Lens Tech Home Page

LENS TECH HOME PAGE
"I fix lenses"

There are many good lenses, like my 28-85mm Kiron here, languishing in closets, because they're "too expensive to fix."

Well, I fix them.

It gives me a lot of satisfaction to breathe new life into these great lenses, and offer them to discerning photographers.

Many of these are real gems. You can read more about them here:
Cult Classics in Third Party Lenses by Robert Monaghan
(This is an archived page from Robert Monagan's original site.)

A common problem with lenses is oil contamination of the diaphragm blades.

This oil comes from the breakdown of the grease used to lubricate the focus helicoid. The lens must be completely disassembled, to gain access to the aperture.

There are no shortcuts.

The aperture is situated right in the middle of things.

The aperture assembly from a Kiron 28-105mm F/3.2 is shown at the left.

What do I do?

Examine the lens & set it aside for parts if it has scratches or fungus (can't fix a scratch.)
Completely disassemble the lens & clean all mechanical parts in solvent.
Examine lens groups; disassemble & clean if there is dust between the elements.
Reassemble the aperture, lubricating the pivots with only as much powdered graphite as adheres to my fingers.
Lubricate the helicoid & other parts, very sparingly, with stable, new grease.
Replace any parts mangled by previous service attempts.*
Reassemble the lens, checking & adjusting f/stop detenting, infinity-focus, etc.
Thoroughly clean the glass, and "test drive" it.

* I don't routinely replace cosmetic parts, or paint over blemishes, but I do try to point them out on my eBay listings. I obviously do not offer for sale any lens that won't take a filter or mount on a camera without fuss.

Did I say complete disassembly?

If you'd like more information about how this repair venture evolved, please visit Lens Tech Genesis.

An obvious case of fungus on the lens.

Packing & Shipping

Items are packed so securely that even the Post Office can't damage them.
To the US, I ship via Canada Post "Expedited Parcel", or "Small Packet - Air" (if it weighs under 1 kg), which sometimes is a little quicker. "Expedited" is insurable - "Small Packet" isn't. Details: Canada Post.
In Canada, I ship via Canada Post "Regular Parcel" . Details: Canada Post.
International bidders may want to look at the Canada Post page, and e-mail me for confirmation of shipping costs before bidding at: f35mru20458@shaw.ca
If you've won multiple items from my auctions that can ship in the same package, you'll save considerably.
Everthing on my auctions is in US dollars. If you'd like to relate it to your local currency visit The Universal Currency Converter.
Export ducumentation reflects the exact price paid. Some buyers coerce sellers into making false Customs Declarations, for purposes of avoiding duties. I'm not one of them. Please don't ask.

Payment

For on-line payments, I use the services of PayPal® exclusively. Please visit them at PayPal®. It's really a great service.

Postal Money Oders are O.K., too, but slower. If you're sending a U.S. Postal Service money order, please be sure you get the International ("pink") one, not the green one.

Thanks for reading this, and Good Luck!

Photography Links

Brian Ayling's classic disassembly & repair of SMC TAKUMAR f/1.4 50mm Pentax.
Vivitar owners: find out Who made that Vivitar Lens?
Nikon owners: Lens Mount Nomenclature. All about rabbit ears.
More than you ever wanted to know about Minolta Lenses by Peter Blaise Monahon.
Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page.
Matthew Cole's Tedious Explanation of the f/stop.
The Campbell Collection Accepts donations of old camera gear - worth a visit.

Click here for The Lens Tech Genesis Page.
Click here for The Lens Tech Lens Tips Page.
After your eBay auction win, please click here.
Got a broken lens? Maybe you can repair it yourself.

Ralph Innes
Port Alberni, BC, Canada
e-mail: f35mru20458@shaw.ca