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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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Zeiss flektogon, different versions - A/M switch
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:22 pm
Post subject: Zeiss flektogon, different versions - A/M switch
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 11:22 pm
Post subject: Zeiss flektogon, different versions - A/M switch
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Hi, I have a question:

the different types of Zeiss lenses are listed here, by attila: http://www.mflenses.com/content/view/15/29/


I'm still looking around on ebay for a good deal on a 35mm flektogon M42.

I was wondering, I didnt see a Auto/Manual switch on any of the zebra finish 35mm's, does it have one?

If not, then I can take these off my watched items list...

Thanks,

Tom


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:13 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:13 am
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It should have a push button to close aperture blades manually with you fingers.


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:36 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:36 am
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Attile is right but it's embarrassing so you have to block somehow that so called switch.


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:58 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:58 am
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I like more than switch , if in right position more pleasant to use than switch, because you can get right focus at wide open and need to keep pushed only for exposure time.


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:28 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:28 am
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Attila wrote:
I like more than switch , if in right position more pleasant to use than switch, because you can get right focus at wide open and need to keep pushed only for exposure time.


You have to build discipline though, and be focused. That is, always remember to push.
Else you end up shooting a lot of wide open pictures thinking that you have done stopped down.
It happened to me a lot of times Sad


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:38 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:38 am
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With me too Laughing


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:26 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 8:26 am
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ok, exactly what I needed to know Smile

thanks guys!

Tom


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:29 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:29 am
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I have a zebra Flek for sale if you are interested.


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:29 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:29 am
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hacksawbob wrote:
I have a zebra Flek for sale if you are interested.


A 4/20?


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:38 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:38 pm
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@ TDN: I don't know if this is a consideration or not, but of the two Flek 35 variants - earlier 2.8 and later 2.4, only the 2.4 can be used on a 5D without hitting the mirror. I can verify myself that the 2.4 does not foul the 5D's mirror.

http://www.panoramaplanet.de/comp/index.html

I removed the stop-down button on one of my M42 Flek 4/20s to make it totally manual - very easy to do, hardly noticeable and completely reversible.

@ Orio: Something else I noticed was that if the pivot pin for the stop-down button was loose, the resulting sloppiness in the mechanics caused the aperture blades to stick or be sluggish.

Might be worth a look since I believe you had this problem with some of your Fleks....


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:58 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:58 pm
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bob955i wrote:

@ Orio: Something else I noticed was that if the pivot pin for the stop-down button was loose, the resulting sloppiness in the mechanics caused the aperture blades to stick or be sluggish.
Might be worth a look since I believe you had this problem with some of your Fleks....


Thanks, yes the black one has this problem. But I am not going to try to open it to fix it. Sooner or later I will send it to the service.


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:13 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:13 pm
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@ Orio: All you need to do to check this is lay the lens face down on a flat surface - remember the cap... Remove the two screws that secure the rear cover on the lens and lift it off - you should then see the stop-down mechanism.

All you do now is locate the pivot pin which also doubles as a mounting point for the rear cover and ensure it's tight - do the same for the other cover mounting point which also doubles as a tension spring locating pin.

If that then fixes the sticky aperture, why pay someone to do something that you can do yourself in two minutes?


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:33 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:33 pm
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bob955i wrote:
e, why pay someone to do something that you can do yourself in two minutes?


Because I may screw up a great lens completely? Crying or Very sad


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:44 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:44 pm
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bob955i wrote:
@ TDN: I don't know if this is a consideration or not, but of the two Flek 35 variants - earlier 2.8 and later 2.4, only the 2.4 can be used on a 5D without hitting the mirror. I can verify myself that the 2.4 does not foul the 5D's mirror.

http://www.panoramaplanet.de/comp/index.html.


ow! I did not know that! Is this problem limited to the (larger) 5D mirror, or does it persist on crop cameras aswell?

I wouldn't want to ruďn my pentax *ist DL by hitting the mirror with that pin...

Maybe Bob can shed some light on this...

@Bob: yes, i saw it in the marketplace, but I just spent about 70 euros on a Tamron 60-300 with adapter, and can't squeeze out another 50 pounds Rolling Eyes So, sorry, but I'll have to pass...
I'm more just hoping for a lucky ebay strike...and it isn't urgent or anything.


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:49 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:49 pm
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TDN wrote:

ow! I did not know that! Is this problem limited to the (larger) 5D mirror, or does it persist on crop cameras aswell?
I wouldn't want to ruďn my pentax *ist DL by hitting the mirror with that pin...


It's a problem with the 5D mirror, and not all of them either.
The crop cameras are safe. I know for sure because I mounted the MIR-1V on my 400D without a problem.


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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:23 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 3:23 pm
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Quote:
Because I may screw up a great lens completely?


I understand Orio - sometimes it's better to leave well alone if one doesn't feel confident about the task. I have an electronics and mechanical background, and I tend to forget sometimes that others may not be so fortunate.

@ TDN: Like Orio says, and I should have expanded on it myself, crop cams are OK as the mirror is smaller. I believe the problem with the 5D's mirror is not just that it's bigger, but that it also moves forward towards the lens as it flips up.

It seems that for some lenses - in particular some Leicas I think - Orio may be able to confirm/deny this, you can have a situation where a given lens will foul one 5D's mirror, but not another's.

Generally speaking, for M42 lenses it's not the stop-down pin that the mirror contacts, but the rear of the lens itself when the lens is set at infinity - some lenses extend into the mirror box at infinity, but retract as you focus closer.

But since you have a Pentax, all this is academic.
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