Lens Maintenance

resummerfield · Apr 2, 2005

Whenever I acquire a new lens (a used lens, but new to me), Ill clean it externally and check the speeds (I have a small Calumet shutter tester), and thats all. Ill use the lens for years with no other maintenance, unless I know something is wrong.

Obviously, the best course would be to send all my lenses off for professional preventive maintenance, probably yearly. But realistically, thats just too expensive and time consuming. And I would be without the lens for weeks. So I was wondering, how difficult would it be to perform routine maintenance myself? Not to disassemble the individual lens elements, but just an internal clean and lube of the shutter? It seems to me a small investment in precision tools would pay off, if only in time saved.

How about some feedback: Does anyone perform their own CLAs? Where did you learn how?

On a related subject, someone relayed to me advice from his repair shop, that the best way to store a lens was with the aperture open, and the speed on T with shutter open. He said it released tension on the springs. Has anyone else heard of this? Does anyone have a special way to store their lenses?

Thanks...

HenceForthWith · Apr 3, 2005

Lenses...

Hi,

I work on cinema lenses for a living. Every year is too often. Canon/Fuji recommend every three years. That said, these are industrial products and get very heavy usage.

I would generally not be concerned unless the lens has been subjected to a harsh environment--stay away from salt water and sand!

You didn't mention what type of lenses you have--zooms, primes, LF lenses are considerably different inside as you can imagine. I wouldn't recomend working on anything you aren't positively sure you can reassemble correctly. Tolerances are very tight and things must go back in exactly the same way they came out. Shims should not be flipped over, etc. Marking with a sharpie, then wiping off the marks as you reassemble can be very useful. Springs. Springs will fly off never to be found if you are not very careful. Putting them back correctly can be a huge pain. Screws can be very small--use good screwdrivers. Often they have either a small amount of threadlocker or paint to retain them. A tiny drop of acetone from a pointed set of tweazers will help loosen them. A 4x jewelers loupe is a great thing to have.

I'm very hesitant to recommend you doing anything with the optics. Some elements are very thin on the edges and are very easily broken. Not to mention you need the proper spanner wrenches and the retaining rings are very thin--one slip and you can scar the element. Also, elements have to go back in the same rotational orientation that they came out in. If you get them messed up, you need an optical bench to test for flare. Most dust inside a lens has virtually no effect on the image--the lens isn't focusing on that point. What usually happens unless you have some sort of positive pressure booth to reassemble the elements in is that you get more crap inside than you started with. Especially if you clean the internal elements and create a static charge. All the dust in your room will magically head directly towards those elements... don't ask me how I know this.

For shutters, I would test them when you think they are getting sluggish. Disassemble (a digital camera is nice for helping with what goes where), clean off old lubricant with SMALL amounts of a solvent such as acetone (watch out for paint!) or alcohol on a Q-tip. Relube sparingly and reassemble. Test.

I store my lenses with the aperture wide open (the blades are supported better) and the shutter uncocked. Keep some desiccant in with them.

Get quality tools. You can try

Dead Link Removed

Although some of their tools are a bit lower quality, but might be fine for light usage.

You also want to use the correct lubricant. You can call the manufacturer and ask what they use. Be prepared to be shocked at the price. I just got some Zeiss slider lube--an amount that would fill a 35mm film canister was $180. Use the lubricant very sparingly--lube attracts debris.

So... take your time, don't ever force anything, keep things spotless, and use solvents/lubricants sparingly.

Send me a PM if you have any other questions.

Jon

Ed Sukach · Apr 3, 2005

HenceForthWith said:
Hi,

I work on cinema lenses for a living. Every year is too often....

Best damn advice I've read anywhere, in a long time.

I think I'd rather tackle a *Fine* wrist watch... and believe me - I wouldn't.

Ole · Apr 3, 2005

I do my own CLA. The only local repair shop wants around $120 just to look at a lens, so I invested in a Compur repair manual and a set of small screwdrivers.

bobfowler · Apr 3, 2005

I took the National Camera course back in the mid-80's. Having said that, I will do SOME work, but I just don't have the time anymore. I send my large format lenses to fellow APUG'er Carol Miller (aka Carol Flutot). Her prices are very reasonable ($45.00 + return shipping & insurance) and her in-shop time is short - typically a week or so. I've been slowly cycling them through Carol's shutter spa and am very happy with the results.

I like to have all of me shutters CLA'd every two years or so, depending on usage. I have lenses in just about every shutter type imaginable, with the Ilex Acme and Synchro Compur being the most reliable.

jp80874 · Apr 3, 2005

HenceForthWith said:
Hi,

I would generally not be concerned unless the lens has been subjected to a harsh environment--stay away from salt water and sand!

