Repair and Remount Service Rodenstock Lenses

All ALPA/Rodenstock lenses get repaired at Rodenstock (Qioptiq) in Germany only. We at ALPA headquarters do not repair or adjust lenses at all. This is a task for the specialists at Rodenstock. Nevertheless all lenses (except sent from within Germany and European Community) have to be sent to ALPA headquarters in Zurich. If you route it via your dealer, please note that you inform your dealer will all helpful data and sample pictures before you take some actions. He will arrange the repair with us.
Whenever possible a picture (or pictures) documenting the optical or mechanical problem is of great help. Especially the complete chain from lens, body to digital back is very complex. Therefore an accurate documentation is often key for a rapid and successful analysis.

ALPA/Rodenstock high-end lenses for digital and film are often not optimized for best performance at full aperture. The phenomenon of diffraction (depending on the pixel size) also limits the performance when stopping down too much. Both effects might lead into "soft" pictures. As a rule of thumb apertures at f8-f11 should be best.

The tolerance of the mechanical Copal shutter is 1/3 EV (exposure values = 1/3 f-stop or 1/3 time increment).

If there is an optical or mechanical defect with your Rodenstock lens try to specify the failure as clear as possible. When using digital backs this is rather simple.

Steps to be taken

Specify what type of digital back you are using and which adaptation.

Specify what f-stop your sample pictures are taken.

Specify if the problem is consistent over different distance settings.

Take pictures with your back in normal position (horizontal) and then turn the BACK clockwise (seen from behind the camera) for 90°, 180° and 270° and take a picture without changing the lens. Name the pictures accordingly or index them in a list.

Take pictures with your back in normal position (horizontal) and then turn the LENS clockwise (seen from behind the camera) for 90°, 180° and 270° and take a picture without changing the back. Name the pictures accordingly or index them in a list.

Specify if you have taken the pictures with or without a center filter.

Previews can be sent to your dealer and the full (or near full) resolution by CD/DVD with the parcel heading for ALPA.

After getting the OK from your dealer please send the lens(es) and CD/DVD or any helpful print, slide, negative et al directly to us or your dealer to the address below.