ranger9
Well-known
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...
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...
DAG
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Frank Marshman
Timmyjoe
Veteran
My first choice would be DAG. Check with him, if he has the time to fix it.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
Beemermark
Veteran
DAG
Richard G
Veteran
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
Established
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
Well-known
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
Established
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
Veteran
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
Established
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
Registered User
DAG
ranger9
Well-known
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:
From DAG:
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:
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!
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:
From DAG:
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:
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!
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.
FWIW his shipping costs are quite high, I ask him for box weight and dimensions and email him a prepaid return ship label.
ellisson
Well-known
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
Registered User
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 (;->
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 (;->
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.
Third party insurance (I.e., not USPS) is about 80 cents per $100.