Elmar 5cm Aperture Ring

[Moto Mark]

I recently purchased an Elmar 5cm Red Scale lens for my IIIg. It’s my first dedicated LTM lens as I’ve been using M lenses with an adapter up till now.

I want to ask other Elmar owners if the aperture ring is hard to turn. I have to pinch the outer edge of the lens with one hand and then turn the ring with the other hand. It feels pretty stiff, is this normal ? The focusing ring is smooth and easy to turn so I might just be overthinking things.

Thanks !

 

[Mr_Flibble]

It should not feel stiff. I can nudge the aperture ring by nudging it with my fingertip on most of my 35 and 50mm Elmar lenses.

Or is your Red Scale Elmar the next generation lens with the aperture ring behind the front ring?
If the force of trying to turn the aperture ring changes the focus than I'd say it's too stiff.

Sounds like dried up lubricants to me.

 

[Mjd-djm]

They seem to get stiffer with age. Common problem. Mine is similar but not as bad as you’ve described. It just needs a bit of a lube.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Very best thing is to send the lens for a CLA.

DIY:

Try running a swab heavily dampened (not dripping ) with Ronsonol (lighter fluid) around the parting line between the aperture ring and front of lens, then working the aperture ring.

You want to get enough fluid under the ring to soften the dried lube, w/o flooding into the aperture blades / lens surfaces.

 

[Moto Mark]

Thanks Mr Fibble, I’ve got a serial number starting with 1201 so I think it’s an early one.

Frank, I’ll try the lighter fluid trick