Fooling w/ Velostigmat Series II SoftFocus

**Darryl Baird** · 6-Oct-2007, 19:09

Originally Posted by Jim Galli

If you unscrew the ring that holds the rear element of the front group in place, and let it drop out, you will see a tiny screw up front that is the "stop". Remove it and your threads will keep right on unscrewing.

Jim, you got me all excited and I grabbed the lens and unscrewed the front element, then unscrewed the rear retaining ring only to be stymied by the threaded collar that the retaining ring attaches onto. Try as I might I couldn't budge that collar out of the rear. I can see and feel with a tiny screwdriver the set screw you've mentioned, but it mocks me with its location. Is this something a repair shop should/could manage?

so close, yet so far away still...

**Mark Sawyer** · 11-Oct-2007, 16:55

I've been playing with my 9.5" and 12", but can't get the rear rins to budge on either. They're smooth and round with nothing to grab onto, and very close to the edge of the housing they're recessed into. (Mine are in Studio Shutter-compatible barrels, btw...)

Any hints or ideas on a good way to loosen those rings without damaging them? I'd love to play with them past the 5 limit this weekend... (Carrots are waiting...)

**Jim Galli** · 11-Oct-2007, 17:28

Originally Posted by Mark Sawyer

I've been playing with my 9.5" and 12", but can't get the rear rins to budge on either. They're smooth and round with nothing to grab onto, and very close to the edge of the housing they're recessed into. (Mine are in Studio Shutter-compatible barrels, btw...)

Any hints or ideas on a good way to loosen those rings without damaging them? I'd love to play with them past the 5 limit this weekend... (Carrots are waiting...)

You need a couple of 6X6" pieces of inner tube for grips.