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