Nikkor 105/2.5 LTM rangefinder coupling

[dfoo]

I just returned home after a long stay in Shanghai and was checking out a nikkor 105/2.5 LTM from ebay which arrived after I left. The lens looks to be in great shape, however, it doesn't rangefinder couple! That's makes the lens quite useless! Looking at this lens compared to the 28/3.5 CV LTM lens I have, the threads look too short. There is a large black retaining ring on the bottom of the lens that appears to interfere with the threads.

Any ideas?

 

[Vobluda]

If you place a picture of lens bottom I can compare it with my lens..

 

[chris00nj]

Well a normal Nikkor 105/2.5 is rangefinder coupled.

I had a Nikkor 135 that I thought that had a similar problem. However, the rangefinder cam was just stuck and the grease had congealed over the years. The cam is a rectangular piece that is about the size of a nickel that will stick out. It should move back and forth as you focus the lens. The one I had it was stuck. With some careful squirting of Royal Purple (WD-40 like lubricant) and some excerise, I got it working fine.

I attached a couple pictures of a normal looking Nikkor 105/2.5 and circled the rangefinder cam in red. If the cam is missing then you have a problem.

 

[dfoo]

Here is a shot. Let me know if you need others to compare with. When I mount the lens the tripod adapter is not at the bottom of the camera, where it should be. It is about 30% off center!

 

[dberger]

The coupling bit is there, but that black retaining ring is gumming up the works. It appears to have spanner slots, so maybe you can just unscrew it off.

Cheers,

David

 

[dfoo]

...
I attached a couple pictures of a normal looking Nikkor 105/2.5 and circled the rangefinder cam in red. If the cam is missing then you have a problem.

Did you forget to attach the images?

 

[chris00nj]

Did you forget to attach the images?

They are attached as attachments. I can see them. Can others see them?

 

[dfoo]

It works now!

 

[dfoo]

I took off the retaining ring, and now it couples well. However, the tripod mount does not point directly down, its still a little to the left. Is that expected?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Tripod Mount can be adjusted, as I recall. I've done this on a repair on a 10.5cm F2.5 long ago. Look on the inside of the lens, where the tripod mount screws into. The screws that hold the mount and that block pass through slots in the lens barrel, so you can center it.

Undo the screws slightly so that the mount can slide. Find the center point putting the lens and camera on a tripod, tighten. You will probably have to remove the lens from the tripod to tighten it. Worked for me.

 

[dfoo]

Its not just the tripod mount. The center of the DOF scale is also not where it should be... it is also to the left.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

That is normal. It is to the left so that it can be easily seen as you look over the camera from the viewfinder. Canon lenses also do this. As long as the RF coupling lines up with the follower of the camera, you are set.