RB lens accident :(

m_liddell · Jun 10, 2006

Yesterday my 90mm for my RB came out of my camera bag and rolled all the way down a sand dune and hit a stone on the way. The rear element cover came off on the way too.

The shutter/apature rings are full of sand and so is where it mounts onto the body. There is now also a very tiny chip on the rear element. The lens is otherwise in almost new condition. It is a C lens so not worth too much. Does anyone know anywhere that it could be fixed or if it is better to just replace it and sell if for parts on ebay?

I was looking to chnage it for the kl version anyway but it would have been nice to have been able to sell it for a decent price.

DBP · Jun 10, 2006

In my experience, you can't even have a lens cleaned up for less than $70-80. The rule of thumb for repairing anything is 50% of replacement cost. And chips in the rear element are in the worst possible place (and I'm betting it is not very close to the edge). I'd try to blow the sand out and get it working, meanwhile buying a replacement. Then, if you can get it to work, try a few shots and you can either sell if honestly or use it for optically imperfect effects. Otherwise, sell it for parts.

removed account4 · Jun 10, 2006

hi there

for what its worth ...
from what i understand, blacken / fill the chip with india ink and see what happens.

i know, rear elements are precious, but just the same you may be pleasantly surprised if you realize that things aren't as bad as they seem.

of course ... YMMV

good luck!

john

DBP · Jun 10, 2006

I'm not sure how consistent Bronica lenses are, but if you can find one with a ruined front element you might be able to mix and match.

Dave Parker · Jun 10, 2006

Isn't a RB a Mamiya Model, I thought he was talking about an RB 67 lens?

R.

kb244 · Jun 10, 2006

Roxi331 yea, RB is the RB67, he could have a RB67 Pro, Pro-S, or Pro-SD, most of the lens tend to be the same, it was a dead giveaway when he mentioned it was a C lens ( their first series of coated lens ).

m_liddell , not sure about repairs, but I got my RB67 from keh for under 300$ with that setup I bought two 'ugly' grade lens for about 50$ a peice, one of them was the 90mm f/3.8C ( as shown here http://www.karlblessing.com/shares/myrb67.jpg ), so if you want to replace what you had, theres a chance you can replace 'unusable' with something ugly or bargain at keh.com , seems they underrate their stuff, other than an engraving on my lens I didnt really see anything 'ugly' about em.

paul ron · Jun 10, 2006

I'd buy that lens from you for the parts but noticed you are in the UK. Why don't you try cleaning it out yourself? It's not very hard to do and you'll learn a few new tricks as well.

Mamiya lenses come appart form the top down. The name ring comes out, the front lens capsule screws out like a light bulb, then the next layer come out by removing 3 screws, then the next layer and so on. The rear capsule comes out in one piece. Blow everything out with a can of air adn you have it.

Which lens did you say you have? Is a newer C or an older C?

DBP · Jun 10, 2006

My mistake, of course it is Mamiya. Need caffeine.

m_liddell · Jun 10, 2006

Thanks for the responses. It's a newer C lens. I think I'll sell it for parts and get a KL off keh, since it doesn't sound even close to economical to repair.

It would probably always bug me knowing the chip was there even if the pictures still turned out ok!

RB lens accident :(

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