smc takumar lens question

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joe mama - 27 Sep 2006 07:04 GMT

i have an older 50mm 1.4 SMC Takumar lens (M42), but have a problem. the
little pin that accuates the lens stop-down has been broken. actaully, you
can move the pin in and out by turning the lens upside down, but it doesn't
do anything. is this repairable? also, i have heard that maybe the spotmatic
fs don't need that pin to allow for bright metering. can anyone help out
here?

thanks

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Scott Schuckert - 27 Sep 2006 14:51 GMT

> i have an older 50mm 1.4 SMC Takumar lens (M42), but have a problem. the
> little pin that accuates the lens stop-down has been broken. actaully, you
> can move the pin in and out by turning the lens upside down, but it doesn't
> do anything. is this repairable? also, i have heard that maybe the spotmatic
> fs don't need that pin to allow for bright metering. can anyone help out
> here?

If I understand you correctly, the push pin that stops the lens down is
broken, as opposed to the sliding tab that communicates the aperture
setting. If this is the case, the lens may well meter correctly, but
will require you to stop it down manually before shooting.

Repairable? Most likely, but since that mechanism is pretty robust
(I've never seen one actually BROKEN, though they do get sticky
sometimes) the cost may be close to the value of the lens.

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Chris Loffredo - 25 Sep 2006 09:57 GMT

>> i have an older 50mm 1.4 SMC Takumar lens (M42), but have a problem. the
>> little pin that accuates the lens stop-down has been broken. actaully, you
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> (I've never seen one actually BROKEN, though they do get sticky
> sometimes) the cost may be close to the value of the lens.

If I understood the description correctly, it sounds as though the pin
is present and intact, it just isn't pushing against anything.

If that is the case, it could be that hardened lubricant has frozen the
internal linking mechanism, or else something has come unscrewed.
These two problems are easy to fix (even DIY territory).
It could of course be something different and not worth fixing...

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joe mama - 27 Sep 2006 16:24 GMT

> If I understood the description correctly, it sounds as though the pin is
> present and intact, it just isn't pushing against anything.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> These two problems are easy to fix (even DIY territory).
> It could of course be something different and not worth fixing...

since the pin is free flowing, i am assuming that whatever it is supposed to
push against is stuck inside. so if i take the back of the lens apart, will
i be able to fix it? i'd rather try it myself and fail, since i can replace
the lens for less than a repair job.

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Chris Loffredo - 25 Sep 2006 13:36 GMT

>> If I understood the description correctly, it sounds as though the pin is
>> present and intact, it just isn't pushing against anything.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> i be able to fix it? i'd rather try it myself and fail, since i can replace
> the lens for less than a repair job.

I was about to answer with a definite "Yes!", when I took a look at the
Pentax lenses I have (only the 55mm f/1.8) and realized that - unlike
95% of other lenses - it has no screws on the back. Hmmm...

Google for the "classic camera repair forum": There are some great
people there who can give you some excellent advice on repairing.

Anyway, in lenses with similar problems (which *did* have the back area
screwed on), I've had about an 80% success rate repairing them without
spare parts.

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joe mama - 27 Sep 2006 19:00 GMT

> I was about to answer with a definite "Yes!", when I took a look at the
> Pentax lenses I have (only the 55mm f/1.8) and realized that - unlike 95%
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> screwed on), I've had about an 80% success rate repairing them without
> spare parts.

thanks, i'll delve into it.

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