Dropped my Dream Lens! Who can fix?

[ranger9]

That's right... last night (New Year's Eve) I dropped my M-mount-converted Canon 50mm f/0.95 lens! And no, I had NOT been drinking! (although I thought seriously about starting, as soon as I heard the thud...)

The glass looks okay, fortunately, and infinity focus seems all right. But the focusing mount starts to bind if I try to focus closer than about 8 feet, so I'm guessing the internal mountings got distorted by the impact.

The question is: Who might be able to address such a thing? Back in the old days I used to be able to send problems like this to Essex Camera, which would do mechanical straightening for prices in the few-hundred-dollar range (example: they straightened out a pranged 135/2.8 LTM Komura for me for $200, IIRC.) But now?

I suspect the fact that this lens has been M-converted makes the issue worse, since no two engineer/technician/machinists seemed to do this the same way, and whoever looks at it next probably won't approve of what the last person did (like dentists.) I plan to start haunting eBay in hopes of finding a "parts" specimen with trashed glass but good focusing mount ("unconverting" it back to Canon mount wouldn't bother me since I have a nice 7Sz it could live on) but a quick look suggests that's a long shot at best. And simply buying another one, with prices for even average-condition specimens running a couple of thou (although I admit it's worth it) isn't realistic now that I'm old and poor.

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions? Other than taking to drink, that is...

 

[splitimageview]

DAG

 

[Vince Lupo]

Frank Marshman

 

[Timmyjoe]

My first choice would be DAG. Check with him, if he has the time to fix it.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Beemermark]

DAG

 

[Richard G]

Good luck. What a shame. And a precious rarity. At least you hand't been drinking. I've made some film errors drinking, and lost a precious lens hood. I no longer mix alcohol and photography at all.

 

[zeitz]

SK Grimes in Rhode Island, the photographers machinists. Being machinists of highest precision and quality, they thrive on making parts that are no longer available.

 

[wjlapier]

SK Grimes in Rhode Island, the photographers machinists. Being machinists of highest precision and quality, they thrive on making parts that are no longer available.

SK Grimes for sure but Don at DAG also has a machine shop. He converted one of these lenses for me a while back and he had to do some machine work as I recall since I wanted the Viso III mount.

I’d avoid Frank Marshman if it were me. Maybe for Fuji rangefinders but not machine work.

 

[zeitz]

SK Grimes for sure but Don at DAG also has a machine shop. He converted one of these lenses for me a while back and he had to do some machine work as I recall since I wanted the Viso III mount.

If new helicoid rings are required, I don't think Don Goldberg is the one to do this work. I have used both Don and SK Grimes for different projects.

 

[Beemermark]

I dropped my VC 50mm/1.1 and DAG fixed it for a very reasonable price. The barrel is very thin and it takes only a little bump to distort the barrel. Like yours mine would bind at a certain spot while focusing. Not sure why people think you need a machinist.

 

[zeitz]

Not sure why people think you need a machinist.

If helicoid rings are required, you need a machinist. You won't know until the lens is taken apart. Also the OP wants to return it to the Canon 7 mount. If Don doesn't have spare parts, it will need a machinist.

 

[BillBingham2]

DAG

 

[ranger9]

For anyone interested in the outcome of my dropped-lens adventure:

I emailed both places suggested in this thread, and got what I believe were appropriate responses from both, given their differing fields of expertise.

From S.K. Grimes, machinists:

Thank you for the inquiry. We don't have direct experience with this lens, so I can't say for certain what the problem might be or if we can fix it. Usually the tolerances are so close on 35mm lenses that repair has to involve replacement. You could send the lens in to be examined, there is a $50 bench fee for looking over and identifying the issue. We'd consult with you after about options and what might be the problem.

From DAG:

Yes, I can repair impact damage done to the Canon 0.95/50mm lens. I have special tooling for that

Since the lens still focused (although stiffly) and there were no rattles or other signs of broken parts, I decided DAG was the way to go. I sent him the lens on January 4 via USPS Priority Mail. On January 28 I received the following reply:

your Canon lens is ready- took lens apart, repaired bent parts using special tooling cleaned, lubed, & adjusted for good working order- $300.00 plus $68.00 for shipping totaling $368.00

I sent him an online payment immediately, and the lens was back in my possession on Feb. 1 (four weeks to the day.) It's all nice and clean and works just as well as it had before I dropped it, so I'm a happy customer. Yay DAG!

 

[splitimageview]

No one like DAG. It will be a sad day when he retires.

FWIW his shipping costs are quite high, I ask him for box weight and dimensions and email him a prepaid return ship label.

 

[ellisson]

No one like DAG. It will be a sad day when he retires.

FWIW his shipping costs are quite high, I ask him for box weight and dimensions and email him a prepaid return ship label.

Good idea. Don usually insures return shipments which explains at least part of the cost. But a pre-paid label is another way to go.

 

[BillBingham2]

Excellent choice Sir! I have always been in awe of his abilities, dedication, and quality.

Shipping costs from anything but a major metro has gone way up over the past years. Sadly, it's just going to get worse. I'm dealing with a LOT of shipping right now and anything quick has tripled in the past 10 years.

B2 (;->

 

[splitimageview]

Yes costs are much higher, no doubt, but with prepaid labels to DAG it’s typically 1/3 what he charges.

Third party insurance (I.e., not USPS) is about 80 cents per $100.