Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM broken aperture blade need help

[ulrich.von.lich]

Hello,

No long ago I bought a Nikkor 5cm f1.4 LTM off eBay. It arrived in fine condition but the aperture blades jammed up themselves in less than 30 minutes. With his permission, I shipped it back to seller for a refund. However, after bringing the lens to his repairman, the seller backed off the initial agreement saying that one of the aperture blades was permenantly damaged due to the force I had used and that the lens could no longer be repaired. He then shipped it back to me and told me I should look for some identical aperture blades. Now I'm out of 600EUR and don't know what to do with this inoperating lens... (I bought it to replace my main lens, a 50mm Summicron V4 for the extra stop, being unable to afford an E46 Summilux)


It is a latter one with engravings of Nikkor Kogaku Japan and black ring. Does anyone know what choice I have?

Can I cannibalise for example the aperture blades of :

Nikkor 5cm f2
Nikkor 5cm f1.4 NKT
Nikkor 5cm f1.4 NKJ but with silver aperture ring
Nikkor 5cm f1.4 in Nikon rangefinder mount
Others ???

Your help is greatly appreciated!!

Best Regards

 

[ferider]

Nikkor 5cm f1.4 in Nikon rangefinder mount

This is what I would pick. Depending on the donor lens, it might be OK financially.

To confirm, you might want to call Don, he is usually very helpful on the phone.

On later Nikkor 50/1.4 LTM lenses it's very easy to get to the aperture blades. The front-block just un-screws.

If clean and working, the lens is easily worth more than what you paid. Outstanding optically, too, just as good as the pre-asph Summilux. In some ways (distortion & close up performance) better.

Good luck,

Roland.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

As was suggested, the 5cm f/1.4 in Nikon S mount should be the ticket. I've seen worn examples go for under $100USD. You should be able to find a parts lens pretty cheaply.
Right now KEH.com has a bargain grade one for $165. You might email them and explain your issue asking if they have any ugly or worse samples they could sell you.
Good luck!

Phil Forrest

 

[ulrich.von.lich]

Thanks everybody.

And big thanks to ferider: Your thread on close focusing modification has sold me on it. I don't see any alternative (RF, f1.4 and 0.7m) at the price range. Now I need it fixed!!!

The lens is going to see Don. If necessary, I will buy a cheap Nikkor S counterpart.

 

[ferider]

No problem, Ulrich. I like it so much, I have two.

BTW, Don does the close focus mod as well, if you ask him.