Help needed with 50/1.5 Nokton

[Rogrund]

This might be a stupid question, but as a newbie I hope I will be excused. 🙂 A couple of weeks ago I got a 50/1.5 Nokton from ebay to replace the Industar 61L/D on my Bessa R. I have been happily shooting away my first roll and really enjoying the feel of the lens, but then the other night I noticed something that makes me worried. Apparently the Nokton is slightly tilted! When the lens is mounted and I look on it from above, the distance between the aperture and distance rings isn’t equal on the left side and the right side. I can’t tell the exact difference since I don’t have a slide caliper, but it’s somewhere between 0.5 and 1 mm. I’m in no doubt this will affect image quality. What kind of aberrations shall I look for on my test roll?

At the same time, I’m puzzled because there is no indication that the lens would have been dropped or anything. The aperture and distance rings run very smoothly and there are no dings or scratches on the lens barrel, nor the hood. As far I can see the Nokton seems to be in perfect condition except for the tiltedness.

I really don’t want to confront the seller, since I didn’t see the problem at once when the lens arrived. Shall I take the lens to a technician? (Is there a Swedish member who can recommend a good one, preferably in the south of Sweden?)

Or isn’t this such a big issue after all? Maybe it’s best just to develop the roll and if the pictures seem OK, try to ignore the whole thing? But I’m sure it always will be nagging me… 🙁


I’d like to hear your thoughts on this!

 

[Bike Tourist]

Sorry I can't offer any technical help to you, Antti. I know manufacturing tolerances are not as stringent with CV lenses as with Leica, but I would not expect to see visible differences such as you describe.

I think your first idea — to develope and inspect your first roll — is a good one. Also, a few frames at full open aperture might exaggerate any abberation present.

Excuse me, I have to go examine my Nokton!

 

[Huck Finn]

I would contact the seller. This may be the reason he sold it. H eshould know that you're aware of the problem. If he does the right thing, he will offer to accept a return of the lens & refund your money.

 

[Rogrund]

I have this lens, but I use it on a Rd-1s. The Bessa R is M-mount, right? So you need a M-Bayonett adapter ring. Is the one on the lens a Voigtländer ring or is it something else? If the previous buyer bought a cheap knock of, it can make a bad fit.

No, Bessa R is LTM, so I don't use an adapter.

But maybe I'll give lpfoto a call.

Thanks!

 

[popstar]

Tjena Antti! I just looked at my Nokton lens. The aperture ring is parallel to the distance scale throughout the aperture scale. You really might consider mentioning this to the seller on eBay. If your approach is reasonable, I would hope they would do the right thing for you.

Good luck getting this resolved! Just thought you would want to know from someone else who owns a Nokton.

 

[x-ray]

If you're saying the infinity mark on the top is not at the top when you look down at it this not unusual. It's nothing to be allarmed about and there are a couple of threads her on how to align it. If it's only a 1mm or so i don't think you can get it any closer but it really doesn't matter. It will come up different with different adapters and different thread bodies. It still will focus correctly with no problems. Don't worry, just shoot pictures. My 28 Ultron is about 1 to 2 mm off to the left and my 15 is dead on. No big deal!

 

[popstar]

Hey X-Ray - If I understand Antti's issue correctly, he is saying that the aperture ring is tilted in its mount. As you correctly state, there are many instances of CV lens screwing in too far/not enough, but I think this is something different. I believe the issue is that the aperture ring is not uniform left-to-right in its setting, which would seem to be a problem.

Antti, please correct me if I'm off wrong...

 

[Rogrund]

Thanks everyone!

Steve: yes, you're quite right. The aperture ring, and the whole front part of the lens, is tilted compared to the rest of the lens, including the distance ring.

I'll finish the roll this weekend, maybe the pictures show something...

 

[clintock]

The focus ring on my nokton kept coming unscrewed when I first got it, maybe yours did too and got put back on misthreaded, causing everything to look off? I put a little blue thread locker on the threads and it never happened again, but the threads are quite fine, maybe it could be on crooked?

 

[Rogrund]

The focus ring on my nokton kept coming unscrewed when I first got it, maybe yours did too and got put back on misthreaded, causing everything to look off? I put a little blue thread locker on the threads and it never happened again, but the threads are quite fine, maybe it could be on crooked?

Thanks! This may be worth checking out. But I'll let someone more technically skilled do it 😛

 

[Rogrund]

Sad ending of the story: does anybody want a broken Nokton?

Sad ending of the story: does anybody want a broken Nokton?

OK, so now I got the final verdict from the technician at the camera repair shop. He says the Nokton must have been dropped or otherwise received quite a blow. There is a part inside (I don't know what it is called) that is so badly bent/damaged it can't be fixed. I'd have to order a part from Austria, which would cost me $300-600 😱.

And I thought I would save a few bucks (I'm not a wealthy man) by getting this lens from ebay instead of ordering one from CameraQuest. There is a Swedish proverb about stinginess deceiving wisdom...

Maybe I am supposed to feel ripped off, but I can't prove this to be the seller's fault (I haven't dropped it myself, that's the only thing I know) and I don't want to go further with the matter. I've read the seller's responses to other customers complaining, and he's not a very friendly person... anyway, I've noticed he's not selling on ebay anymore.

I'm fed up with this lens and I'm probably going to get a Color Skopar 35 (which is more in my price range) when I'm in New York next week. (BTW, can you recommend where to buy a Skopar in NYC? I'm considering Photo Village and Adorama, they seem to have the same prices.)

So: since I don't want to see this Nokton 50/1.5 anymore and I certainly don't to sell it to some other poor *******, I'm giving it away. Read my attempts of description in my previous posts. The front part of the lens is tilted and after the attempts to straighten it up the aperture ring is also quite stiff. The glasses are, as far as I can see, flawless. Maybe someone can use them or something else for parts. The lens comes in the original box with shade, front and rear caps. You only pay for shipping, nothing else. PM me, please. The first person I consider a serious candidate gets the lens!

 

[Rogrund]

The Nokton has found a new home!

 

[Nokton48]

Antti,

I have had numerous good dealings with Rich Pinto at Photo Village. I would recommend his place, especially if you can visit them in person🙂

Better luck with your next CV lens. That's a real bummer.

 

[fishtek]

Antti,

Rich at Photo Village (and his sidekick Will) is a good guy. Click on his advert and get directions/contact info. He'll take good care of you.

Regards!
Don

 

[Rogrund]

Thanks Nokton48 and Don! I will be heading for Photo Village the first thing I do when I get to NYC.