One more lens question

jgoody · Jun 27, 2017

One more question re Nikkor 50 mm f1.4 LTM lens. There seems to be oil on the aperture blades -- is this something that needs to be dealt with (cleaned off)? Attached are photos front and back.

E. von Hoegh · Jun 27, 2017

02Pilot · Jun 27, 2017

With RF lenses oil on the blades is not a critical problem, as the aperture doesn't need to snap open and shut with shutter actuation as it does on an SLR. As long as it moves freely it's not going to cause issues. It can off-gas and contribute to hazing, depending on the lubricant in question. Personally, I'd clean it, but I basically service every lens that comes my way.

Jim Jones · Jun 27, 2017

A lens with oily blades may work fine at room temperature and not in the cold. Check that out before relying on the lens on winter photos in the mountains.

btaylor · Jun 27, 2017

My concern would be outgassing and haze. Probably okay in the short term, but a possible concern later. I have had the outgassing and condensation of oil on cinema lens elements-- not inexpensive to repair.

saman13 · Jun 27, 2017

I'd clean it out if I were you. It can cause the blades to stick (closed) eventually. It's actually a pretty easy job to do yourself if you're handy, just need a spanner wrench, Q-tips, and lighter fluid. But I would not try my hand at repairs for the first time on that pretty lens. Practicing on bargain bin Canonets is the way to go in my opinion (and now I have a shelf of resurrected Canonets).

E. von Hoegh · Jun 28, 2017

Jim Jones said:
A lens with oily blades may work fine at room temperature and not in the cold. Check that out before relying on the lens on winter photos in the mountains.

Also cold weather can result in aperture blades tied in a knot, plus that shiny stuff will not improve the contrast.

E. von Hoegh · Jun 29, 2017

saman13 said:
I'd clean it out if I were you. It can cause the blades to stick (closed) eventually. It's actually a pretty easy job to do yourself if you're handy, just need a spanner wrench, Q-tips, and lighter fluid. But I would not try my hand at repairs for the first time on that pretty lens. Practicing on bargain bin Canonets is the way to go in my opinion (and now I have a shelf of resurrected Canonets).

This lens has other issues. It needs a complete cleaning, and the goo on the aperture will be removed in that process.
Cleaning the blades with a Q-tip will only work until more goo seeps onto the blades, cleaning out the old degraded grease and replacing it with modern synthetic damping grease will cure the problem for good.

One more lens question

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