Help finding right tools for fixing Nokton 50 1.1 loose barrel

[chhayanat]

I love this lens and the results it is giving me so far. However after putting just about two rolls through it, I noticed that when I am picking up the camera with the lens mounted, it feels like the front part of the lens (from the focus ring to the front element) is hanging down slightly. The moment I place my left hand to support that I feel that give.

I noticed that the four screws on the focus ring are loose and seem to leak traces of fluid. I tried to tighten them with a small screwdriver and put clear nailpolish on the top of the screws to prevent them from loosening up again. This worked but not too well or for too long. I am thinking that maybe I need a different screwdriver to tighten the screws better (I used a 2.0 mm slot and it was not the best fit). If anyone has any suggestion I would really appreciate. I don't want to send it for repair for six weeks since this is my only M set-up as of now.

 

[chhayanat]

It is not new. I do plan to send it for repair. However, since I got it, I am always having assignments or travel plans. I am looking for a fix to tide me over till November when I have a bit of a gap and send it to Stephen at Cameraquest (already talked to him about this).

 

[chhayanat]

Thanks for the heads up on Wiha though! Checking it out now! 🙂

The focus ring is most likely not the problem, if it is new, why are you not returning it for service? This is a complicated precise, expensive lens, not a great lens to learn repair on. Nail polish does not work very well on screws, but I would not glue them with Loctite thread-locker unless they were originally glued.

You can buy Wiha German screwdriver sets even on Amazon.

 

[Landshark]

Many lenses are assembled with either a spanner nut or screws behind the decorator ring.
That's the ring that has the lens information on it.

If you're curious enough it won't hurt anything to remove the ring and look. Use something like a crutch tip or rubber stopper. Don't know where you are but both are sold in hardware stores.

If using a stopper, it needs to be held at an angle so only the edge of the stopper touches the ring. Obviously keep either item away from the glass.

I'm pretty sure you're going to get a couple of "send it to a qualified technician" posts. But using the stopper is what they'll do.

Another source for specialized tools is Microtools I believe they have European as well as US offices.

 

[mdarnton]

Mine did exactly/ this when I got it. First off, I was unable to find a commercially-made screwdrived to fit. As you know, you need one that is very thin and wide. After looking for a while, I ground my own, which is a skill I alreadty had, and the tools to do it. That made the job easier, but wasn't permanent. Finally I loosened each screw, and put a toothpick point drop of shellac on the threads, then tightened it back. Haven't had a problem since.

I started to take a peek behind the scenes to see what the screws were doing. You do NOT want to go there! You really don't. This lens isn't like other lenses. No spanner is needed, and that's not how this lens is held together. It's pretty clever in there, and as soon as I realized what was going on, I saw it was neither necessary or desirable for me to go any farther.

if you do this, you need an almost-invisible amount of shellac. There are several types of Loctite; if you go that route, make sure you have the right one.

 

[chhayanat]

Thank you all for replying. I think I am not bold enough to try anything funny with such an expensive lens. I am going to send it for servicing. It just seems a pity that it needs servicing before I get to put even 10 rolls of film through it.