Nikkon 28mm AIS 2.8 lens question

trythis · May 28, 2015

Just got one ( ebay buy) but the lens helical feels a wee bit wobbly but focuses very easily. Wondering if it just needs re-greased or if it's worn out. I am just wanting to take pictures with it, not caress it as a perfect object. The price was ~$50 less that what they usually go for.

None of my other nikkors do this as much, some have buttery resistance, this one focuses as easily as a AF or AFD lens. Almost no resistance.

Something to worry about or just part of using old gear. I can open it up and regrease it I suppose.

summicron1 · May 28, 2015

if it is not huge and you don't mind, i would just shoot with it -- if it looks in focus in the finder, it will be in focus on the film no matter what the lens barrel is doing.

this assumes ur ok with a lens with a slight wobble. A lot of my old lenses, even some from Herr Leitz, have them.
Great pictures have been shot with worse.

mdarnton · May 28, 2015

It's just dry, that's very common, and that's the symptom. Nikon put a lot of slop in its threads, and filled it with grease. When it dries out, that's what you get. It isn't a problem unless the lens squeaks or shudders when you focus, both indicating that it's too dry.

jimjm · May 28, 2015

I've got a 20mm 2.8 AIS lens with the same issue. The lens is pretty beat up - looks like it's been used professionally, but the glass is pristine.
Image quality is great, and I've never had a reason to complain.

None of my other Nikkors (about 2 dozen) have this problem.

Like mdarnton noted, it's probably nothing to worry about unless it starts getting noisy or rough.

BrianShaw · May 28, 2015

I don't like that loose and wobbly feel. When my Nikkors get to that point I have them overhauled and they feel like new again. Once every 25 years or so is all that is needed to keep them in tip-top condition.

Xmas · May 28, 2015

BrianShaw said:
I don't like that loose and wobbly feel. When my Nikkors get to that point I have them overhauled and they feel like new again. Once every 25 years or so is all that is needed to keep them in tip-top condition.

Confirmed they need a regrease but a repair person will charge more then 50$?

BrianShaw · May 29, 2015

A few years ago I recall paying about 50. But it was still worth it to have a refurbished lens that would perform good for the next 35 years. Better than spending more time and money buying another which may be just an old pig-in-a-poke.

Xmas · May 29, 2015

sover charges 53$

http://www.soverf2repair.webs.com

Nikkon 28mm AIS 2.8 lens question

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