Jon

Jon,

Very interesting comments. Thank you. I will be leaving what ever bad conditions we have in northern Ohio this summer for two weeks in Acadia and Rockport, ME, ie: salt water and sand. One week at a landscape course at the Maine Photo Workshops and one week at a water color painting workshop for my wife while I shoot landscapes by the sea.

Is there any preventative or protective maintenance you can suggest for short visits?
Lenses are:
90mm Rodenstock Grandagon-N f4.5, filter 82mm EW
135mm Rodenstock Sironar S f 5.6, filter 49mm
180mm Rodenstock Apo-Macro Sironar f5.6, filter 67mm
210mm Schneider APO-Symmar f5.6, filter 72mm
210mm Schneider Super-Symmar HM f5.6, filter 105mm
300mm Fujinon C f8.5, has B+W 52 010 UV
300mm Schneider APO-Symmar f5.6, filter 105mm
450mm Nikkor-M Sinar f9, filter 67mm
600mm Fujinon C f11.5, filter 67mm

Thanks,

John Powers

Carol Flutot · Apr 3, 2005

Hi, if you any question before opening up a shutter to clean, feel free
to contact me. Remember you don't need to remove all the screws, this has
caused problems for some and they ended up sending me their shutter's
to reassemble.

Zip baggies are good to way to keep the sand out, when you are transposting
you lens. I have seen camera bags & cases that are full of sand when customers
have brought there cameras in for a cleaning. People are surprised they think their
cases will keep the sand out!

Carol

jp80874 · Apr 3, 2005

Carol,

Thank you for the zip lock bag idea. I had been using a sock for padding, but sand can go right in that. Is there any risk that the zip lock will keep the sand out, but create moisture in the sealed bag. I am not sure what the temperature range in Maine would be from night to day in July-August. Is that amount of moisture a threat to the mechanism?

Thanks,

John Powers

bobfowler · Apr 3, 2005

jp80874 said:
Carol,

Thank you for the zip lock bag idea. I had been using a sock for padding, but sand can go right in that. Is there any risk that the zip lock will keep the sand out, but create moisture in the sealed bag. I am not sure what the temperature range in Maine would be from night to day in July-August. Is that amount of moisture a threat to the mechanism?

Thanks,

John Powers

John, I use lens wraps from Calumet (and others) when my lenses are home. When I'm out shooting, I put the lens - in the lens wrap - in a large zip lock baggie if I'm going somewhere where dust, dirt, or sand might be a problem. When I get home, they get taken OUT of the zip lock bags, the lens wraps are dried out (if it's been damp), the lenses go back into the equipment cabinet, and the case is emptied and cleaned.

Maybe I'm just a little anal, but I can't afford to replace lenses or shutters very often, so I tend to baby them. I wouldn't store them in zip locks - especially in high humidity - that's an invitation for fungus.

Jeremy · Apr 3, 2005

bobfowler said:
I send my large format lenses to fellow APUG'er Carol Miller (aka Carol Flutot). Her prices are very reasonable ($45.00 + return shipping & insurance) and her in-shop time is short - typically a week or so.

Those are some VERY reasonable rates, I will look into having her check out my Ilex #4 and #5 if she works on them.

jp80874 · Apr 3, 2005

bobfowler said:
John, I use lens wraps from Calumet (and others) when my lenses are home. When I'm out shooting, I put the lens - in the lens wrap - in a large zip lock baggie if I'm going somewhere where dust, dirt, or sand might be a problem.

Bob,

Thanks for the advice. My concern was just for the two week trip rather than long term storage. I had tried some wraps earlier, but backed away because the number needed and the space they take would probably fill two more bags. At some point we would bust out of our SUV.

I use a Tenba back pack with adjustable dividers. Possibly the zips in the dividers will be enough to keep out the sand. I suppose if I open the zips a crack through the night and close them before I leave in the morning that will avoid condensation. At home I store the lenses on shelves in a locked, ventilated cupboard.

Thanks again,

John Powers

bobfowler · Apr 3, 2005

jp80874 said:
Bob,

Thanks for the advice. My concern was just for the two week trip rather than long term storage. I had tried some wraps earlier, but backed away because the number needed and the space they take would probably fill two more bags. At some point we would bust out of our SUV.

I use a Tenba back pack with adjustable dividers. Possibly the zips in the dividers will be enough to keep out the sand. I suppose if I open the zips a crack through the night and close them before I leave in the morning that will avoid condensation. At home I store the lenses on shelves in a locked, ventilated cupboard.

Thanks again,

John Powers

John, How many lenses are you taking with you?

jp80874 · Apr 3, 2005

bobfowler said:
John, How many lenses are you taking with you?

