Lens Wobble in Planar 50/2?

[Racefan]

I'm new to interchangeable lens rangefinders - just bought an M6 and a Zeiss Planar ZM 50/2 from a good used equipment dealer and I'm very pleased with what I see in the first roll.

I have one question while I can still return the lens. On the lens I have, the extension part of the lens barrel can be moved around ("wobbled"?) quite a bit in the barrel. I've never noticed this much movement in manual focus SLR lenses I've used over the years, and not having ever touched a leica style lens before I'm not sure whether this is normal or not? As mentioned, the photos looked very good, so I'm not too concerned, but thought I'd ask.

Thanks for any feedback.

Ron

 

[Avotius]

My 50 Planar does the same thing, but in addition mine also has a spot in the focus where it seems the lube is not even and the focus "hesitates" for a moment around 1.5 meters. The images that the lens produce are wonderful though and I never bothered to send the lens in because it is the lens I use the most and its hard for me to part with it. My advice is try to get one that is perfect though, but as I hear this is a common problem with the 50 Planar.

 

[Racefan]

My advice is try to get one that is perfect though, but as I hear this is a common problem with the 50 Planar.

Thanks for the reply. Mine focuses very smoothly thru the whole range, so I'm OK on that issue.

To try to give a frame of reference to the "slop" or "wobble" in the lens, with the lens at full extension (minimum focus point) and no hood, I can move the outer end of the lens about 1mm of total range in any direction. I'm probably just being over-reactive from being used to Nikkor AIS lenses.🙄

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

My Planar 50mm also had a bit of wobble. I sent it to a David Yau (Leica repair person in Ontario, Canada). He fixed it.

 

[Tom A]

On most lenses there is a retaining ring at the back that can work loose with time. It is one of this rings with two slots in it for a tightening tool. Try to see if this one is loose and tighten it. Using a pair of needle noose pliers with some some tape around the points usually prevents scratching.
A good camera repairperson can tighten the ring and "Loc-Tite" it in place.
Most lenses today are assembled with a helicoil and a lens element set that is dropped in from the front and held in with a rear retaining ring. Vibrations can loosen the ring - biggest culprits is airplanes as the airframe vibrates and also keeping the camera on the floor of the car!

 

[Racefan]

On most lenses there is a retaining ring at the back that can work loose with time. It is one of this rings with two slots in it for a tightening tool. Try to see if this one is loose and tighten it. Using a pair of needle noose pliers with some some tape around the points usually prevents scratching.

You nailed it Tom - thank you very much!

That ring was very loose and I was able to turn it almost 1/4 turn with a tiny screwdriver in one of the slots. I had about decided I would send it back, but now that I know what it is I'll keep it and eventually get it locked down by a pro.

I can see I've found a great place to learn about these cameras - thanks for all the feedback.

Ron

 

[gerbilthemistake]

aw man...this has gotten me all paranoid so now when i go home i have to check the same thing. :bang:

 

[joachim]

On most lenses there is a retaining ring at the back that can work loose with time. It is one of this rings with two slots in it for a tightening tool. Try to see if this one is loose and tighten it. Using a pair of needle noose pliers with some some tape around the points usually prevents scratching.
A good camera repairperson can tighten the ring and "Loc-Tite" it in place.
Most lenses today are assembled with a helicoil and a lens element set that is dropped in from the front and held in with a rear retaining ring. Vibrations can loosen the ring - biggest culprits is airplanes as the airframe vibrates and also keeping the camera on the floor of the car!

Hi,

anyone knows whether this also applies to Contax G lenses? -Ta-

 

[elshaneo]

Anybody got pictures showing how it's done properly? Thanks !!!

 

[gandalfk7]

My 50 Planar does the same thing, but in addition mine also has a spot in the focus where it seems the lube is not even and the focus "hesitates" for a moment around 1.5 meters. The images that the lens produce are wonderful though and I never bothered to send the lens in because it is the lens I use the most and its hard for me to part with it. My advice is try to get one that is perfect though, but as I hear this is a common problem with the 50 Planar.

mine does exactly the same thing.

 

[Turtle]

my 50 is fine but got a tiny amount of play in the 35mm focus - feels like a tiny knot as 1/2mm of slack is taken up in the throw before it actually mowed the lens focus. Kinda annoying but lens works perfectly so I ignore it for now.

 

[Bobfrance]

mine does exactly the same thing.

As does mine.

I was told by a friend who examined it (and has done A LOT of camera and lens repair) that it was fine and not to worry. His opinion was that Zeiss used less thick gloopy grease than other makes to give a smooth feel (Voigtlander for instance) and relied on better mechanical accuracy of the threads, which was better for the lens in the long run but maybe meant that the lens felt less smooth.

The wobble in mine he thought was well within tolerance.

As for the unevenness: He said gently heating it up, by perhaps putting it under a table lamp for a while and repeatedly working it back and forwards might help the sticking point (which it did a little). At a push putting lighter fluid on the eyelet of a needle and dripping it into the helicoid threads also might help, but only do this if you're prepared to pay for repair if you mess it up.


I was just happy to know it was okay and left it as it is. That Zeiss glass is just so nice. 🙂

 

[gandalfk7]

😱 i'll never-ever stick a needle and spill a fluid in my lens..

i like it as is 😉

 

[Petroleum V. Nasby]

The Power of Suggestion is now giving EVERYONE'S lenses a severe case of the Wobblies.

 

[gandalfk7]

The Power of Suggestion is now giving EVERYONE'S lenses a severe case of the Wobblies.

naaa, i don't think so.
it's a little wobbly, it took good photos, nothing I am concerned about.
now I only know that's normal,
before reading this post i could think it was something wrong.

 

[Petroleum V. Nasby]

You know, I didn't know they named an Italian city after a sandwich served to lower class Americans, usually in jail.

naaa, i don't think so.
it's a little wobbly, it took good photos, nothing I am concerned about.
now I only know that's normal,
before reading this post i could think it was something wrong.

 

[gandalfk7]

You know, I didn't know they named an Italian city after a sandwich served to lower class Americans, usually in jail.

😀 ahah, I don't want even think that your message could have a subtle, infantile, racist message in it.

however, yes, we have a large variety of pork derivates and there are a lot of "salumi" like "mortadella" (in the rest of the world it's erronously called "bologna") and many other derivates.

 

[Petroleum V. Nasby]

It was a joke about Americans, not Italians. I think I'm going to have to make a "sarcasm" icon.

Actually, this is excellent:

THIS is disgusting:

 

[gandalfk7]

It was a joke about Americans, not Italians. I think I'm going to have to make a "sarcasm" icon.

ah mmh.. ok..
err..
I am sorry for the misunderstanding, today I am really unable to catch sarcasm 🙁

sorry again, I hate that kind of situations 😉

 

[fstop]

On most lenses there is a retaining ring at the back that can work loose with time. It is one of this rings with two slots in it for a tightening tool. Try to see if this one is loose and tighten it. Using a pair of needle noose pliers with some some tape around the points usually prevents scratching.

Thank you so much for the tip, Tom! My Zeiss 21/2.8 just developed a similar wobble and I managed to tighten the retaining ring with my fingers.

I am now in the middle of a long vacation and the wobble has been worrying me. Never thought I'd be able to carry out a lens repair with just my fingers. Hahaha!

This is the the second time this happened. The first time I had to send it back to the shop to get it fixed, fortunately while the lens was still under warranty.

Thanks again.