Help on wobbly Canon 35 f/2 LTM; disassembly instructions needed

bucs

bucs

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The front section of my Canon 35 f/2.0 ltm has play and is wobbly.

Does anyone have disassembly instructions on this lens? Maybe somethinf just needs tightening inside.

Thanks in advance!
 
bucs said:
The front section of my Canon 35 f/2.0 ltm has play and is wobbly.

Does anyone have disassembly instructions on this lens? Maybe somethinf just needs tightening inside.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

The Canon 35/2 LTM lens is one of the best Leica Screw mount lenses ever made.

Its probably not a good idea to risk DIYS repairs on this lens,
possibly damaging the lens and increasing the repair costs.

I would send it to a professional.

Stephen
 
What Stephen said. Unless you're a skilled repairperson and know your way around this lens (which is not the case, or else you wouldn't be asking for help) it simply is not worth trying to fix something like this.
 
Hurrah! I was able to fix the issue by tightening the outermost retaining ring with notches at the back of the lens. The front section sits tightly and flush now.

Posting here for future reference
 
That problem is common with the 35/2 and 35/1.8 Canon LTM lenses, and simple to fix, as you did - tighten the back element from the outside. Done!
 
Resurrecting this thread, though I know it's been discussed in others.

My 35/2 has a wobble to the focus ring and a general looseness to the body, but the aperture clicks are sturdy.

I tightened down all the screws I could find and opened the lens to my comfort level (rear retainer and front element) but couldn't find anything else that looks adjustable.

Anything else I should try myself, or any shop/repairperson you recommend for this lens?

Wrestling with justifying the repair. If it's $100+ for a CLA am I better upgrading to a more modern lens? I love the little Canon, but would you recommend selling to upgrade to a Voigtlander/Zeiss?

Happy Sunday!
 
I had mine tightened up for all of £10 a year ago. It’s a lovely lens with a gentle character but rarely used wider than f4. It can’t compete with the Zeiss Biogon for sharpness but it’s handling is similarly good.
 
Youxin Ye does fantastic work with LTM lenses. His charges between 90 and 100. It's probably worth sending to him if you can't fix it yourself.
 
The Canon 35mm f/2 is a wonderful lens. Mine had a little play (wobble?) in the focus but I lubricated it and then it was (and remains) fine. It's an easy lens to take apart (up to a point!) and I was impressed by how well engineered it is.
 
Thanks for the thoughts all...it is a fun lens to work on and very well put together. Tightening down the back screws did firm up the focus a bit, but it's like the (I don't know the exact terms) internal cylinder and the external sleeve are not firmly connected, so there is still play.

Is it possible that something inside the lens is 'worn out' and not fully repairable?

A sharper lens sounds nice, but I really can't complain about the results with this, plus it's so small!

Appreciate any other thoughts on the matter.
 
Did you tighten the three screws on the focusing ring, they're really small screws which
I had to make a small screw driver tip filed down to fit.
 
Range-rover said:
Did you tighten the three screws on the focusing ring, they're really small screws which
I had to make a small screw driver tip filed down to fit.
Click to expand...

I didn't! I saw those, but don't have anything small enough. Did you find that adjusting those helped with the play?

Thank you!
 
twvancamp said:
Resurrecting this thread, though I know it's been discussed in others.

My 35/2 has a wobble to the focus ring and a general looseness to the body, but the aperture clicks are sturdy.

I tightened down all the screws I could find and opened the lens to my comfort level (rear retainer and front element) but couldn't find anything else that looks adjustable.

Anything else I should try myself, or any shop/repairperson you recommend for this lens?

Wrestling with justifying the repair. If it's $100+ for a CLA am I better upgrading to a more modern lens? I love the little Canon, but would you recommend selling to upgrade to a Voigtlander/Zeiss?

Happy Sunday!
Click to expand...


I have a Canon 35mm f2, and in the past I owned a Zeiss ZM 35mm f2.8 C-Biogon. The lenses were about equal in sharpness but the Zeiss lens was very contrasty and in the end I did not like the tonality I got from it. Get your Canon repaired, it is worth spending $100 on. A new lens will cost you far more for little real return.
 
Mine was a bit wobbly when I first got it several years ago. I was able to fix it but it required a complete teardown of the focus mechanism. Not easy without the proper tools. The lens is well worth spending a little to have repaired.
 
Peter and Chris, thank you for the perspective. It really is a wonderful lens. Sending out a few emails today for estimates on repair.

Please recommend if there is anywhere highly recommended for servicing these lenses!
 
twvancamp said:
I didn't! I saw those, but don't have anything small enough. Did you find that adjusting those helped with the play?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

It does help but it's still a older lens and the wear from focusing
does affect it. I did tighten the front of the lens but it still has a
slight looseness.
 
Peter Jennings said:
Mine was a bit wobbly when I first got it several years ago. I was able to fix it but it required a complete teardown of the focus mechanism. Not easy without the proper tools. The lens is well worth spending a little to have repaired.
Click to expand...

What did you have to do to it after disassembling it? Was it needing relubricated or was there something else?
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
What did you have to do to it after disassembling it? Was it needing relubricated or was there something else?
Click to expand...

See, I can't remember that exactly and I no longer have the pics I took during disassembly :(
I do remember that there was an internal locking ring holding the mechanism together that was loose causing some of the play. But there was something more that I can't remember. I'm sure lubrication was a factor, too.
Anyway, it worked and the focus has felt much more precise since. So, it is fixable.
 
In case another 'wobbler' stumbles on this thread, I got a full CLA from ProCamera in Charlottesville. Cost $100 and ~1wk turnaround. Lens is good as new!
 
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