nikon lens repair

Peter Schrager · Sep 8, 2015

where can i get a nikon 50mm lens bought back into shape??
just needs an overhaul
thanks in advance, peter

BrianShaw · Sep 8, 2015

Almost any camera repair shop should be able to do that. Many years ago I used a Nikon Authorized Service here in Los Angeles for same issue. The lens was clean but a bit loose in the focus; they returned the lens in "better than new" condition. It was well worth the money.

BrianShaw · Sep 8, 2015

So out of curiosity I went to the Nikon site to see if they still had a list of their authorized repair folks. They do not appear to still have the list but have a "find the local repair center" functionality.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Service-And-Support/Nikon-Authorized-Repair-List.page

I entered the data for Nikkor 50/1.4 and it says that only Nikon can repair at a cost of $165 for loose/wobbly focus.

Given that, if I had to have such service done today I'd go directly to a local camera repair shop. Some options are at this site, but at least one of the local options from me is long out of business... so I don't quite know how old this is:

http://www.service-center-locator.com/nikon/nikon-service-center.htm

RalphLambrecht · Sep 9, 2015

BrianShaw said:
Almost any camera repair shop should be able to do that. Many years ago I used a Nikon Authorized Service here in Los Angeles for same issue. The lens was clean but a bit loose in the focus; they returned the lens in "better than new" condition. It was well worth the money.

+1 on Nikon Authorized Services;I used the one in Cologne,Germany and they also sold a used camera on comission for me,recommended

Fixcinater · Sep 9, 2015

Is it just dusty inside? Stiff focus?

Any decent camera tech could do a general clean up/relube of focus, none of the ~50mm Nikkors I have opened up and cleaned out/relubed focus on have been anything out of the ordinary, even the early 5.8cm f/1.4. I've not opened any of the 1.2s, so those may be different.

John Koehrer · Sep 10, 2015

APUGuser19 said:
I could re-do this lens in 2 shakes of a lamb's tail with one eye tied behind my back.

Smile & nod.

Sean Mac · Sep 10, 2015

I just reassembled a 50 f1.4 nikkor this evening after removing a little fungus.

Simple to work on.

Wear to the focusing helical might need more than new grease.

MartinCrabtree · Sep 10, 2015

I have a 50MM 1.4 AiS that is stiff focusing and needs lube. Could someone point me to instructions on the disassembly process?

Sean Mac · Sep 11, 2015

https://dehk.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/ais-nikkor-50mm-f1-4-disassembly/

I followed this guide to clean the rear lens group.

dehk · Sep 11, 2015

Let me know if you need help.

dehk · Sep 11, 2015

Sean Mac said:
https://dehk.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/ais-nikkor-50mm-f1-4-disassembly/

I followed this guide to clean the rear lens group.

I was wondering who was at my blog and haven't been on APUG for a while.

Nodda Duma · Sep 11, 2015

All the Nikon 50's are put together similarly. Easy to fix and work on...even down to the shutter blades.

Sean Mac · Sep 11, 2015

Credit where it's due.

Thanks for sharing...

MartinCrabtree · Sep 11, 2015

Well I got it apart,cleaned and put back together. Infinity is a tick off lock. Not a large amount I have take it apart to get it right. It's not the optical helical it's the focus ring helical that not oriented. The ring is held to the helical by three screws and a plate. I marked it but holding it in place while installing and tightening the screws is a bit of a PITA.

Honestly it's a good thing my D3100 accepts the lens so I can sort it out. BTW I tried several lubes and ended up using Red Line Synthetic Assembly lube for engines. Smooth and not too thick. What I like about it is it's designed to stay in place until dissolved by oil.

Thanks for the help everyone. BTW the one link isn't an AiS but an Ai lens. Slightly different in the aperture linkage stays with the mount on the Ai.

Nodda Duma · Sep 12, 2015

Speaking of lubricants, here's some insight into what is used in the professional world for damping grease. Damping grease is the stuff used in the focusing threads to give a smooth buttery feel when you adjust focus. On the Nikon lens it's the helical and the set of threads between the focus ring and outer barrel. It serves two purposes: one is to ensure focus doesn't slip and the is to take up necessary slip in the focus mechanism to keep the optical axis aligned with the mechanical axis over the range of focus. All this over temperature without creep and without being too stiff. While you can use anything to keep those threads moving--at least initially-- eventually something will go wrong without the use of a proper damping grease. Changes in characteristics over temperature (loose or "melting" when hot or stiff when cold, or eventual creep out of the thread into other parts of the lens).

For lenses that I've designed with adjustable focus we tend to use Nye damping grease. There are several different choices of viscosity depending on the required damping and the damping doesn't change significantly over the temperature ranges we design for (ie -30 to 65 C although all damping greases I'm familiar with will stiffen to some extent under ~-10C).

There are other manufacturers besides Nye but I mention them because I've seen the stuff put through environmental and field testing (and get fielded as used in new optical equipment). And also -- and here's where it's beneficial to us folks who take lenses apart and put back together -- they provide a free sample kit which you can request through their website and have shipped to you. Otherwise the product is very expensive for personal purchase.

Hope this helps,
Jason

MartinCrabtree · Sep 12, 2015

Thanks for that one. I just went with what I found to be the best that I already had. I'll give the Nye grease a try soon.

Got the focusing sorted this morning it had gotten too dark last evening before I had time. It is satisfying when a job like that is done w/o any disasters.

nikon lens repair

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