Slow Zuiko lens 1.8

[john341]

I have bought a Pen F with an f1.8 lens. Correctly described as "slow diaphragm leaf return".I have put a couple of rolls through it and its fine, but tonight I noticed that the diaphragm's lethargy is due to OIL on the blades. What to do. Has anyone had a similar experience? If I ignore the oiled blades, will they become slower or worse still damage the bledes? Old cameras, lovely, warts and all.

 

[hans voralberg]

Get it CLA ? Oil on blades is not that difficult to fix.

 

[ChrisN]

Send it to Camtech. $49 for a CLA - bargain!

http://www.zuiko.com/index_010.htm

 

[John Hermanson]

Oil migration to the blades is a common problem in the last 2 types of Zuiko 1.8s (there were 5 different 50 1.8s btw). Lens would need a complete disassembly, cleaning with a degreaser and rebuild. I'd be happy to do the work for you if you choose to send it to me. John, www.zuiko.com

 

[John Hermanson]

BTW, most 50 1.8 clas are $39 (+ S&H). John, www.zuiko.com

 

[splitimageview]

John, what is your turnaround on Pen lens CLAs? I've had several Pen lenses that were in the same condition that I've cleaned myself, I have a 50-90 zoom with a frozen aperture that just arrived (the second one in the past month.)

 

[John Hermanson]

Sorry, got my lenses confused, though the Pen lenses also suffer from oil migration. Just about every one I see has oil on the blades. Current turnaround is about 4 weeks. John, www.zuiko.com

 

[ruben]

Pending Trius approval, I would dare to say the lattest version(s ?) of the Zuiko f1.8 are among the pearls of Zuiko glass.

I think around 7 Zuikos 50/1.8 passed through my hands and some are still with me. But oil within the blades ? This is the first time I hear about, tough all the 7 were and are purchased used

However, due to the tremendous amount of this lense in the market, the alledged $39 for purchase and the higher price CLA sounds to me out of place.

During the last weeks I have been chasing an OM30 (OM-F) and I can report the following: There are several sellers applying ridiculous high prices for OM gear and there are others still realistic.

With a bit of patience and daily search, you are very likely to find within two weeks a highly good looking 50/1.8 with camera attached for below 50 bucks.
Of course the camera, still in great condition, will be of the amateur OM line, like the OM10, OM20, OM30, OM40.

Now it is quite possible that if you look at this very moment you will find crazy prices, but I repeat, this market went wild, but still there are realistic sellers.
For the other sellers it doesn't matter to earn 30 bucks and they prefer to wait a year in the hope to find a dumb buyer. Let them be happy.

Another factor to take into account is that it seems to me that OM gear is more respected (more priced) in the US, than in other countries - So check internationally too.

Cheers,
Ruben

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Pending Trius approval, I would dare to say the lattest version(s ?) of the Zuiko f1.8 are among the pearls of Zuiko glass.

I think around 7 Zuikos 50/1.8 passed through my hands and some are still with me. But oil within the blades ? This is the first time I hear about, tough all the 7 were and are purchased used

However, due to the tremendous amount of this lense in the market, the alledged $39 for purchase and the higher price CLA sounds to me out of place.

During the last weeks I have been chasing an OM30 (OM-F) and I can report the following: There are several sellers applying ridiculous high prices for OM gear and there are others still realistic.

With a bit of patience and daily search, you are very likely to find within two weeks a highly good looking 50/1.8 with camera attached for below 50 bucks.
Of course the camera, still in great condition, will be of the amateur OM line, like the OM10, OM20, OM30, OM40.

Now it is quite possible that if you look at this very moment you will find crazy prices, but I repeat, this market went wild, but still there are realistic sellers.
For the other sellers it doesn't matter to earn 30 bucks and they prefer to wait a year in the hope to find a dumb buyer. Let them be happy.

Another factor to take into account is that it seems to me that OM gear is more respected (more priced) in the US, than in other countries - So check internationally too.

Cheers,
Ruben

Ruben,

The OP has an old lens for the Pen-F series half-frame cameras, not the much more common and cheap OM-system 50/1.8

Even with the OM 50/1.8, some did have oil on the blades. My father's OM 50/1.8, which he gave me a couple years ago after he went digital, has this problem. Its sad because as you said it isn't really worth fixing. Here in the USA mint condition examples often go for as little as $20.

 

[ruben]

Ruben,

The OP has an old lens for the Pen-F series half-frame cameras, not the much more common and cheap OM-system 50/1.8

Even with the OM 50/1.8, some did have oil on the blades. My father's OM 50/1.8, which he gave me a couple years ago after he went digital, has this problem. Its sad because as you said it isn't really worth fixing. Here in the USA mint condition examples often go for as little as $20.

I guess the adaptors enabling to use OM glass on the Pen series are very hard to find nowadays. Thanks for the correction.

Cheers
Ruben