Bob,

All of them. I am going to school for a week in Rockport, Maine and taking all my tools. http://www.theworkshops.com/catalog/courses/index.asp?CourseID=2329&SchoolID=20

I do primarily close up and macro work, so this is learning about a whole new subject area and in new geography. The workshops only work up through 4x5. I expect to shoot large scenes and small found objects. If I have the whole toy box, then my thinking is that I am not restricted by what I left behind. It is a 2000 mile drive back to the cupboard if the teacher says you could do this (unknown thing) better with the lens you left behind.

The second week my wife is at a class on watercolors in Acadia, Maine (taught by an instructor suggesting books on John Singer Sargent).
I plan to use the 4x5 work horse and learn a bit more about the new 8x10.
A couple of weeks later I hope to use the 8x10 negatives in a platinum
printing course back home in Ohio. Outside of that a retired old man of 65 doesnt have anything to do with himself.

Thanks for your thoughts.

John Powers

bobfowler · Apr 3, 2005

Just read the workshop web page, sounds like a great class. I'm sure you'll have a blast!

Carol Flutot · Apr 4, 2005

Hello again,

I think you would need them in the plastic bags only while you are out during the day, if you are staying a Hotel/Motel, I don't see any need to keep them the plastic bag
during the evening, unless you have all the windows open!
Sound like a great trip...Have a wonderful time!!

Carol

jp80874 · Apr 4, 2005

Thanks for the good advice: Jon, Bob and Carol,

As with so many people my wife and I are hoping to do in retirement some of the artistic things we weren't able to do while we were working.

John & Dolly Powers

bobfowler · Apr 4, 2005

jp80874 said:
Thanks for the good advice: Jon, Bob and Carol,

As with so many people my wife and I are hoping to do in retirement some of the artistic things we weren't able to do while we were working.

John & Dolly Powers

Retirement? What the heck is THAT!?!?

hehehe

jp80874 · Apr 4, 2005

Bob,

I received a 65th birthday card from a friend last week. The return address read
"Younger Person". I called her about 3:00 PM at home and got her answering machine. I said thank you for the birthday card younger person. If you were older and retired you might be there now to pick up the phone.

John

Curt · Nov 14, 2005

I had a great time cleaning my 4 Betax shutters, actually I have 6 but the smaller ones are right on except for the highest speed. I got to thinking that I should lube them when I was done.
I don't know what lube to use if any. I thought that Moly Dry Lube from Micro Tools would be appropriate. Maybe Carol knows. I also heard that a Sonic bath in some kind of cleaning solution works but I like the manual way.
Thanks,
Curt

laz · Nov 14, 2005

Speaking of LF lenses only, are they really all that delicate and prone to problems that one would need to worry so much? I'm not talking about proper storage, using zip-locks, keeping sand out etc. I've done that forever with my 35mm lenses.

I know the urge to clean very well, I'm anal and obsessive as heck, But I'd be too afraid to do much more than regular care and light external cleaning.

-Bob

Curt · Nov 14, 2005

Mine are getting an initial cleaning. I have not cleaned any of them before. Two didn't have speeds at all, on one the shutter was sticking half open. I don't have the compulsion to clean them all the time, I just want to know what I have is as good as it can be and I test the shutter speeds so I know that I am not wasting my time in the field. Besides I am going to pass them down to my son when I am gone, maybe even sooner. He deserves at least well taken care pieces and not neglected junk. I have seen enough of that in my life.

jp80874 · Nov 14, 2005

I would like to thank both Carol Flutot and Bob Fowler for their good advice earlier in this thread prior to a three week trip to the sand and salt coast of Maine. Per their suggestion I kept each LF lens in an open ziplock bag within a Tenba backpack. All lenses were used, some more than others of course. All lenses are functioning beautifully now 2-3 times a week for my classes, long after the trip. Thank you both for good advice. You get a lot of that here.

John Powers

gbroadbridge · Nov 15, 2005

bobfowler said:
John, I use lens wraps from Calumet (and others) when my lenses are home. When I'm out shooting, I put the lens - in the lens wrap - in a large zip lock baggie if I'm going somewhere where dust, dirt, or sand might be a problem. When I get home, they get taken OUT of the zip lock bags, the lens wraps are dried out (if it's been damp), the lenses go back into the equipment cabinet, and the case is emptied and cleaned.

I keep all my lenses in zip lock bags. Each bag also contains a sachet of silica gel dessicant to keep everything dry. Those sachets are re-usable, just bake them in the oven to dry them out again whenever necessary.

In the local climate, lenses grow fungus almost faster than bread, but since I started doing this I've had no more ruined lenses.

Graham.

laz · Nov 15, 2005

It is so weird when a thread gets bumped out of the archive 6+ months later and I reply without looking at the dates! Curt, I'm curious, how did you drege up this thread?
-Bob

gbroadbridge · Nov 15, 2005

lol, I didn't notice it was an old thread either.

I've resurrected a few old thread in the past too. Boredom and reading an entire forum is the usual excuse

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