Nikon L35AF-3: Poor focus on Right side of image

[ic-racer]

I repaired the counter mechanism of the Nikon One Touch, but examination of the negatives shows the right side of the image is focusing too close.

My first impression was that the pressure plate was not holding the film due to the cassette lip being so close to the film gate. The pressure plate felt weak.

After bending the spring on the pressure plate to make it stronger, the situation was not improved.

I needed to take the camera apart again to find out what was going on...

 

[ic-racer]

The answer was right here. The lens is obviously cocked to the side.

 

[ic-racer]

Removing the three screws around that circumferential metal plate allows the lens assembly to be removed and inspected:

 

[ic-racer]

This picture shows the problem. The small plastic pin on the lens housing is bent backward. This is causing the lens to sit in the focus mount at an angle.

 

[ic-racer]

The plastic was re-bent and then reinforced with glue as the re-bending nearly broke the pin off.

Back together, film test to follow.

 

[ic-racer]

Repaired tab on lens assembly.

 

[ic-racer]

Lens attitude after repair; now the axis is perpendicular to the film plane.

 

[ic-racer]

Repair finished. Ready to use.

 

[loccdor]

Nice work!

 

[ic-racer]

I don't know what caused this. Physical damage from pushing the lens inward would cause the pin to bed in the other direction. Since the spring is always pressing the lens forward, maybe it is just fatigue of the plastic in this camera.

This camera also had a broken plastic bit on the frame counter mechanism that I was also able to glue back in place last year.

 

[mshchem]

I couldn't do it without prescription drugs

 

[koraks]

I don't know what caused this. Physical damage from pushing the lens inward would cause the pin to bed in the other direction.

It is possible that sideways pressure was somehow applied to the lens? That's the main cause I can think of.

 

[ic-racer]

Ok, film test shows the lens focuses correctly now.

Curiosity there are images from before the repair that are improved by the inadvertent front swing on the lens, ha ha.

 

[ic-racer]

A curious side effect I noticed. When re-assembling the rotating focus mechanism, if it is not in the correct position after re-assembly, the frame counter won't stop at "1" when loading the film. In fact, it will run through the whole roll without stopping.

So...when looking for extra parts cameras, I did see one advertised as "runs through whole roll of film without stopping." I picked that one up for not much money. When I arrives, will see if it is an easy fix. Otherwise I'll use it for spare parts.

I have become attached to this 35/2.8 lens. In fact I have been searching for a nice pocket camera since the 1980s. As a big Rolleiflex fan in the 1980s, I never did warm up to the Rollei 35. I have been searching for something better ever since.

I was planning on getting the new AF version of the Rollei 35, but, so far these Nikon L35 cameras are working out fine for me.