If you are still rocking a twin-lens reflex camera and thinking about swapping viewing lens and taking lens to give this old-timer a new life, then read our detailed guide on how to safely do it.
We are surrounded by mirrorless cameras and AI-powered tech, all pushing new boundaries, but there is a fanbase of passionate people who still exist for Twin Lens Reflex, or TLR cameras. Designed with two lenses of the same focal length, the cameras remain a tactile joy and appeal to many due to their iconic appearance and image quality.
One of the camera lenses was capturing the image itself, and the other worked as a viewfinder for the user, hence the names taking and viewing lens. Many folks who still experiment with this camera system are interested in swapping viewing lens and taking lens.
They usually intend to do this because, most of the time, the “taking lens” of TLR cameras goes through wear and tear, which makes it less sharp as compared to the viewing lens. In some cases, focus mismatches happen due to misalignment happening due to repeated bumps on the camera body. Also, some people just love to experiment with this two-lens piece to see how swapping changes the flare or sharpness produced by both.
Although both of these lens pieces were produced to be exactly identical, swapping them is shown to get results improving their optical sharpness, as reported on online forums. Some claim that while the lenses are manufactured as identical twins, swapping them with new ones results in fixing a common issue of divergence that happens when using them over time.
Swapping Viewing Lens and Taking Lens:
First, you need to gather precision tools to carry out this swapping, including a precision screwdriver designed for camera systems, a lens spanner, and a high-quality camera lens cleaning kit. Next, remove the lens front panel and detach both lenses. Next, clean the mounts and spot any debris. Use a cleaning kit to get rid of such debris.
Next, swap with the new lens pieces and use the original screws (or adapters) to secure the lenses where they belong. Once done, use a ground glass and test chart to check focus calibration and attach the lens panel back to its original position. Always check if the focusing knob moves smoothly after you finish assembly and whether both lenses are moving in unison.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
When swapping viewing lens and taking lens in TLR cameras, it is always a good idea to match both the lenses first before swapping with the old ones. Moreover, also relubricate the moving parts to get optimum performance from this old-timer.
Also, pay attention to whether its seals are intact after reassembly. If the reassembly was not proper, you might get parallax and focus issues. To fix that, you have to unscrew and align the lens and its casing again.
There are many options to swap these types of lenses; the most common ones are the Zeiss Tessar 80mm f/2.8 lens, which is known to deliver that classic TLR look. The Mamiya Sekor 105mm f/3.5 lens piece is also another great piece known for TLR lens swapping.
New Age, New Tech
If you are someone who is into classic photography, then TLR cameras might still be dear to you, but a new era of technology has brought much more advanced and better-performing camera lenses, which are reinvigorating classic photography. The Saturn 35/50/75mm full-frame carbon fiber anamorphic lens kit is one such example that showcases the modern optical evolution and marvels of engineering.
This lens series is built with cutting-edge cinematic optics for mirrorless cameras with its super bright T2.9 aperture and ultra-premium glass coatings for professional optical results. The 50mm Saturn variant in this kit is, in particular, a great choice for TLR fans to get a modern camera lens that balances field of view and characterful rendering in your stills.
Just like the TLR cameras, this lens also helps your camera body to capture a vibe rather than just a high number of pixels. Both can capture a "character” in the stills, where one has a retro feel while the other delivers ultra-crisp and ultra-wide Hollywood vibes with its anamorphic vibe.
Wrapping up:
When swapping viewing lens and taking lens for TLR cameras, always use precision tools to carry out replacement with new lenses. Although many people still want to keep shooting with their beloved TLR cameras, new lenses like the SIRUI Saturn lens kit are raising the standards of classic photography and giving them a new dimension of future photography.
