Nikon 2.8/28 AIS - Problems ?

sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

I've just received a copy of this lens. Clearly it has been used heavily used - but "not abused" as the ebay saying goes. Unfortunately there apears to be a problem - a loose front element. I am relucant to return it since it was (relatively) cheap. On the other hand my experience in servicing lenses is limited to Russians, and the CZJ pair - Sonnar/Flektogon, and I know that the Nikon is rather more complex (8/8 with CRC). Does anyone have any experience of servicing this lens - with particular reference to the problem of the loose element ?

Screamin Scott · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:33 pm Post subject:

Do you have a lens spanner wrench to tighten the front element retaining ring?

sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

Hi Scott. An improvised one - but yes. The problem is that I don't know how to get at it. Does the front name ring unscrew to reveal it ?

Screamin Scott · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject:

I'm assuming it unscrews to reveal the retaining ring or else it may have screws holding it in that might have come loose...Here's a link to how someone else took off the serial # ring...

http://bowdacious-b.blogspot.com/2009/01/disassembling-nikon-lens-series-e-50mm.html

sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

Thanks for the link. The double sided sticky foam/tape is an essential part of my toolobox. Unfortunately the construction of the 2.8/28 appears to differ from that of the E series (I have examples to compare). I think that I need to do a little more research before doing anything rash.

Screamin Scott · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject:

Rick Oleson's site shows basically the same type of front element removal for all MF Nikon lenses...Here's the link

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-102.html

sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

Thanks for this link. I couldn't remove the name ring - but perhaps I didn't try hard enough. I did find a site where some-one had experienced a similar problem with a 24mm which aslo has CRC. During focusing the front element rotates and moves axially relative to the main focusing barrel. Apparently the front element can become loose during this movement - and all you have to do is to screw it back. It seems to have worked for the 28mm.