44M aperture/aperture pin issues

teartear · 09-19-2011, 01:08 AM

I recently purchased a 44M and seem to be having a couple of issues. Firstly, the aperture pin doesn't seem to budge. It looks as though it's half pressed in, and it wont budge at all. Is there any way to fix this?
Secondly, when I turn the aperture ring on the lens in auto mode, the aperture that the ring is set to doesn't match the aperture the lens is showing. So if I turn to f4, the lens is still wide open. It only starts to close around 5.6, but when you get to 16, and then switch to manual at 16, the hole is significantly smaller. Is this normal, and could it have anything to do with the pin being jammed?

Both these problems can be ignored by shooting in manual mode, but it is nice to be able to use the lens in auto mode.

vladimiroltean · 09-19-2011, 02:11 AM

Are you sure you know how it should function correctly?
On what body are you using it?

teartear · 09-19-2011, 02:40 AM

I'm just going by how my other lenses function.. It could be different, but I can't understand why the aperture pin would be jammed.

repaap · 09-19-2011, 02:45 AM

Err, that 'auto' mode is usable in film cameras like "zenitar" with auto mode... If you use it with digital body, you can use cameras AV- mode and you should use it in switched in 'manual, not Auto'. When you are shooting in Av- mode camera will calculate that almost correctly for you. I think that you should avoid using it in AUTO anyway so that pin don't give to you extra problem. As you trun it at f2, that pin should be at lovest point, and it should not give to you any problems, when mounting and unmounting that lens.

I hope this helped. I assume you'v got a digital camera you are using it with...

teartear · 09-19-2011, 02:47 AM

I'm actually using it on my spotmatic F. I assumed it worked like the other m42 lenses I own and is able to be used in auto mode to allow for stop down metering. Maybe I'm wrong and the 44M can't be used in this way?
any explanation for why when I turn to say f5.6 the blades are still at f2, and at f8 they're at say f4?

vladimiroltean · 09-19-2011, 03:01 AM

I uploaded a short clip, sorry for the bad quality (had to prefocus and keep my hands in the focused area). If your lens does not function as shown, there is something wrong with it.

You Tube

Notes:
At the beginning it is in M mode.
At 0:3 I am flicking the A/M switch.
At 0:8 I am turning the aperture ring while in A mode.
At 0:10 I am turning the aperture ring while in M mode.
At 0:18 I am pressing the aperture pin while in M mode.
At 0:21 I am pressing the aperture pin while in A mode.

teartear · 09-19-2011, 03:04 AM

Video is private!

vladimiroltean · 09-19-2011, 03:06 AM

Sorry, try now.

teartear · 09-19-2011, 03:20 AM

On my lens the pin is not able to be pressed in either modes..

teartear · 09-19-2011, 03:29 AM

When I turn the ring in A mode, the blades start to close at 5.6 and continue to do so. In manual they just close from 2.
Also, as I said, pin is stuck in both A and M modes

vladimiroltean · 09-19-2011, 03:33 AM

Oh I see, I can simulate your issue. So the aperture pin is stuck half-pressed. I guess you'll need a screwdriver to take the lens mount apart (4 flat screws) and see what's going on in there. Take some pictures too.

teartear · 09-19-2011, 03:37 AM

Alright I'll do that now, will give pictures. I'd make a video now but it seems like you know the issue

vladimiroltean · 09-19-2011, 03:40 AM

Video not necessary. But first, before disassembly, you may try with a pair of pliers to move that stuck pin in and out. It may free it. Just don't force it too hard.

teartear · 09-19-2011, 04:05 AM

well i've taken the back plate off. I accidentally unscrewed the screw that held the manual/A switcher in place and a tiny little ball fell out.. You wouldn't happen to know where it goes back?

I can't budge the pin.. It's weird. here are a few pictures.

Here's the little ball

overhead view

side view

teartear · 09-19-2011, 04:36 AM

OK - I fixed the pin I think.. Had to bend it with pliers, I should've read that part before taking the back off. I can't figure out where this little ball goes, if I screw the M/A switch on without it it's limp and doesn't hold..

09-19-2011, 01:08 AM	#1
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19	44M aperture/aperture pin issues I recently purchased a 44M and seem to be having a couple of issues. Firstly, the aperture pin doesn't seem to budge. It looks as though it's half pressed in, and it wont budge at all. Is there any way to fix this? Secondly, when I turn the aperture ring on the lens in auto mode, the aperture that the ring is set to doesn't match the aperture the lens is showing. So if I turn to f4, the lens is still wide open. It only starts to close around 5.6, but when you get to 16, and then switch to manual at 16, the hole is significantly smaller. Is this normal, and could it have anything to do with the pin being jammed? Both these problems can be ignored by shooting in manual mode, but it is nice to be able to use the lens in auto mode.

09-19-2011, 02:11 AM	#2
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Are you sure you know how it should function correctly? On what body are you using it? Last edited by vladimiroltean; 09-19-2011 at 02:39 AM.

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09-19-2011, 02:40 AM	#3
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	I'm just going by how my other lenses function.. It could be different, but I can't understand why the aperture pin would be jammed.

09-19-2011, 02:45 AM	#4
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Err, that 'auto' mode is usable in film cameras like "zenitar" with auto mode... If you use it with digital body, you can use cameras AV- mode and you should use it in switched in 'manual, not Auto'. When you are shooting in Av- mode camera will calculate that almost correctly for you. I think that you should avoid using it in AUTO anyway so that pin don't give to you extra problem. As you trun it at f2, that pin should be at lovest point, and it should not give to you any problems, when mounting and unmounting that lens. I hope this helped. I assume you'v got a digital camera you are using it with...

09-19-2011, 02:47 AM	#5
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	I'm actually using it on my spotmatic F. I assumed it worked like the other m42 lenses I own and is able to be used in auto mode to allow for stop down metering. Maybe I'm wrong and the 44M can't be used in this way? any explanation for why when I turn to say f5.6 the blades are still at f2, and at f8 they're at say f4?

09-19-2011, 03:04 AM	#7
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	Video is private!

09-19-2011, 03:06 AM	#8
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Sorry, try now.

09-19-2011, 03:20 AM	#9
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	On my lens the pin is not able to be pressed in either modes..

09-19-2011, 03:29 AM	#10
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	When I turn the ring in A mode, the blades start to close at 5.6 and continue to do so. In manual they just close from 2. Also, as I said, pin is stuck in both A and M modes

09-19-2011, 03:33 AM	#11
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Oh I see, I can simulate your issue. So the aperture pin is stuck half-pressed. I guess you'll need a screwdriver to take the lens mount apart (4 flat screws) and see what's going on in there. Take some pictures too.

09-19-2011, 03:37 AM	#12
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	Alright I'll do that now, will give pictures. I'd make a video now but it seems like you know the issue

09-19-2011, 03:40 AM	#13
vladimiroltean Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bucharest, Romania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,465	Video not necessary. But first, before disassembly, you may try with a pair of pliers to move that stuck pin in and out. It may free it. Just don't force it too hard.

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09-19-2011, 04:05 AM	#14
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	well i've taken the back plate off. I accidentally unscrewed the screw that held the manual/A switcher in place and a tiny little ball fell out.. You wouldn't happen to know where it goes back? I can't budge the pin.. It's weird. here are a few pictures. Here's the little ball overhead view side view

09-19-2011, 04:36 AM	#15
teartear Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 19 Original Poster	OK - I fixed the pin I think.. Had to bend it with pliers, I should've read that part before taking the back off. I can't figure out where this little ball goes, if I screw the M/A switch on without it it's limp and doesn't hold..