M-Hexanon stuck!

peepeedog · 06-09-2009

Hi guys,

don't know if i'm posting in the right place, if not, mods please shift the thread. Thanks!

I've been using a Hexar RF for the past year or so with no problems at all. Recently I've had some issues with vertical misalignment which i fixed myself, so everything was perfect from then.

Just today, while i was taking some photographs, the focus ring on the M-hex 50mm got stuck. It was initially stuck at the 3m mark but with some fiddling it could get past the 3m mark though the damping was rather uneven. I removed the lens from the body to ensure that the lens was at fault, and yes, the focus ring still sticks whether it's on or off the body.

Now it randomly gets stuck around the 1.2m - 1.5m mark, but with fiddling can get past it, though again, damping is uneven. It feels extremely damped at 0.7m, while towards infinity gets looser. It used to be perfectly even all round, so i know something's up!

has anyone had this problem before?

cheers,
Shaun

buzzardkid · 06-09-2009

Not had the problem before, but this sounds as if something has gotten dislodged. Be careful not to fiddle around anymore, sounds as if something is on the loose in there and you might bend or break the part.

There's a thread on the forum about the RF and it's only service address in the US, a company called Precision. I think you should contact them to describve the problem and ask if they can service the lens.

Since it's a modern lens, I feel most repair people could get it going again, design should not differ too much from say Leitz or Voigtländer lenses. Maybe CameraQuest repair service?

In any case, do not fiddle it anymore, the uneven damping and increasing damping when focussing closer means something is defenitely come loose.

Good luck, please keep us posted, there's more guys 'n' gals shooting M-Hexanons here and I bet they're all interested in the hows and whats!

sanmich · 06-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by peepeedog

Hi guys,

don't know if i'm posting in the right place, if not, mods please shift the thread. Thanks!

I've been using a Hexar RF for the past year or so with no problems at all. Recently I've had some issues with vertical misalignment which i fixed myself, so everything was perfect from then.

Just today, while i was taking some photographs, the focus ring on the M-hex 50mm got stuck. It was initially stuck at the 3m mark but with some fiddling it could get past the 3m mark though the damping was rather uneven. I removed the lens from the body to ensure that the lens was at fault, and yes, the focus ring still sticks whether it's on or off the body.

Now it randomly gets stuck around the 1.2m - 1.5m mark, but with fiddling can get past it, though again, damping is uneven. It feels extremely damped at 0.7m, while towards infinity gets looser. It used to be perfectly even all round, so i know something's up!

has anyone had this problem before?

cheers,
Shaun

I would try to guess that some piece of dirt got inside the helical and is doing a bit of tourism there.
Maybe time for a CLA...

Trius · 06-09-2009

I believe it's Precision Camera Works in Chicago. I have not had them work on any RF lenses, but they did a CLA including a tiny bit of fungus on a Toyo 400-T for me, and did great work at a fair price.

Jonas · 06-09-2009

Try john van stelten at focal point. Google it. He is a master when it comes to glass. He will fix it for you.

35mmdelux · 06-09-2009

No doubt time for a check up.

BillBingham2 · 06-09-2009

Don (DAG) gets my vote, but turn around time might be an issue. He had breathed life into several chunks of glass for me.

B2 (;->

peepeedog · 06-10-2009

I just brought it down to my local repair man. Apparently there was a loose ball bearing from "the aperture dial" just below the M mounting. It was caught between the grooves of the focus dial and that was what probably caused it to get stuck now and again. It's just strange that this is the first time it's getting stuck, if the ball bearing has always been there.

According to the technician the uneven damping could be due to a knock, though I haven't knocked it around before and after using it for one year, this is the first time it showed signs of such a problem. He didn't do much but to exercise the focus ring and now it's smoother. It's still slightly heavy around 0.7 and 0.8m but overall much much better than this morning.

Maybe i should still get a thorough CLA. Thoughts?

Vobluda · 06-10-2009

Why bother if it is working now? :-)