Distagon 28mm f/2.0 (help) - aperture change

[jimlizard]

Hi everyone,

Today I finally received my Distagon "Hollywood". However I'm finding a problem, which certainly is my fault, or at least, I hope it is.

I can change the aperture when the lens is outside the camera, however, when I mount it, it always keeps at f/2.0.

I know a lot of lenses have a Manual/Automatic switch and they have to be put in manual, to avoid this problem, however this is not the case, I think. At least I never saw one of those switches in this system.

I never had this problem with other Contax/Yashica lens, but I also have to confess this is my first MM version.

Can you please give me some help?

Thanks!

[Orio]

You are having the same problem that I am having with the Planar 50 using the most recent breed of adapters.
See discussion here:
http://forum.mflenses.com/something-strange-with-planar-1-4-50-t17895.html

Unfortunately I have not solved my problem so I can not help with yours
I have two Hollywoods and both are AE made in West Germany.
Where was your MM Hollywood built?
Possibly one cause could be that the lens built by Kyocera uses a slightly different mount. It already happened with one lens, the Distagon 18, which has a different build in MM than it had in AE.
However this would not explain why other Japan made Contax lenses do not give this problem...
Maybe in a certain period of time they were supplied with parts that had slightly different build?
WOuld be worth investingating if one had the documentation.
Which serial number is your Hollywood?

[jimlizard]

Hi orio,

Thank you for your prompt answer.
In fact I already had a similiar problem with a Planar 50mm, but in that case I was able to change the aperture, I just had to remove the lens from the camera, change de aperture, and mount it again. The selected aperture would keep the same and it wasn't a big deal...

In this case it's a lot worst. I can change de aperture outside the camera even if the lens is mounted in the adapter, however it always stays wide open when I mount it in the camera.

I'm using one of the new adapters, but it works ok with my other c/y lenses. I really have to try one of the old ones to check if I can avoid that problem.

My lens was made in West Germany, MM type, as mentioned, and the serial number is:

6157227

I really have to find a way to solve this, otherwise I just can use it wide open.

[jimlizard]

There is always the solution of broking the end of that small metal level, which keeps the lens wide open when it's rotated, but I would prefer to avoid that.
At least I think that would work.

[jimlizard]

I was doing some research and I found another case:

http://photo.net/filters-bags-tripods-accessories-forum/00HyJO

Unfortunately they didn't know much about this.

Do you guys think I can solve the problem shaving the aperture tab?

In the Zeiss the mechanism is different, but I'm talking about this:

(photos from the web / different lens)

[Dav5002]

[koji]

That one makes your lens MM instead of AE, anyway this one should not
cause your aperture to NOT to change. The most of C/Y->EF adapter looks



That ditch/canal pointed by Yellow arrow in this photo should make
lens aperture ring to move freely.

If your adapter does not have this "ditch", change your adapter!!

[Carlsson]

Have you tried different adapters?
One thing that worked for was not to fit the adapter to 100% on the lens, before the lens holding spring snaps in, can you try that?

[jimlizard]

[jimlizard]

By the way, sharpness at f/2.0 was excellent, considering the large aperture. Now I tried f/4.0-5.6 and I'm amazed!

Colors and bokeh are also beautiful, typical from Zeiss.

I bought it with some light scratches on the front element and I'm not worried about them. Performance is exactly the same and the price was good enough to justify them.