How tight should the aperture ring on a 5cm Elmar be ?

[Moto Mark]

When I change the aperture ring on my 5cm Red Scale Elmar I have to hold the outer ring with one hand and use the fingernail on the other hand to turn the aperture ring.

It has a lot of resistance on the ring, is this normal ?

 

[p.giannakis]

In mine, the focusing ring rotates very smoothly but the aperture ring has some resistance to it but not too much. I always thought that it feels fine.

 

[Erik van Straten]

When the aperture is turned, the barrel should not move. Sometimes a very little bit of sewing machine oil helps. If not, the lens must be professionally cleaned.


Erik.

 

[VictorM.]

The control on mine has just a little resistance. Here's an interesting video (I haven't tried to 'fix' mine because it aint broke):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQf01iHqf-I

 

[Moto Mark]

Thanks Victor, it was that same video that got me thinking I might have the same issue.

At best I’d try Erik’s suggestion and use sewing machine oil but that’s as far as I’m capable of going.

 

[Ambro51]

Little lighter fluid will loosen it, then a drop of sewing machine oil