podcat
Member
Hi, my planar gets pretty stiff in colder weather when its been sitting in the bag. Its fine at normal room temperature etc. As winter approaches this is increasingly annoying. I assume its been lubricated incorrectly and I'v only had it since summer where I never noticed it.
Has anyone re-lubricated their planar? How tricky is it taking it apart for this, I can't seem to find any technical information through google. I could try and find someone who services manual rangefinder lenses but if it isnt a tricky operation I would rather do it myself
Has anyone re-lubricated their planar? How tricky is it taking it apart for this, I can't seem to find any technical information through google. I could try and find someone who services manual rangefinder lenses but if it isnt a tricky operation I would rather do it myself
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
If you bought it new, send it in for warranty service. If not, pay a tech to fix it. Taking a rangefinder lens apart and getting it back together where the focus remains accurate is near impossible without the correct equipment used by repairmen. I know, I ruined a lens that way once.
podcat
Member
Yeah you are probably right. I'v only taken apart and cleaned SLR lenses and I imagine this is trickier. The lens is 2nd hand so no warranty or similar and I'v been happy with it all summer - the stiffness only shows up when I'v been out in the cold autumn evenings with it in my bag.
I'll see if i can find a repair guy in Stockholm. Tips welcome!
I'll see if i can find a repair guy in Stockholm. Tips welcome!
Jockos
Well-known
the planar is a pretty basic lens so i don't see why it would be trickier to relube than an SLR lens. i'd certainly give it a try before sending it off.
podcat
Member
well, I'd bet a rangefinder lens is much more sensitive because of the mechanical coupling. It doesn't matter as much if an SLR lens has its focus shifted a bit because you focus by looking through it.
joeswe
Well-known
If you're in Europe, send it to Zeiss/Germany or contact them with your problem. After all I've read here, their customer service is excellent. The cost might be much more reasonable than you expect.
podcat
Member
I already met with from Jonas from http://www.analogakameror.se and he is currently having a look at it. I'll post an update when I get it back.
sojournerphoto
Veteran
Appreciate you've met a guy, but I'll second Zeiss' service recommendation. Excellent and not as expensive as you might expect.
DNG
Film Friendly
Yes, the cost with my guy in town is under $50 for a re-lube on a lens...
May I make a suggestion the next time you go out in the cold with extra lenses?
Put the lenses in a wool or heavy cotton sock, then in the bag it goes..
May I make a suggestion the next time you go out in the cold with extra lenses?
Put the lenses in a wool or heavy cotton sock, then in the bag it goes..
podcat
Member
I seldom bring more than once lens, I find that I spend too much time switching between them rather than taking pictures
Got my planar back from Jonas the other day and the problem seems fixed now, no issue yesterday when I was out in the cold. He said the old grease was of a bad type and had also leaked around quite a bit so he cleaned it and put on new grease.
Also got to drool over some of the cameras he had in for repair, including a real user of an M4 with beautiful brassing all over and the most banged up lens hood I'v seen for a 35.