Pancake Problem

[photophorous]

Hey Everybody,


I experienced a problem with my 35/2.5 PII lens last night, so I thought I'd write it up here to see if it's common. I don't know all the correct terminology, so bear with me.


I was removing the lens from my R2A and noticed the front was wobbly. If you hold it by the mount, you can giggle the main barrel of the lens by applying side-to-side pressure to the front bayonet mount. While doing that, you can see it wobble on the rear side too. I looked at it closely for a few minutes and discovered one of the rings that holds it all together had come loose. It was very loose. It was one of the smaller diameter rings that is slightly recessed on the rear side of the lens. I couldn't reach it with my fingers and I don't have a spanner wrench, but I was able to use a micro screw driver to tighten it enough to stop the wobbling.


I bought this lens used, in what I thought was excellent condition. I've hardly used it, but I'm sure it was not wobbly when I got it. Is this something to be concerned about? Should I get a proper tool and make sure it's tight? How do I know when it's tight enough?

Oh, one more thing. When I first got the lens, I noticed the lens hood being very tight. It required a lot of force to put it on and take it off. I'm thinking that has something to do with this.


Thanks,
Paul

 

[0bli0]

the hood takes some pressure to put on and twist - but not too much. i dont have anythin glike the wobble you mention. it's good u were able to tighten it - but i wonder if it will do it again. it may warrant a visit to the lens doctor...

 

[photophorous]

I'm planning to drop by my local camera store to see if they have a cheap tool that I can purchase, but I may ask them to look at it too. If it just needs tightening, I only need to find out how tight it should be. I don't want to over tighten it and damage something.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[ferider]

First time I hear about the PII to have this problem. But there were several reports on
the 50/1.5, 35/1.7 and 40/1.4 with similar issues. Generally the fix requires you to unscrew
the front ring (the ring covering the front element) and access the screws underneath.
I have fixed a 50/1.5 like that myself, it's pretty straight forward ...

Good luck,

Roland.

 

[photophorous]

Hi Roland,

Thanks for commenting. I've read about the problems with the 50/1.5, but not any others. From what I've read, my probelm seems a little different. Tightening the ring near the Rear element seems to have fixed it. But, who knows. I'm still planning to get a tool for properly tightening those rings. Do you know how tight it should be? I'm pretty handy with tools, but I've never worked on a lens before.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[ferider]

Hi Roland,

Thanks for commenting. I've read about the problems with the 50/1.5, but not any others. From what I've read, my probelm seems a little different. Tightening the ring near the Rear element seems to have fixed it. But, who knows. I'm still planning to get a tool for properly tightening those rings. Do you know how tight it should be? I'm pretty handy with tools, but I've never worked on a lens before.

Thanks,
Paul

Great to hear that you fixed it, good to know as a reference for the future.

Just tighten it "finger tight", so that you can open it again in the future if you need to.
A lens spanner is always good to have.

Best,

Roland.

 

[photophorous]

Well, I tightened it a little more than finger tight. I used a micro screw driver to push on one of the detents in the retaining ring. I pushed as hard as I could with out risking a slip. It's recessed, so I can't touch it with my fingers anyway.

I just got back from my local camera shop, where a technician looked at it and said there was no need to tighten it more. Unfortunately, they didn't have a spanner wrench for sale that was small enough. Guess I'll shop around for one, but hopefully I won't need it again for this lens.

Paul

 

[ywenz]

I had the same problem with my PII. I bought a spanner from micro tools and tightened the rear retaining ring with it.

 

[photophorous]

I had the same problem with my PII. I bought a spanner from micro tools and tightened the rear retaining ring with it.

Thanks for the comment. I've been considering buying a spanner, but there are so many on the micro tools website...I don't know which one to get. Do you remember which model you got? Are you happy with it?

Thanks,
Paul

PS. I haven't had any more problems with the lens....just want a spanner to have around.

 

[Avotius]

I just looked at my p2 and just realized that mine wobbles to, I guess there is something in there that doesnt hold quite right which I seem to hear about on a lot of cv lenses. I guess I should try tightening mine down too.

btw finding out about this doesnt help me any since I have been gassing for a leica 35 cron asph so much that I want to sell off a lot of things for it....maybe its about time for mine to go on the chopping block as well