Zeiss 28mm f2.8 lens wobble

[hon910]

Hi,

I have just realise lately that my Zeiss 28mm started to wobble.
So I send it to my local distributor here to get it fixed.
I was quoted US$320 to get it fixed & this need to be send to Japan to repair.

Can someone advise me if it's worth the $$ to get it repair or any better option in price?

Thank you

 

[Mr. Charlie]

Just let it wobble. Does it only do that after three beers?

PS: Your Flickr photos are quite good.

 

[Bob Michaels]

$320 is a very very high price for a simple repair.

Find another repair person. Or at least insist that this one kiss you first and promise to call you in the morning.

 

[Mister E]

Cosina seems pretty reasonable for repairs in Japan. I can ask them how much it would cost and would be willing to forward it on for you.

 

[jonmanjiro]

My guess is that the wobble is caused by a retainer ring on the back of the lens working loose. For a repairman with the right tool, it would only take 1 minute to fix. $320 is insanely expensive for 1 minute's work.

 

[Turtle]

It is not only insanely expensive it is disgusting that Zeiss would charge this sort of repair on something that is a product of faulty design. I would have a polite but form conversation with Zeiss if indeed there is more to this than the retaining ring.

 

[mfogiel]

Just fix it yourself with a couple of screwdrivers, or better, a spanner.

 

[hellomikmik]

can someone point us to some site or source explaining how to fix a lens that wobbles? i understand that it's different for each lens but maybe it's still in principle same. what tools are needed? is "lens wobble" opposite problem of "stiff focus ring"? i have personally 2 problematic zeiss lenses in this regard - 50/2 ZF that wobbles and 85/2 ZM that is really stiff. they are under warranty but i don't feel like sending them back to germany as the 85/2 just arrived from there after some repairs.

 

[Mister E]

Wow, for the price I'd want my ZM 85/2 to be perfect. Surely they have a US repair facility for it.

 

[Richard G]

I'm ashamed to say I have now dropped my ZM 50 C Sonnar twice, and although protected considerably by the brass filter which is deformed in two spots, I am impressed by the build quality of the lens. We tend to hear only of the defects on forums. Hopefully you'll find a good repairer cheaper and closer.

 

[RobertB]

Maybe a stupid question, but what is wobble?

 

[Krosya]

I keep telling people - buy Hexanons, yet only some listen... Oh well, good luck with repair.

 

[Tzelet]

I have the same problem with my 50mm Planar, which also needs to have a sticky focus ring fixed. I contacted Zeiss/Cosina, and they told me to send it in - but since it was out of warranty I would have to pay.

The lens was shipped off to Sherry Krauter earlier this week, who agreed to have a look. In the end I decided against sending it in to Zeiss/Cosina: They ****ed it up in the first place, so why pay extra for letting them have a second chance at making it right?

 

[Avotius]

People, there is a DIY fix for lens wobble. Go on ebay or whatever and get a lens spanner, sometimes called a watch wrench by some folk. Just get one that has tips long enough to get to the retaining ring on the back of the lenses.

I did this with my 28 biogon which had an ever so slight wobble and it fixed it right away.

 

[ferider]

You were lucky. As explained in post #14, sometimes it's just the rear spanner ring. Sometimes it's the optical barrel coming apart, only fixable by taking out the front element.

 

[hon910]

Hi

Thanks for the comments so far.
Well, mine was out of warranty, that's the problem.
My local Zeiss distributor wouldn't wanna to risk fixing it as they afraid it will affect the focus thing.
Look like I gotta look for alternative.

Thanks