Dropped lens...focusing ring won't turn

<p>So I did the most incredibly stupid thing yesterday - I dropped my pristine Kiron 105. Aside from the gashes on the front of the lens (luckily the lens cap was on so no damage to the glass), the focusing ring is a little stiff and won't turn beyond the point marked ~0.5mm. This lens extends to get to minimum focusing distance, so I can focus to infinity but not close up. Since it's a macro, this is a huge problem for me! <br>

I really don't want to write off the lens, since it's such a good lens. I've never attempted a lens repair before, so I don't want to dive into this unless I know what I'm doing and unless it's the only alternative (i.e. it's just not worth it to take it to a repairman). <br>

So, questions are:<br>

i) In your experience, is this something that I will have to take into a shop?<br>

ii) Any suggestions where I could get this done? I live in NYC, but would consider sending the lens away to get it fixed.<br>

iii) If I do decide to do this myself, any tips or resources I could look at?<br>

Feeling awful right now.<br>

Cheers,<br>

Kayam</p>

<p>Sorry - that should ready 0.5m not mm.</p>

<p>My sympathies. I've only dropped a couple things over the years and it's always traumatic. Unfortunately there aren't many possibilities given the symptoms you describe. Something is likely bent or egg shaped now, and repair possibilities are slim. It's nearly impossible to return a part that's been machined round to close tolerances to a round condition after being bent. Best case is some lip or minor thing is binding and can be warped/bent back close enough to work, or a screw has pulled out misaligning something. There are various cleaning and lube tasks that someone inexperienced with lens repair can often do, but this needs someone with precision metalworking experience.</p>

<p>CH</p>

<p>A gear inside might have got misaligned. If you decide to buy a new one then you can open it and see how it looks like inside :).... however, you need to be careful that you dont touch the lens. buy the right screw drivers, lens ring openers and lenses cleaning tissue paper. Take it to the shop...if they charge you 1/4th of the lens cost it is still worth.</p>

<p>A gear inside might have got misaligned or broken. If you decide to buy a new one then you can open it and see how it looks like inside :).... however, you need to be careful that you dont touch the lens. buy the right screw drivers, lens ring openers and lenses cleaning tissue paper. After all the effort of opening if something is really broken inside, then you have to take it to the shop anyway. so, take it to the shop...if they charge you 1/4th of the lens cost it is still worth.</p>

<p>On your next visit to Bangalore send it to Kolkata to Mr Yazdhani at <em><strong>Kamera Werke</strong></em> or to <em><strong>Lateef & Sons.</strong></em> They can rebuild any lens or camera, broken or not. Best wishes, sp.</p>

<p>Conrad, Umesh, SP - thanks for your comments! Looks like its time for me to have a chat with the friendly neighborhood repairman. Sigh...</p>

<p>Sorry to hear about your lens. You might try <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/Kiron-Klub/">http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/Kiron-Klub/</a><br>

and see if you can find any help there. From what I read about the lens it is worth it to<br>

get it repaired. If it is not repairable there always the auction site.</p>

<p>Good luck<br>

Rod</p>

<p>Focus helicoids involve 2-3 round threaded tubes that have to turn inside each other. If dropped hard enough, the round parts get squished and become oval. They will not turn anymore AND are extremely hard to fix unless replacement parts are available. Lesser problems and more fixable could be bent focus ring, diaphragm ring or mount. John</p>