Canon 50/1.4 focusing issue

[bjorn46]

I have recently purchased a Canon RF 50 mm 1:1.4 lens in mint(-) condition (No. 111004). I need some advice from RFF wrt. a focusing issue.

When I change direction of rotation of the focusing ring during focusing, I can hear a sound (sort of click) and I can feel a very small slack in mecanism. Further, when I lock the focusing ring to the front part of the lens with my hand and twist, I can see a very very small relative movement betveen the focusing scale and the depth of field scale which is fixed to the camera body. I estimate this relative movement between the two scales to be less than 0,1 mm.

Is this slack serious, pleace advice. 😕

 

[Mackinaw]

Probably no big deal. A lot of these old lenses have loosened up after 40+ years of use. Several of my old vintage LTM lenses have developed a bit of "wobble" but still take great pictures. To be sure your 50/1.4 is OK, take pictures, at all apertures and at various distances, and examine the results. My guess is you'll be very satisfied by the results.

Jim B.

 

[Sonnar2]

please search in the archives; I think jlw has published a page with pictures how to dismount the optical unit of a 50/1.4 from the focussing body and re-grease the threads.

Frank

 

[John Shriver]

The rails that keep the front part of the helical, the non-rotating part, from turning, are a little loose. Par for the course, particularly if someone used it a lot with ossified lube.

It won't really compromise focusing accuracy on a 50mm lens, since the focusing cam is directly measuring how far out the optical block is extended. It only compromises the accuracy of reading the printed focusing scale, and not by much.

 

[bjorn46]

Thanks guys, I feel a lot better.
Bjorn