8mm Forum: Help please - Bauer 16mm projector

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Posted by Richard Zeiss (Member # 6927) on April 04, 2019, 02:37 PM:

Hello there,

I am new here (and in fact signed up for this particular issue (see below); although having recently gotten into 16mm, I am happy to have found this forum either way). Given my relative novice status in all things film, I apologise if some of my terminology sounds off.

Here is my problem: I have a Bauer Universal 16mm projector (P7 I think), and everything seems to be running smoothly – EXCEPT the fact that I cannot get a focused image on the wall (or screen) – not by a long shot, literally. As in: I can zoom the lens and will get a focused image one anything that is like ONE FOOT away from the lens (!). At that distance, I can see that the zoom is clearly working, I can get focused and out-of-focus images. Of course, they are really small (we are talking “in palm of hand-size”), and it defies the purpose of a projector altogether. Anything at a reasonable distance is out of focus to a degree you wouldn’t believe. It is just a blur.

I told a guy who knows his 16mm stuff the symptoms, and he said given that the lens does zoom in and out (i.e. focus), it sounds like the whole lens may not be fully in, or something may be wrong with the gate. Either way, it does not sound like something that is overly common, and the fact that if I open the cover, I actually do not really know what the things underneath are supposed to look like does not help.

Has anyone here had a similar issue or might want to venture a guess what the problem could be?

Cheers!!

Posted by Andreas Benz (Member # 2271) on April 04, 2019, 04:23 PM:

Hi Richard,

try pulling out the lens by hand or pushing it back into the barrel while projecting a film at the distance you need until the picture is sharp. The black focus knob alone doesn't have the range to get the picture in focus at any position of the lens.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on April 05, 2019, 04:45 AM:

Andreas has made a good point.
The focussing knob is more of a "fine" adjustment.

1) I suggest you rotate the knob backwards/forwards and find a central point.
2) Then set up the projector where you want it for use.
3) As Andreas says:- gently pull the lens backwards/forwards until the light (or film) is clearly seen.
4) Use the focussing knob for final adjustment.

Note that if a projected light with no film is clearly focussed a film will not be. This is because of the thickness of the film in the gate channel.

Posted by Richard Zeiss (Member # 6927) on April 05, 2019, 04:48 AM:

Hello guys, thanks very much, I am going to try that and see what happens!!

Posted by Richard Zeiss (Member # 6927) on April 18, 2019, 02:03 PM:

Dear Andreas, dear Maurice,

I have now followed your instructions - or tried to. To be honest, it is not clear to me how I should pull or push the lens in or out if not via the wheel/switch that says "5" (please see the two attached images). The only way the lens moves in and out is by turning the 5 switch. Otherwise it is solidly attached to its frame, so any "unauthorised" push or pull would definitely break something. Am I misunderstanding something?

Posted by Andreas Benz (Member # 2271) on April 18, 2019, 02:37 PM:

Normally it should be possible to remove the lens very easily without breaking anything. Try turning the 5 switch all the way to the left. The barrel that holds the lens should be clearly visible then. Then try to remove the lens by gently turning the lens.
You can now put back the lens and try to project a film. Push the lens back in until your picture is sharp.
On this page: http://www.kinobauer.de/ you can find the original instruction booklet for this projector which also contains a translation into English. Click "Anleitungen für Projektoren" then "Bauer" then scroll down for the 16mm projectors.

Posted by Richard Zeiss (Member # 6927) on April 18, 2019, 03:03 PM:

Hallo Andreas,

Vielen Dank, das werde ich mal versuchen - war etwas verzweifelt, da sich das Ding nicht bewegte, aber mit ein wenig Drehen scheint es zu klappen. Dank erstmal!!

Posted by Nantawat Kittiwarakul (Member # 6050) on April 18, 2019, 08:40 PM:

Does that No.5 wheel turns smoothly,without any binding? Maybe it is just simply stuck from dried/gummed up shaft grease?

Posted by Richard Zeiss (Member # 6927) on April 19, 2019, 03:21 AM:

Hi Nantawat, thanks for the response. I forgot to post (in English) the fact that I managed to sort it out. Basically, the lense was hard to push in, so I was afraid to break something, but eventually it came unstuck and I could move it. Many of my uncertainties and worries of breaking stuff are due to the fact that I am pretty new to this game and am not yet clear on what can and cannot be done physically to a projector without damaging it.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on April 19, 2019, 05:02 AM:

Richard

As mentioned above by Nantawat there was probably old dried up grease or similar on the shaft which is on the end of the focus knob, or maybe on the lens barrel.

The picture you posted showed the lens too far out, this is why you only could focus a very small picture. The lens should have been much closer in.

Now you have got things working, you could try to turn the focus knob so that the lens comes out as far as it will go. Then you can pull it out completely. Having done this I suggest you clean both the lens barrel and the end of the focus control shaft. You could use isopropyl alcohol for this.

Then, when all is clean to your satisfaction insert the lens back in and turn the focus knob to bring the lens back in to where you want it.

Posted by Richard Zeiss (Member # 6927) on April 19, 2019, 07:09 AM:

Thanks a lot for the advice, Maurice. You seem to have been in this field for a while. Much appreciated!

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