Where to find an aperture ball detent?

altim · Jul 5, 2011

I have a Minolta 55/1.7 that needs a ball detent for the aperture, no idea why it doesn't have one now as I got it second hand. Anyone know where I can find one? I'm thinking about sacrificing my Kiron 28-70mm for the cause, assuming it uses the same size ball.

ic-racer · Jul 6, 2011

http://www.bocabearings.com/bearing-types/balls

Link points to Boca Bearing "Ball" ordering page. They have what you want, but the quantities are too much. Maybe they will send a single 'sample' ball.

Russ - SVP · Jul 6, 2011

Microtools.com You want a 0.5 size.

altim · Jul 7, 2011

Thanks guys, I ordered a bunch of balls to try. Funny story about this though, today I was working on a different lens. Of course instead of the ball flying out, the aperture SPRING popped out. While on my knees and looking for the spring, I found a ball in the carpet fibers...who wants to bet this is the missing aperture ball Of course, now I am missing a spring and I can't find it.

Simplicius · Jul 7, 2011

altim said:
Thanks guys, I ordered a bunch of balls to try. Funny story about this though, today I was working on a different lens. Of course instead of the ball flying out, the aperture SPRING popped out. While on my knees and looking for the spring, I found a ball in the carpet fibers...who wants to bet this is the missing aperture ball Of course, now I am missing a spring and I can't find it.

This is the very reason I do all my camera tweaking inside my largest darkroom tray.. too many hours wasted on my hands and knees looking for springs etc I just put a couple of phone directories on one side of tray where I am sitting to avoid my arms resting on the tray's lip all the time.. and make it comfortable

Where to find an aperture ball detent?

altim

ic-racer

Russ - SVP

altim

Simplicius

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