Lens mount question

[mhoskin]

Hi there-

I have a new-to-me S3 2000 and just picked up a VC 35mm. I have a question about the lens mount. When I mount the VC and lock it on the whole lens can still rotate in the mount about 1-2 degrees. I've looked carefully at the mount and nothing appears lose. Moreover, when you rotate the lens in this way the focusing mechanism does not appear to engage, as in, the range finder patch does not move. My VC 21mm lens does the same thing. I have a 50mm Nikon lens that does not fit over the entire mount like the VC lenses and it does not have the same kind of slop.

So, my question is, is this normal? I haven't developed any film from it yet so I don't know if it matters. The lens still focuses and engages the range finder and everything else appears normal.

thanks,

-mark

[Walter Ulreich]

VC lenses seems do not have a quality control. Most of my VC lenses began to wooble and were to repair. So that could be the same reason.

Regards,
Walter

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by mhoskin

Hi there-

is this normal?

Completely normal. This kind of play of the outer bayonet does not make any difference as long as the rangefinder patch does not move.

Erik.

[mhoskin]

thanks. I half believed it was normal, but nice to have confirmation.

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

Completely normal. This kind of play of the outer bayonet does not make any difference as long as the rangefinder patch does not move.

Erik.

[jonmanjiro]

What's the serial number of your S3 2000? Early ones had mount tolerance problems and most cameras went back to the factory for mount replacement. I've seen a few that didn't go back though.

The 1-2 degree slop is not normal IMO. I would not be happy with a lens that wiggles on the mount. Could be the lens, could be the reissue mount, could be a combination of both.

You can probably fix the looseness by slightly bending the prongs on the back of the lens. Looking at the back of the lens, on the inside of the chrome mount ring you'll notice three spring like prongs machined into it. They are the springs that hold the lens against the mount. To remove the looseness, try very gently bending them inward a fraction. You don't want to break them off so be very gentle. Bend them slightly, then mount the lens to check. If the lens is still loose on the mount, bend the springs a little more and try again. It shouldn't take much to make a difference.

[mhoskin]

Pretty high: 213106. I'm not entirely sure what you are describing though. The back of the VC lens does appear to have a spring in it, encased in a metal shell. That metal shell has 3 screws in it, 2 black and 1 chrome. The chrome one might be an adjustment screw, as the spring is resting on it....

Originally Posted by jonmanjiro

What's the serial number of your S3 2000? Early ones had mount tolerance problems and most cameras went back to the factory for mount replacement. I've seen a few that didn't go back though.

The 1-2 degree slop is not normal IMO. I would not be happy with a lens that wiggles on the mount. Could be the lens, could be the reissue mount, could be a combination of both.

You can probably fix the looseness by slightly bending the prongs on the back of the lens. Looking at the back of the lens, on the inside of the chrome mount ring you'll notice three spring like prongs machined into it. They are the springs that hold the lens against the mount. To remove the looseness, try very gently bending them inward a fraction. You don't want to break them off so be very gentle. Bend them slightly, then mount the lens to check. If the lens is still loose on the mount, bend the springs a little more and try again. It shouldn't take much to make a difference.

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by mhoskin

Pretty high: 213106. I'm not entirely sure what you are describing though. The back of the VC lens does appear to have a spring in it, encased in a metal shell. That metal shell has 3 screws in it, 2 black and 1 chrome. The chrome one might be an adjustment screw, as the spring is resting on it....

Your S3 2000 serial number is very late, so it definitely has the updated mount. My guess is adjusting the springs on your lens will fix the problem.

Here's a quick cell phone shot of the back of my W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5. I've marked the springs I mean with red arrows. You need to gently bend them down into the lens a little bit. I recommend using something soft tipped like a cotton bud or similar.

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by jonmanjiro

The 1-2 degree slop is not normal IMO. I would not be happy with a lens that wiggles on the mount.

My VC 21mm f/4 is also quite loose. I've always thought it was intended to be like that. I've never had any issues with sharpness.

Now I start to bend the prongs too, but as I use only my fingers to avoid any damage, the lens is still quite loose on the camera.

Erik.

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by Erik van Straten

My VC 21mm f/4 is also quite loose. I've always thought it was intended to be like that. I've never had any issues with sharpness.

Now I start to bend the prongs too, but as I use only my fingers to avoid any damage, the lens is still quite loose on the camera.

Erik.

The prongs have to be bent enough that they do stay bent. If they spring back to their original position, nothing will change. I suggest bending even more.

I once had a reissue W-Nikkor 3.5cm f/1.8 that was loose when mounted on its matching reissue SP 2005, but slightly bending the springs above solved the problem completely.

It could also be that the mount tolerances on your CV 21/4 are so off that no amount of bending will change the looseness. Hard to know for sure without seeing the lens. But I'm certain the lens should not be loose. I've owned three different CV 21/4 lenses in SC mount, and none were loose when mounted on the camera.

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by jonmanjiro

It could also be that the mount tolerances on your CV 21/4 are so off that no amount of bending will change the looseness. But I'm certain the lens should not be loose.

I'll look for some rubber-covered tool to put some real pressure on the springs.
I also thought to free the springs by undoing the three chrome screws that hold the chrome mounting ring, but they are VERY tight. I do not want to damage them by putting more force on the screwdriver. My idea was when the springs are free, they will bent more easily.

For now, the lens will stay as it is. The small movement it makes really does not have any influence on the image quality.

Erik.

[Range-rover]

Are you guy's sure it's not the body bayonet part of the camera, I haven't had my Nikon
long. But I really did clean both sides, the camera and lens sides, just a idea.

Range

[Erik van Straten]

Originally Posted by Range-rover

Are you guy's sure it's not the body bayonet part of the camera

No, because all my other lenses fit perfectly. No movement, none.

Erik.

[dleibow]

All of my VC lenses have a sl wobble on a Nikon or Contax. Does not affect focus, just a bit irritating.

[Range-rover]

I can see how that can bother you a little, it's just the feeling there something off.

range