Problem with 35mm f2.5

Paul K

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Feb 9, 2007
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Hi, I have a S2 with a 50 1.4 and 135 3.5. I just bought a 35 2.5 and am having a problem focusing. It focuses smoothly down to 5 feet and then binds. I can move it past that to 3 feet, but it appears to disconnect from the rangefinder. After that turning the focus ring on the lens has no effect on the rangefinder and the focus wheel on the body does not move the lens. I did make sure both lens and body are at infinity befoure mounting. Any ideas on what is happening and if it can be fixed? Worst case, I can just not focus closer than 5 feet. Thanks in advance.

Paul
 
Hi, I've just got my grubby little mitts on a 35/2.5 in ltm that displays a similar problem. The focusing ring slips as I get to the opposite end of focus (going from infinity to close focus, the lens almost binds up as the focusing ring keeps turning until it hits the close focus stop). Looking at my focus ring, I am missing one of the three screws that look like they should be there. Do you have a similar problem (i.e., missing screw)? Has anyone taken apart this lens, and if so--do you recall how the focusing ring is attached to the lens barrel?

Thank in advance,
Chris
 
Additionally, my current work around is to make sure the lens and focusing ring are set to infinity before mounting--and then avoiding the focus ring all together, just use the very front of the lens.

chris

Edit--sorry, just caught a glimpse of the 35/2.5 in it's original nikon mount and the very front of the lens is the focusing ring, so that won't work...
 
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Sounds like the lens isn't mounting properly. Since I assume your 135/3.5 mounts & focuses properly, your 35/2.5 may have sustained some sort of damage (the part of the rear element that connects w/the body's focus helical) & probably requires repair.

Paul K said:
Hi, I have a S2 with a 50 1.4 and 135 3.5. I just bought a 35 2.5 and am having a problem focusing. It focuses smoothly down to 5 feet and then binds. I can move it past that to 3 feet, but it appears to disconnect from the rangefinder. After that turning the focus ring on the lens has no effect on the rangefinder and the focus wheel on the body does not move the lens. I did make sure both lens and body are at infinity befoure mounting. Any ideas on what is happening and if it can be fixed? Worst case, I can just not focus closer than 5 feet. Thanks in advance.

Paul
 
I had this happen on a J-12. The collar around the rear element makes contact with the inner helical. It is on a spring-loaded shaft, and it was not moving freely. I lubed it a LITTLE bit and then it worked fine.

See if the shaft is moving freely when the lens is not mounted.
 
I wanted to follow up on this. I had sent the lens back to the seller to see if it was a problem with the lens. It worked fine on 4 of the 5 bodies he tried it on. I ran some tests when I got it back and the rangefinder is off. I called Pete Smith at Foto Camera Repair and he has heard of this before. It is on its way to Pete for a CLA. Thanks for your advice.

Paul
 
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