What...did...I...do..? J-9 SANFU

[eli griggs]

Ok, so I've just this last week or so received my 1st J-9 and a metal lens hood off eB*y arrives in today's mail so the first thing I do is put the two together. It's a snug fit, but no real problem, it doesn't block the finder; I'm happy.:)

After a minute or two of 'dry firing' I start to remove the hood and the lens begins to separate. I grab the barrel and remove the hood and then for some reason I just had to see what happens when I go ahead and unscrew the *&$ thing. Well, the glass assembly lifts out and I'm looking down the outer casing at my shutter curtain...now I know.

I gently rethread the lens together, still on the camera and low and behold, a 1-2mm gap between the two barrels when focused at 1.5m or less.:bang:

I've had this off the camera and tried several times to rethread it so there's no gap, but without luck.

Anybody have some advice on what comes next?

Cheers

[patrickjames]

Don't worry about the gap. The more important question is does it focus correctly close up. Do a test roll.

[eli griggs]

Thanks guys for the quick response. Here is a pic of the lens. There were no shims seen or removed by me.

Cheers

[eli griggs]

Thanks Roland; I've not seen this in a lens before,and was more than certain that I had mucked it up. As the lens is new to me and I have only had it focused in the close range while I was looking through the viewfinder, it was disturbing to see that gap. Is this the case with all J-9s or any other FSU lenses?

Cheers

[brachal]

Thanks Roland; I've not seen this in a lens before,and was more than certain that I had mucked it up. As the lens is new to me and I have only had it focused in the close range while I was looking through the viewfinder, it was disturbing to see that gap. Is this the case with all J-9s or any other FSU lenses?

Cheers


Both of my J-9s do it.

[santino]

my J9 has that gap too, it's totally normal at close focus so don't worry.

[oscroft]

Is this the case with all J-9s or any other FSU lenses?
Both of my J-9s are exactly the same too

[eli griggs]

Wow...I'm sure glad to here how common this is, but I've got to ask; don't you find it a bit weird to have a lens that's potentially a trap for whatever might fall, craw or fly into its' innards?

Cheers

[GeorgesGiralt]

Eli,
do not worry ! In prime lenses, the lens itself is enclosed in a sort of tube. This whole set is closed and accessed from the outside for the F stop. This whole unit is moved back and forth for focussing. So if something goes into, it will be into the focussing mount and you can dismantle it pretty easily for cleaning.
Things are a little different for zoom lenses of internal focussing lenses where lenses move relative to others.
I think the Russian engineers do not bother for aestetics when designing lenses. Something different form Western world where aestetics is often the only design criteria.
If the lesn is good (and it is) why bother ! Use it and enjoy !

[brachal]

Wow...I'm sure glad to here how common this is, but I've got to ask; don't you find it a bit weird to have a lens that's potentially a trap for whatever might fall, craw or fly into its' innards?

Cheers

Remember that these lenses were designed in the 1930's; they're going to be a little different than what you're used to.