Manual Focus Lenses Forum

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 5303 Location: Switzerland

Some years ago I got an ugly Leica R Elmarit 2.8/35mm at a local photo store - for free. Its focus was completely stuck, and the focusing ring itself had become loose. Obviously someone had been messing around with the lens since a front ring was missing. There was some fungus, too, but no scratches on the glass, and the aperture was working perfectly. Back then I tried hard to remove the front ring (name plate), but it simply didn't move at all. Opening the lens from the back side was possible, but I couldn't access the focusing ring from there. Finally I gave up.

Today I gave it another try. This time I put some acetone on the thread of the front ring, trying to dissolve either glue or dirt, but it didnt work either. The common lens ring rubber tools for removing rings were completely useless, and even using a lens spanner with spiky ends didn't work (but of course it did scratch the name ring). After some head-scratching I finally decided to do something one should NEVER do with a lens: I applied some penetrating oil, and after a few moments the front ring finally came off. To my complete surprise it was not only the front ring, but the complete optical block in front of the aperture!

Underneath a small screw became visible. Removing it should unlock the next part (including the built-in sunshade), but again it didn't work out as planned: I couldn't unscrew the part even though I was applying quite a lot of force. Penetreting oil didn't work either, and so I drilled a small hole into the ring and used the wrench spanner:

A small ring came off as well:

Now I finally had access to the set of four screws which had become lose, thus leaving the focusing inoperable:

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 5303 Location: Switzerland

After removing the focusing ring, the remaining part of the lens looks like this:

Since the focusing thread was completely blocked, I had to use penetrating oil again (acetone didn't work) ... after just a few seconds it became loose! This stuff is amazing indeed.

Removing the lens bayonet ...

...and aperture ring (beware - the small 1mm diameter steel ball for aperture clicking mechanism is easily lost!):

The rear part of the lens, partly dismantled:

Dismantling it further:

Now all parts were cleaned thoroughly (either with detergent/water or acetone). The focusing thread was re-lubricated, the two lens surfaces on both sides of the aperture mechanism were cleaned (fungus), and the lens was re-assembled. It's now in fully working condition, the glass looks perfect, and the aperture is snappy - but of course the small inner front roing just around the front lens is still missing ... Sad

Test / comparisons will follow.

S

RokkorDoctor · Expire: 2025-05-01

What brand/type penetrating oil did you use? Standard WD40, or something more sophisticated?

Vintage_Photographer · Joined: 10 Jun 2024 Posts: 132

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 5303 Location: Switzerland

RokkorDoctor · Expire: 2025-05-01

ChrisRL · Joined: 23 Jul 2025 Posts: 3 Location: Los Angeles, CA

SteveMark, can you (or anyone else) help?

My Elmarit-R's focus ring was entirely stuck.

I disassembled the lens down to the four screws that held the focus barrel locked (as yours was), took out the four screws.

The focus barrel now rotates freely but won't disassemble any further and obviously the lens mounting won't move in or out to focus.
I do have the focus limit lock screws (I think that's what they are, two screws on the outside of the focus ring) still attached but don't think that rotating the barrel more or less will free the focus mechanism... (could be mistaken here)

How is it meant to work?

Thanks!

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 5303 Location: Switzerland

ChrisRL · Joined: 23 Jul 2025 Posts: 3 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Hello!
Looks like my Elmarit-R 35mm might be a different version from yours 0 it's a 227xxxxx S/N.
I bought the lens like this, BTW, with its markings and condition. Seems like many folk have tried this repair before me!
Anyway, the focus ring was frozen, yet when I remove the four screws on the under side (body side) of the lens, the focus ring comes loose and turns freely.
However the focusing helix of course also disengages and the lens group doesn't move, i.e. the lens won't focus.
Not forcing anything, I didn't know what steps to take next.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

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stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 5303 Location: Switzerland

Can you separate the two parts of the focusing helix? I assume they are frozen, and the origin of the "blocked focus", but I'm not sure whether my assumption is correct.

In my case they were completely blocked, and not even acetone was able to "free" them". I had to use a penetrating oil (something like WD-40) which required a very careful cleaning of all parts after the separation of the parts of the helicoid finally was successful ...

S

ChrisRL · Joined: 23 Jul 2025 Posts: 3 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Good morning from Los Angeles!
Yes, that seems to be the problem. I can't separate the focus ring from the base.
How are they meant to come apart?
Is the brass ring (held against rotation by the 4 screws) meant to rotate out of the focus barrel? It's stuck solid at the moment.
And wasn't there a reverse thread in there somewhere? I seem to recall there was, hence the previous mechanic tightening when s/he should have been loosening?
I don't really want to force anything until I'm sure that force needs to be applied, on which part and in what manner.

Many thanks in advance!