. at 02:23 otherwise it is diffifult to reach exact infinity when you rescrew the lens back in.. Is the quality good of the Moskva-5? I think of getting one..greets

[burnout]

On the Russian lenses I reckon the red symbol on the front element stands for the best coating they could offer at the time.

[FingerMonkey]

lighter fuel is good. only issues is that you need to clean the lens after.

[danilkarimov]

Добрый день, у меня есть Москва-4. Но сломан дальномер, знаете ли вы как его починить? Заранее спасибо!

[tvsuncanilijek]

I used some kind of bicycle oil to regrease my lens.Is it OK?