Last week I was looking on Adorama for a 35mm lens. I found one and added it to my cart, but before checking out I decided to continue browsing the used section for something else that I might be able to use. I found an older Nikon 28-85mm AF lens for $15. Their grade for the lens was an A- for the aesthetic look. It was selling cheap because the aperture blades would not fully open.
Both lenses arrived yesterday afternoon and immediately I began to take part the 28-85mm lens and found a few problems.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
The blades were stuck because the lever that goes from the mount to the blade housing was not attached properly.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
The blades looked clean so I concluded that nothing was physically wrong with the aperture therefore the problem was somewhere else. Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
I started to put the lens back together when I noticed that the plastic housing where the contacts and flex cable come together was cracked. I'm thinking that this may be the culprit as to why the electrical part of the aperture system is malfunctioning.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
I finished putting the lens back together and started to look at the 35mm lens when I noticed a considerably sized speck on the rear element. One thing about me is that I am very anal when it comes to dust on the rear element. I thought "what the hell, I just finished one lens, I'll crack this one open and blow the dust off for peace of mind."
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3 (Photo taken with the 28-85mm)
One thing that I've learned in the handful of lenses I have repaired is to take pictures during the disassembly. It gives you an idea of how to put things back together. It was around 1:30 am and decided that I would not need to take pictures, after all, it was only the rear glass I would be removing.
Bad mistake! I spent the next hour and a half attempting to put it back together correctly. What I had not realized was that the rear lens was attached to a housing with a "track" was on the side of it.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
I decided to leave the mess, head to bed, and tackle putting it back together in the morning.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
Needless to say, I had a dream that I just ended up with a paperweight because I couldn't figure out how to put it back together.
When I woke up I headed straight to the spare bedroom, sat at my desk, and stared at the parts praying that I would find some way to put it together without breaking anything else. I made the decision to disassemble it down further. As soon as I did that the internal guides that the lens mount tracks rotate on came loose. I was able to put the lens back in place and immediately began to put it back together.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
i took a photo of the tools used to do the repairs after putting the 35mm back together.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
One thing that I suggest you never do when cleaning a lens is to NEVER touch the internal part of a lens. For some reason I can't ever seem to get the glass clean of residue. I also would suggest to use ROR (Residual Oil Remover) cleaning fluid if you happen to leave a fingerprint or smudge internal oil on the lens.
Both lenses arrived yesterday afternoon and immediately I began to take part the 28-85mm lens and found a few problems.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
The blades were stuck because the lever that goes from the mount to the blade housing was not attached properly.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
The blades looked clean so I concluded that nothing was physically wrong with the aperture therefore the problem was somewhere else. Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
I started to put the lens back together when I noticed that the plastic housing where the contacts and flex cable come together was cracked. I'm thinking that this may be the culprit as to why the electrical part of the aperture system is malfunctioning.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
I finished putting the lens back together and started to look at the 35mm lens when I noticed a considerably sized speck on the rear element. One thing about me is that I am very anal when it comes to dust on the rear element. I thought "what the hell, I just finished one lens, I'll crack this one open and blow the dust off for peace of mind."
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3 (Photo taken with the 28-85mm)
One thing that I've learned in the handful of lenses I have repaired is to take pictures during the disassembly. It gives you an idea of how to put things back together. It was around 1:30 am and decided that I would not need to take pictures, after all, it was only the rear glass I would be removing.
Bad mistake! I spent the next hour and a half attempting to put it back together correctly. What I had not realized was that the rear lens was attached to a housing with a "track" was on the side of it.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
I decided to leave the mess, head to bed, and tackle putting it back together in the morning.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
Needless to say, I had a dream that I just ended up with a paperweight because I couldn't figure out how to put it back together.
When I woke up I headed straight to the spare bedroom, sat at my desk, and stared at the parts praying that I would find some way to put it together without breaking anything else. I made the decision to disassemble it down further. As soon as I did that the internal guides that the lens mount tracks rotate on came loose. I was able to put the lens back in place and immediately began to put it back together.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
i took a photo of the tools used to do the repairs after putting the 35mm back together.
Zenfolio | Miguel Thompson | Lens repair | Photo 3
One thing that I suggest you never do when cleaning a lens is to NEVER touch the internal part of a lens. For some reason I can't ever seem to get the glass clean of residue. I also would suggest to use ROR (Residual Oil Remover) cleaning fluid if you happen to leave a fingerprint or smudge internal oil on the lens.