Canon LTM 50/1.4 – Broken aperture blades

Markus B · 05-10-2012

I was in a hurry the other day and somehow I managed to drop my Canon LTM 50/1.4 from the desk to the floor

Now the aperture looks like this (with the aperture ring at 1.4):

So I'm wondering if it is repairable and to what cost? I really like the lens (and it is my only ”low light” lens except the Summicon 2/90) so I'm not a happy bunny right now... if I at least had broken it during photographing!

Phil_F_NM · 05-10-2012

It's repairable. Quite easy, in fact. The problem is that you need a donor 50mm f/1.4 to get aperture blades from. Or a new aperture blade from a source that has some.
You might try DAG for the blades, he stocks an amazing amount of small parts. In your case you might want to get a whole lens' worth or at least more than 2 in case there has been damage to other blades that you can't see.
You might also try Youxin Ye for parts.
Aside from those two sources, you could see if other smaller camera repair shops have them. The blades shouldn't be too much. Neither should repair. It's something that myself or a few of the other RFF members could do in a few hours.
Your best bet might be to find a matching lens that is broken in some way and being sold for parts.
EDIT: Just saw you're in Sweden. It might be a better option for you to find a repair place in the EU but I wouldn't be of any help in finding one, sorry.
Feel free to PM me.

Phil Forrest

jim_buchanan · 05-10-2012

Chances are there is nothing wrong with the aperture blades of this lens, as long as you started with all of them. By dropping the lens, the blade stubs came out of their sockets due to a loose retaining ring.

I rebuilt the 50/1.8 version and the blades are all one piece, that is the stubs are one piece with the blade, and unlikely to separate.

Rogrund · 05-10-2012

Markus, send an e-mail with the pictures of the lens to Will van Manen and ask for an estimate. Great guys to deal with and reasonable prices. Inside the EU.

Mackinaw · 05-10-2012

I agree that the aperture blades are not broken, but dislodged. If you're so inclined, a fairly easy fix. Canon rangefinder lenses are fairly simple to take part and reassemble. But if you're reluctant to do so, send it to a qualified repair tech.

Jim B.

farlymac · 05-11-2012

Here is a link to my Flickr set where I took the rear elements out for cleaning a 1.8/50. Should be pretty similar to the 1.4.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588...7627788191918/

PF