Summitar not reaching infinity

[richardhkirkando]

Just picked up a well worn (but very clean glass) Summitar. The lens does not seem to focus to infinity - the tab hits the infinity lock before the distance scale reaches infinity, and I can't quite focus on something far away with the rangefinder. Anybody know if there is an easy fix for this, or if this is something I should send off to a pro?

[colyn]

What happens when you set it into the lock?? Does it reach infinity then??

If it cannot reach infinity that in all probability means someone who did not know what they were doing disassemblied the helicoid in order to clean and relube..

Your rangefinder may also be out of alignment..

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by richardhkirkando

Just picked up a well worn (but very clean glass) Summitar. The lens does not seem to focus to infinity - the tab hits the infinity lock before the distance scale reaches infinity, and I can't quite focus on something far away with the rangefinder. Anybody know if there is an easy fix for this, or if this is something I should send off to a pro?

I have three Summitars but could not understand your issue. How about a couple of quick close-up picture?

[richardhkirkando]

Ha, had no idea that you're supposed to be able to set it into the lock. I actually can't get it to go in, and I just noticed that there's a lot of rust on the bottom of the focusing tab. How is it supposed to work, should I be able to press down on the tab, or does it slide into the lock on its own?

[colyn]

Originally Posted by richardhkirkando

Ha, had no idea that you're supposed to be able to set it into the lock. I actually can't get it to go in, and I just noticed that there's a lot of rust on the bottom of the focusing tab. How is it supposed to work, should I be able to press down on the tab, or does it slide into the lock on its own?

It should slip over the tab. If not try pressing the button then move it over the tab. You may need to put a drop of oil on it to loosen it up. If it still doesn't go you'll need to clean the rust which you should do anyway.

[richardhkirkando]

Thanks much! Looks like the rusty tab was the problem all along, I'll try to get it cleaned up. I was getting very confused - it seemed to focus perfectly otherwise.

edit: what do you know, as soon as get it cleaned up and working, my 50mm LTM adapter that I had been looking for for weeks shows up! Time to go shooting!

[mdarnton]

If you look at the underside of the lock, you'll see a ramp cut in that the little mushroom head is supposed to slide over, gracefully. I don't remember if it's possible to do this (having sold my Summitar decades ago), but the button on the bottom of the infinity lock is contoured on one side to slide up this ramp. Is it possible that someone took the lock off, then reassembled it with the little button on the back upside down? That would account for your problem.

[edit--looking at a couple of other lenses, no, probably not....]