Problem with Zeiss Planar 45mm for Contax G

[JDValiente]

Hi folks! I recently bought a Planar 45mm for my Contax G but I have a problem with this lens. It made an awful noise when I held the camera in vertical position, especially when focus a close subject. I spent a time letting the focus hunt from near to far and viceversa and when I took off the lens I noticed some blue stuff in the lens mount. The AF seems works properly but the noise and the blue stuff scares me... someone knows what the hell is happened with this lens?

 

[JDValiente]

I tried the lens with a G2 and G1 and this akward noise was in both cameras (only when I held the body in vertical position) so I deduced that the problem is in the lens. I'm not sure when I saw this blue stuff so maybe It was when I took off the lens to the G1 body, although maybe not.

All functions works properly and the focus seems works fine, the lens looks like new but I'm a bit worried about the camera bodies working with it. So... what do you think? The noise will disappear with use?

 

[sevo]

The lens does actually focus? Or is the coupling prong spinning loose?

 

[JDValiente]

Thank you Sevo, the lens is working properly and looks like new! I have no problem with the coupling prong or anything like that. I´m only worried about the noise when I'm focusing with the camera in vertical position and the "blue greenish dust" that I saw in the lens mount.

 

[MiChAeLsIo]

Hi,
regarding the autofocus noise in vertical position it has been very common in many cameras I owned. I remember these cameras having the same problem: Contax G2, Konica Hexar AF, Pentax Mz-s (coupled with the 50mm.). i think it has to do with a combination of weak side-mounted focusing gears in the camera that, when working in vertical position, must bear all the lens weight and loose gears inside the lens. Regarding the blue-greenish dust which also my planar 45 showed, I think it should be verdigris used in the lens manufacturing to prevent fungis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdigris
all the best.

 

[raid]

Once/if it ever fails working properly, mail the lens to a qualified repair person.

 

[JDValiente]

Hi,
regarding the autofocus noise in vertical position it has been very common in many cameras I owned. I remember these cameras having the same problem: Contax G2, Konica Hexar AF, Pentax Mz-s (coupled with the 50mm.). i think it has to do with a combination of weak side-mounted focusing gears in the camera that, when working in vertical position, must bear all the lens weight and loose gears inside the lens. Regarding the blue-greenish dust which also my planar 45 showed, I think it should be verdigris used in the lens manufacturing to prevent fungis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdigris
all the best.

Thank you so much! I was searching info about the "blue greenish dust" and I have to say that this is a very common thing. If you take a look to the lens for sale in ebay, for example, you will see that many of them have this blue stuff so...yes it seems verdigris!!
I don´t care if the AF makes noise when working in vertical position but... Do you think it could be bad to my camera? Did you have any problem with yours?

Greetings!

 

[splitimageview]

just wipe off the blue/green stuff. that's common.

these lenses are noisy. I've had lots of G lenses over the years. nothing to worry about. 🙂

 

[JDValiente]

just wipe off the blue/green stuff. that's common.

these lenses are noisy. I've had lots of G lenses over the years. nothing to worry about. 🙂

OK Thank you!!! 🙂

 

[PaulCooper]

All the new CZ G lenses have a factory-applied blue-green lubricant on the lens mount.