Nikkor 50/1.4 AIS - Oil on Blades...Fix??

[shawn_rahman]

I've just noticed a small amount of oil on the blades of my otherwise

near-mint 50/1.4 AIS lens. It's the lens I use most often with my

FM3A. Have not seen a noticeable difference in performance yet, but

it sounds like this problem will worsen over time, causing stuck blades.

 

Is this lens worth getting cleaned? I've been thinking about getting

the 1.8 or 2.0 version, so perhaps this would be a good time to do so?

Does anyone know approximately how much to get the oil off?

 

Thanks in advance.

[ky2]

Don't bother. Just buy a "new" one.

[david_pieniazek]

I have this lens and have had this problem. My lens just came back from being serviced under the used warranty. I rarely use it since acquiring my 85 1.8. I would be more than happy to trade for a different piece of Nikon gear. (I paid $129 for the lens.)

[neil_parker]

Definitely woth fixing, I had mine fixed for the same problem earlier this year and it was

about $40, compared to the appx $125 to replace it. Repairing it sooner will prevent the

nasty surprise of a bunch of overexposed pics when it does stick.

[lex_jenkins]

Check Rick Oleson's website. He has lotsa handy info, including some tips for dis-/re-assembling Nikkors. He doesn't have tips for *all* Nikkors, but if you're reasonably handy the info he provides can assist with other lenses. I used his info as a starter for regreasing my 55/3.5 Micro-Nikkor to my preferences (stiffer damping for finer focusing control).

 

If you have any doubts practice on a junk lens. I spent many hours practicing on a crappy pawn shop zoom and fungus-ridden Zuiko prime before tackling any good lenses.

 

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/

[Ed_Ingold]

Maybe the 50/1.4 AIS is jinxed, but I've had mine cleaned twice. I don't use it a lot, so oil may migrate out of the grease with disuse. I think it cost me $50 at Authorized Nikon Service in Morton Grove, Illinois. Send it to the man direct - not through a camera shop - it's cheaper and faster (and works the first time).

 

If it's in good shape otherwise, it's definitely worth repairing. If you replace it with another used lense, you'll just have the same problem eventually.

[david_h._hartman]

<em>Maybe the 50/1.4 AIS is jinxed, but I've had mine

cleaned twice. --Edward Ingold<br>

</em><br>

These lenses are usually not stripped and re-lubed but partly

disassembled, cleaned with spray alcohol and reassembled. If the

lubricant was damaged by high temperature such as baked in the

trunk of a car chances are it will suffer lube contamination

again. I bought mine used so I dont know the history of the

lens. A friend has cleaned my 50/1.4 AIS twice and it needs it

again. This time Im going to buy a spanner wrench and do a

total strip and re-lube.<br>

<br>

<em>I don't use it a lot, so oil may migrate out of the

grease with disuse. --Edward Ingold<br>

</em><br>

Ive wondered about this. Ive had a couple of lenses

that I used infrequently suffer lube contamination. These are

lenses I bought new and I never leave a camera or lens in a car

during the day. Its probably a good idea to exercise a lens

regularly so it wont need to be exorcised. <br>

<br>

My repairman friend told me to store lenses with the rear cap up.

I used to store all mine with the rear cap down. YMMV!<br>

<br>

Regards,<br>

<br>

Dave Hartman.