PC port on 80mm Planar broke

phrons · Sep 14, 2017

Well I was reaching into my bag to pull out my 500c and I happened to grab it by the lens and I felt something fall off. It turns out the PC port lock fell off. The plastic part that covers the pc port and keeps it locked into place.

I have a few questions:

1. Should I worry that this can lead to problems with my lens? I shot a roll with it off and it seemed just fine. Should I worry that this will lead to problems in the future?

2. I don't shoot with flash, but if I were to ever sell this lens or even use flash, would the PC port still work?

3. I am an idiot right?

Thanks

BrianShaw · Sep 14, 2017

3. No

phrons · Sep 15, 2017

BrianShaw said:
3. No

Thanks for the reassurance.

Someone has to have experience with this, it seems like a fragile piece.

RalphLambrecht · Sep 15, 2017

phrons said:
Well I was reaching into my bag to pull out my 500c and I happened to grab it by the lens and I felt something fall off. It turns out the PC port lock fell off. The plastic part that covers the pc port and keeps it locked into place.

I have a few questions:

1. Should I worry that this can lead to problems with my lens? I shot a roll with it off and it seemed just fine. Should I worry that this will lead to problems in the future?

2. I don't shoot with flash, but if I were to ever sell this lens or even use flash, would the PC port still work?

3. I am an idiot right?

Thanks

I didn't know there was a PC-port lock on the 500c. I can't find ne on my 501c.

Chris Livsey · Sep 15, 2017

One of my lenses has the aperture/speed interlock slider missing, it works fine, I see no reason why your loss would affect the functioning of the lens, unless you want to securely hold a sync cord

bdial · Sep 15, 2017

As mentioned, it shouldn't cause current or future problems. If it's completely detached, I'd probably cover the hole with some tape so that stuff doesn't make its way into the internals.
If the wires are still attached it might work, or else, it's probably repairable if someone has the parts.

phrons · Sep 15, 2017

Thanks guys.

I assumed it should be fine as it mainly seems aesthetic. Well I dont use flash so I don't really know if it's just aesthetic, but I think its the pc port release plastic part

pentaxpete · Sep 23, 2017

I use flash a LOT with my 2002 501CM and had that part break off as well -- I tried to stick it with glue but no luck at the moment -- it is the 'locking lever' thing -- the actual 3mm plug hole still works.

Ai Print · Sep 23, 2017

I take it we are talking about a 80mm Planar that is not a CF type but either a CB, CFI or CFE. If that is the case then yes, the PC cord locks are known issues, can easily fall off or break and replacement parts are no longer available as per my repairman who told me this a couple of months ago.

The socket will work fine but it will be like a CF in that the cord could come off or not get full contact if the prongs are loose.

phrons · Sep 23, 2017

pentaxpete said:
I use flash a LOT with my 2002 501CM and had that part break off as well -- I tried to stick it with glue but no luck at the moment -- it is the 'locking lever' thing -- the actual 3mm plug hole still works.

Yes, this is the exact thing I am talking about. It is good to know you can still use flash succesfully

phrons · Sep 23, 2017

Ai Print said:
I take it we are talking about a 80mm Planar that is not a CF type but either a CB, CFI or CFE. If that is the case then yes, the PC cord locks are known issues, can easily fall off or break and replacement parts are no longer available as per my repairman who told me this a couple of months ago.

The socket will work fine but it will be like a CF in that the cord could come off or not get full contact if the prongs are loose.

Yes it is a CB. It is good to know that this is a common problem. When I tried to put it back, it looked very flimsy so I figured that his could be a common problem.

So I will just have issues with contact and looseness. This is reassuring.

Thanks

Ai Print · Sep 24, 2017

phrons said:
Yes it is a CB. It is good to know that this is a common problem. When I tried to put it back, it looked very flimsy so I figured that his could be a common problem.

So I will just have issues with contact and looseness. This is reassuring.

Thanks

If you have the parts a repair tech could get it securely back in place. I doubt you would even have contact issues if the metal clasp on a PC cord were adjusted properly, they sell little tools for those. If you look at photos of the older C lenses, they just have the bare PC socket, no surround, no guard.

I have 4 CFI and one CFE lens and they all have the PC guards and tension clips intact, I doubt they will go anywhere.

PC port on 80mm Planar broke

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