Seabadger
Newbie
Hello all. Hoping I might be able to benefit from someone's experience. This concerns a Nikon 28-85mm AI-S zoom that appears to be seized at lengths above 50mm.
(Image from the Photography in Malaysia site.)
I recently picked up the above lens for a small amount from a charity shop. It appears practically unused, but appears to have a problem. It zooms smoothly throughout the range from 50mm to 28mm, including the macro setting accessed by rotating a third collar, but won't go above 50mm at the longer end.
It effectively has a hard stop at exactly 50mm, preventing any movement from there to longer focal lengths. A visual inspection from both ends of the lens doesn't show any obvious problems, but there are clearly many elements and actions inside the lens which aren't visible from merely peering in.
Is anyone aware of any common (and ideally easily fixed) problems with this lens? I rarely use zooms and am prepared to put this down to experience, but if it's easily fixed, or if I'm simply missing something in the operation of the lens, I'd be glad to be able to use it.
In hindsight, the lens is in such good condition (practically NOS) that I'm starting to wonder if it had this fault from very early on, hence the obvious lack of use.
Any comments (other than caveat emptor, which goes without saying!) very welcome.
(Image from the Photography in Malaysia site.)
I recently picked up the above lens for a small amount from a charity shop. It appears practically unused, but appears to have a problem. It zooms smoothly throughout the range from 50mm to 28mm, including the macro setting accessed by rotating a third collar, but won't go above 50mm at the longer end.
It effectively has a hard stop at exactly 50mm, preventing any movement from there to longer focal lengths. A visual inspection from both ends of the lens doesn't show any obvious problems, but there are clearly many elements and actions inside the lens which aren't visible from merely peering in.
Is anyone aware of any common (and ideally easily fixed) problems with this lens? I rarely use zooms and am prepared to put this down to experience, but if it's easily fixed, or if I'm simply missing something in the operation of the lens, I'd be glad to be able to use it.
In hindsight, the lens is in such good condition (practically NOS) that I'm starting to wonder if it had this fault from very early on, hence the obvious lack of use.
Any comments (other than caveat emptor, which goes without saying!) very welcome.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
I suspect that it has an additional control curve that engages at 50mm, and which would move a group that has jammed. Should be DIY fixable - but it is hardly profitable having it professionally fixed, as the lens goes for less than the average lens repair. And that may also have applied back when it still was a kit lens bundled on lower-end Nikons...
Seabadger
Newbie
Thanks. The thought it might be economically repairable hadn't crossed my mind really. More a case of if there is a known and readily fixable problem. May as well have a go at fixing it. Little to lose, and it might prove an interesting exercise.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
A blockage somewhere mid-way is not that uncommon across zooms - all zooms that do not consistently extend while zooming (i.e. the majority of wide-to-tele zooms) have two or more groups moving while zooming, so they can have that kind of partial fault.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
I don't have one of these, does the Macro cover the entire range of focal length on this lens?
It's suppose to only work at 85mm, the macro ring should not even move unless the lens is at 85mm. This happens by pushing the little chrome button while turning the ring.
My 35-135 Ais only does Macro at 135mm, it locks at that focal length so once on Macro setting you can not go wider. My 35-70 F3.5 has a button that locks the zoom at 70mm and that action lets the focus ring past the macro setting.
If your lens has a limiter like mine, then it could be the Macro ring is locking the zoom ring. If the Macro ring works at any other focal length other than 85mm, then it must have been forced/broken.
This lens has 15 elements in 11 groups, it's going to be pretty complicated inside.
Kiu
It's suppose to only work at 85mm, the macro ring should not even move unless the lens is at 85mm. This happens by pushing the little chrome button while turning the ring.
My 35-135 Ais only does Macro at 135mm, it locks at that focal length so once on Macro setting you can not go wider. My 35-70 F3.5 has a button that locks the zoom at 70mm and that action lets the focus ring past the macro setting.
If your lens has a limiter like mine, then it could be the Macro ring is locking the zoom ring. If the Macro ring works at any other focal length other than 85mm, then it must have been forced/broken.
This lens has 15 elements in 11 groups, it's going to be pretty complicated inside.
Kiu
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Or it might have a macro switch that just needs to be moved to disengage the macro range. Some zooms only do macro at the wide end.
NIKON KIU
Did you say Nippon Kogaku
As is shown on the picture above, the lens' 85mm designation on the zoom ring is painted in orange, also note that the Macro ring has a line that extends from the white dot, that is orange. This means the lens is only Macro capable at 85mm.
If that macro ring turns at any other focal setting, there is something wrong.
Kiu
If that macro ring turns at any other focal setting, there is something wrong.
Kiu
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