[vizzy]

The same manual in Russian: ???????? FA50 - ?????? ?????-?????

Being unable to find a manual on the disassembly of these popular lenses, I had to find the method by trial and error. By the way, my experience can be useful for the community The lens described is the FA50/1.7, FA50/1.4 must be identical, or very similar.

Of course, you perform the actions described below on your own risk

It is recommended to have a set of quality screwdrivers.

0. Infinity focus adjustment. If you just want to adjust infinity focus (like me), you don't need to disassemble the lens! I found this out after disassembly, as always

0a. Set the focus to the MFD, so that the moving lens housing is all the way out. There are three screws around this moving part (one of them shown with an arrow), unscrew them.

Take the decorative lens housing off.

0b. Set the focus to infinity. There are three screws inside the focusing ring that are holding it,shown by arrows on the picture below. Loosen them. Be attentive: the screws in the deep, closer ones hold the front lens group, don't touch them!


0c. Hold one of the screws with tweezers or something similar and turn the inner ring counter clockwise. When the infinity focus is obtained (check on the camera), carefully set the outer focusing ring on the infinity mark (to the limit) and fasten the screws.

0d. Install the decorative lens housing back.

Lens disassembly.

1. Unscrew the five screws shown by arrows and remove the bayonet mount. Hold it while removing, because there are spring loaded contacts inside. In my case they did not actually jump out, but who knows...


2. Here are the contacts and springs, don't lose them.




3. Remove the aperture ring, A-position lock button will fall out of it.


4. Remove the round part that transfers the set aperture stop to the aperture blades and camera lever.




5. Remove the plastic contact group housing, it is held by one screw.


6. Remove the screws, shown by arrows.

[vizzy]

7. Unscrew the screws shown by arrows (1). Be careful with the ball, that clicks aperture stops (2).


8. Unscrew the screw (1). After that you can take the lens assembly with the helicoid and electronics out of the external barrel. While doing this, the AF drive shaft (2) may fall out. Take care of the flex PCB with the contacts (see previous pictures).


9. So, the lens assembly is out. Remove the aperture lever (1). You'll need to detach the spring (2).


10. Very important notice: remove the contact brush (shown by arrow) before removing the focusing ring, otherwise you can bend or brake the contacts.


11. Take the decorative lens housing off (if you have not done it yet). Set the focus to the MFD, so that the moving lens housing is all the way out. There are three screws around this moving part (one of them shown with an arrow), unscrew them.


12. Unscrew three screws shown by arrows and remove the focusing ring.


13. Clean the contact tracks with solvent, just in case.


14. In order to take the lens assembly out of the helicoid, set the focus to MFD and unscrew four screws that hold the guiding parts. Pay attention to the place, where each of them belongs to, they are different.


15. After that you can take the lens assembly out. It is recommended to mark alignment of parts, otherwise you will need to assemble them by trial and error


And that's all. I didn't need to disassemble further, because cleaning and lubrication do not require this.

Assemble the lens in reverse order.

[Medium FormatPro]

Just one comment that is a bit off topic for a bit of humor.

Hey look at those blue prints - it's a Petax digital full frame!!

Well, maybe not


Topic related; interesting to see this. .Although if I attempted it there might be a few extra bonus parts after placing it all back together againt

[panoguy]

+1 "Like"

Thanks for doing this thing... that I will never attempt! (gulp)

[vizzy]

Just one comment that is a bit off topic for a bit of humor.

Hey look at those blue prints - it's a Petax digital full frame!!

Well, maybe not

Good sense of humour A little more offtopic. Here is the device from these blueprints and myself (left): Creators, part 1 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[gflauti]

Very good job... I would like to understand how disassemble and clean lens and blades

[vizzy]

Very good job... I would like to understand how disassemble and clean lens and blades

I suppose, that you will need to unscrew three screws on the front of the lens assembly and take the front elements out, then you'll gain access to the aperture blades.

[gflauti]

I suppose, that you will need to unscrew three screws on the front of the lens assembly and take the front elements out, then you'll gain access to the aperture blades.

Thanks for answer.
I think I will not have the courage to disassemble my lens.
Dust will remain inside.

Wich solvent did you use to clean contacts?

[vizzy]

Wich solvent did you use to clean contacts?

Ethanol (was available), but I prefer isopropanol, it is much more efficient and convenient.

[Chaos_Realm]

I have added your article to the little database I have going:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/maintenance-repair-articles/179884-pentax...ml#post1878155

[timo]

When I was a student in the 1960s I had to repair my own cars, with bit fat workshop manuals. Cars like a 1951 Riley. After pages and pages of complicated disassembly instructions, resulting in a chaotic array of oily parts on the garage floor, one always came to the same last paragraph: 'Reassembly is the reverse of this process.' It still gives me nightmares.

[robbiec]

Looking at this.. how difficult would it be to give the FA a Limited body?
Could be nice little earner for someone, rebodying nasty FA primes

[todd]

I heard my FA50 from inside my bag across the room threaten to stop working because it knows I read this thread.

[Just1MoreDave]

Looking at this.. how difficult would it be to give the FA a Limited body?
Could be nice little earner for someone, rebodying nasty FA primes

I already have this lens. Like a lot of limited production high-end lenses (Zeiss, Voigtlander) it's manual focus, KA mount. Some call it the SMC Pentax-A 50/1/4.

[robbiec]

You deluding yourself if you think a standard KA matches a Zeiss or Voigtlander for build. A* or A50f/1.2 being notable exceptions.