Canon 50mm 1.8 question

[Brendan McGeown]

Hello,

I just purchased a Canon P with a 50mm 1.8 and a 1.4. When I look inside the 1.8 there is a piece that sticks out inside of the lens, behind the aperture blades. Stopped down to 2.8, the piece is covered by the blades. My question is, does anyone know what this is and is it repairable? Any and all info is appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[02Pilot]

Might just be flaking black paint - I can't really tell from the photos, but that's my guess. Ideally, you'd open up the lens, remove the loose paint, and repaint the uncovered areas with flat black paint (I use modelling paint). In practice, you can probably get away with just working it out of there with a toothpick and calling it done.

 

[Brendan McGeown]

It would be nice if it was that easy. I have a feeling its not paint though.

Also just realized that the front lens assembly looks crooked? Is this another issue, or a matter of opening it up and screwing it in right?

 

[DNG]

It looks like a gasket to me, they are not always the full 360 degrees to hold a lens in place. have a repair shop take a look and put it back in place.
Just my guess, could be wrong, that's okay, still have a repair shop look at it and repair it.
Unless you are handy with DYI repairs.

 

[aoresteen]

I'd send it Don Goldberg as I tend to destroy optics when try to take them apart. The lens is well worth a CLA.

 

[Brendan McGeown]

Thanks for your input everyone. Anyone have a rough guess as how much a cla would run on the lens? Sorry for all the questions, I'm new to rangefinders. this is my first one.

 

[x-ray]

I had Youxin Ye do a CLA on a V1 35 summicron a year ago and think it was $80 or $90. I had it back in a week.

 

[Brendan McGeown]

So it would be a mistake to sell it, as is, to a potential buyer for around $35-45 and a soft release, correct?

 

[farlymac]

I'd go with it being flaking paint, and that someone could have been in there before, thus the uneven part. It's not that hard a lens to work on, if you've got the right tools, and some experience. If not, I'd send it in for a repair.

But if you don't want to spend anymore money on it, then sell it for whatever you can get, as long as you let the buyer know about the condition.

PF

 

[Brendan McGeown]

I've seen a video on how to work on the 1.4, but I cannot seem to find the screw near the filter thread to remove the front assembly. Is the 1.8 taken apart differently?

Potential buyer is well informed of condition.

 

[kuuan]

I've seen a video on how to work on the 1.4, but I cannot seem to find the screw near the filter thread to remove the front assembly. Is the 1.8 taken apart differently?

Potential buyer is well informed of condition.

the black thingy seems to be behind the aperture assembly, that is I don't think you need to remove the front assembly but open the lens from the back which is very simple. Some instructions can be seen here: http://nelsonfoto.com/SMF/index.php?topic=24501.0
A lens spanner will help, possibly isn't necessary for the first ring and certainly not for the first lens that doesn't have to be removed from it's housing but screwed off with it, but for the third block which is recessed. In case you try by yourself and need more detailed instructions ask for it, I may try to help. To remove some haze that is recurring I have to open my copy regularly anyway, and I just opened it to check if there was some kind of ring just behind the aperture assembly that could be broken and the culprit but the one that's there is wider, I don't think this is it

the order of disassembly from right to left:

the last one to remove is a recessed and the one that will be difficult to remove without a spanner ( for having been removed often quite some paint loss around the notches on mine )
the ring behind the aperture assembly

 

[kuuan]

actually I had faintly remembered that I have had encountered two different versions that disassemble a bit differently from each other and just realized that I already had shown that here, see: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2385611&postcount=15

 

[Brendan McGeown]

Wow, these are some great instructional photos. Thanks for the help Kuuan!! However, I think I'd be better sending it off for repair. I don't have the proper tools or experience.

 

[kuuan]

Wow, these are some great instructional photos. Thanks for the help Kuuan!! However, I think I'd be better sending it off for repair. I don't have the proper tools or experience.

most welcome Brendan and you may better send it out. good luck!
- I try to encourage to tinkering oneself, it's great fun, one has to start somewhere and this lens makes a great candidate. But of course one needs to like work like that and if one doesn't have a lens spanner yet some imagination, e.g. to cut out a piece of hard plastic from a small plastic container or such to make a key for the first slots, for the later, recessed ones a fork bent for the job might do.. 😉 better I shut up, for anyone who want to open a lens a lens spanner is a good investment

 

[aoresteen]

I had Youxin Ye do a CLA on a V1 35 summicron a year ago and think it was $80 or $90. I had it back in a week.

Don Goldberg charges about the same. His turn-around is slower. The lens is well worth having a CLA done.