Canon FD 28/2 oil on aperture blades. DIY or return to seller?

[per_christian_vanem]

<p>Hi,<br>

I recently bought a Canon New FD 28mm f/2.0 for $150. The lens is cosmetically and optically in mint condition. However, there is oil on the aperture blades. I'm now wondering if I should return the lens to the seller or try to fix it myself. I have successfully dissassembled a Canon 50/1.4 LTM lens because of stiff focusing ring. After cleaning and re-lubricating the helicoid, it works perfectly. How hard is it to dissassemble a New FD lens? Will cleaning the aperture blades fix the issue, or do I also have to re-lubricate? It's hard to send it back because it's optically wonderful and a fast 28mm is what I need (and they are not often up for sale). What would you do?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for input on my dilemma.<br>

Per-Chr.</p>

<p> </p>

[jim_bielecki1]

<p >FD lenses are a lot more complex than a LTM lens. Coming in from the back end is always a challenge because of the great number of small ball bearings Canon installed on the diaphragm races. One false step and over 70 small ball bearings are all over the place. For that reason, I won't touch a FD lens. Personally, I'd send it out. If you do want to try it yourself, there's a guy over at RFF (Rick Olsen) who has a lot of experience taking apart and reassembling FD lenses. Look for him in the camera repair sub-forum.</p>

[John Seaman]

<p>Actually some FD lenses are dismantled from the front. I've cleaned the oil off the aperture of a number of 50mm lenses, both F1.8 and F1.4. The aperture assembly lifts out in one piece for flush cleaning. Rick Oleson has an article about it here:</p>

<p>http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-161.html</p>

<p>Obviously the 28mm may be different.</p>

[per_christian_vanem]

<p>Thank you for replying, Jim. Sounds like it's a job for professionals, and probably it will cost too much to be worth it. Better start looking for a new one.</p>

[per_christian_vanem]

<p>John, there's also a video on youtube about fixing stuck aperture blades on a breech-lock FD 50/1.4. It looks manageable, but probably a New FD 28mm lens has a different design.</p>

[rick_janes]

<p>Before sending it back get a repair estimate or two, then ask the seller if he would consider some price adjustment to share your added costs. I have done this a few times over the years and got very positive responses. If you really like the lens, and it sounds like you do, it's worth trying! Even conscientious sellers sometimes miss things, so making it right for you is preferable to re-selling for less money and more hassle.</p>

[walter_degroot]

<p>my situation is similaR.<br>

bUt with miranda klenses.<br>

it is expensive to clean / restore a lens and this means unless the seller is willing to reduce the price to $100.00 I woud return it.<br>

In my case any miranda 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.9 lens is simple just unscrew the front and rear groups ands carfully clean what remeins.<br>

any w.a. lens will be more complex and harder to clean.<br>

I was discouraged by the quoted prices.<br>

I se it aS A 1 HOUR JOB.<br>

THE SELLER, UNLESS THATE ARE DUMB MUST KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM.</p>

[mark_pierlot]

<p>Per-Christian, it's a great lens and you got it for a great price, so if I were you, I'd definitely send it to a professional for servicing rather than return it or attempt to do the servicing yourself. It shouldn't cost that much to have it serviced. My technician has cleaned oily blades for me for as little as $30.</p>

[per_christian_vanem]

<p>Hmm... I contacted two different companies to get estimated price for cleaning the lens, but none of them would do it. They said they wouldn't be able to get spare parts if something should brake during the repair/cleaning.</p>

[rick_janes]

<p>Contact the Canon FD specialists, guys like Ken Oikawa in California or Steve at Camera Clinic in Nevada. Their system familiarity lets them do things others cannot. </p>

[mark_pierlot]

<p>Yes, you should send it to a qualified FD repair person.</p>

[User_4754088]

<p>Ken is the best Canon FD specialist in the States, but he is smart in holding back on servicing certain lenses that he no longer has spare parts for. I sent him my pristine 85mm f1.2 L lens a few years ago because it had developed quite a bit of dust inside over it's thirty some years of use. At first he said he'd rather not open it up and service it. Like an idiot I pressured him to do it and when he opened it up, a part broke that he had no replacement for. I felt terrible for pressuring him, and he felt terrible that he couldn't fix the lens without the part. The lens sat disassembled for a number of months, and Ken being the great guy that he is, finally found someone who had the part and was able to obtain it and get the lens back in perfect working order. </p>

<p>Now I know why he hesitates on servicing certain FD lenses.</p>

[Gus Lazzari]

<blockquote>

<p>"when he opened it up, a part broke" <em><strong>Tim C.</strong></em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>We should all understand that technicians shouldn't have an issue with the old <strong>"Breech Lock" FD</strong> lenses; they're predominantly made out of metal. <br /> The problem is with the <strong>"New FD"</strong> models, their heavy use of polycarbonate and adhesives make them very hazardous to service without incidence of marring/breaking.<br /> Even though for their optical quality, I do own several of these "plastic" units. But I really hate the thought of needing to work on them...<br /> <br /> Plus sorry, but if a technician is stating that in general, they'd rather not work on <strong>"Old FD"</strong> lenses, then I'd question their credentials as a competent technician. <br /> They're <strong>easy</strong>, low risk, profitable and a pleasure to work-on !</p>

[per_christian_vanem]

<p>Thank you all for your contributions. I decided to send the lens back, as I didn't want to send it across the world for cleaning by a competent technician. I managed to get a new mint one that's already on it's way. Hope I'm more lucky this time. </p>

[mark_pierlot]

<p>Good decision. It's a great lens.</p>