Pentax FA 80-200/2.8 Repair and Spare Parts?

iht · 10-15-2012, 09:59 PM

I purchased a FA 80-200/2.8 from a forum member recently fully knowing that the front element was scratched:

I know from various posts that the scratch will probably not affect IQ much, but I thought the lens is worth repairing, so I contacted C R Kennedy (Australian Pentax distributor). They warned me that they may not have parts, and sent it to Japan. They just replied:

Quote:

Unfortunately there are no parts for the 80-200. It is being returned unrepaired.

Even Eric said he won't touch it saying he has no parts. CRIS in the US also said the same thing.

Any ideas on who else may have the parts for this? FYI I'm based in Sydney, Australia, but obviously I am happy to send this overseas.

Thanks in advance.

elliott · 10-15-2012, 10:11 PM

Probably the best you can hope for is finding another lens that is damaged in some other way that happens to have a perfect front element.

iht · 10-15-2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Probably the best you can hope for is finding another lens that is damaged in some other way that happens to have a perfect front element.

This lens is rare as it is - I have to get terribly lucky for this to happen...

buzzvic · 10-15-2012, 11:22 PM

Sent you a PM with contact details of a shop in Queensland who has been doing my lens refurbishments and repairs.

iht · 10-15-2012, 11:24 PM

Thanks mate. Yeah, unfortunately I had already contacted that shop in Qld and he sources parts from CRK himself, so no luck there

tabl10s · 10-16-2012, 04:32 AM

I remember the ad thinking how can a physical defect not affect IQ. It's close to being an expensive doorstop/paperweight

Giklab · 10-16-2012, 06:33 AM

Google "Lensrentals broken front element".

Kozlok · 10-16-2012, 06:47 AM

Maybe try fixing the scratch. If you use acrylic floor polish (Future in the USA, called something different everywhere), you can fill in the scratches and polish with a cotton cloth. Drip it in with a toothpick, go slow. I'd bet you can get it 90% there this way. If it fails, window cleaner will remove the polish, so you are out nothing to try.

lytrytyr · 10-16-2012, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by iht

I know from various posts that the scratch will probably not affect IQ much, but I thought the lens is worth repairing

Try filling the scratch with matte black paint.

The T-value may drop by a decimal point or two, but the IQ should be fine.

Compare Scratch on Lens - Photo.net Canon EOS Forum
- scroll down to the Dec 07, 2006; 11:44 a.m. post

iht · 10-16-2012, 04:22 PM

Thanks for the various DIY suggestions - I had read about them before, and I may try them as a last resort.

However, I would rather have the lens fixed if at all possible. It's just not a good look.

Does anyone know where parts (front element) can be found? Thanks.

tabl10s · 10-16-2012, 05:45 PM

I suggest that you peruse other international Pentax forums and see if anyone has a damaged lens. What will you do if all the lenses you find have scratched FE's?

iht · 10-16-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

I suggest that you peruse other international Pentax forums and see if anyone has a damaged lens.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Quote:

What will you do if all the lenses you find have scratched FE's?

What do you mean?

tabl10s · 10-16-2012, 07:48 PM

If other specimens have similar front ends. This could become quite expensive. There's the funny Chinese guy who does YouTube videos(I think it's DigitalRev)that's based in Hong Kong. If there are vendors that can fix long dead Sony Walkmen, I'm sure there should be a damaged lens somewhere. I bet the search could be made into a video.

bassek · 10-17-2012, 04:27 AM

A friend of mine made his own telescope. There are a wide selection of generic lenses available.
So theorethically you could find a glass element with the same optical specs, you would have to cut it to fit (if d>FE) and you would have a non-SMC front elemented FA*80-200.
There is a guy in Finland who makes elements according to specs. I assume there are others on your side of the globe.

Seb

lytrytyr · 10-17-2012, 04:50 AM

Originally posted by iht

However, I would rather have the lens fixed if at all possible. It's just not a good look.

Of course, your decision as to what "fixed" means will depend on what you expect from the lens.
If you just consider the lens as a photographic tool, then matte black in the scratch should fix it.
But if you are thinking of the lens as a collector's item, then a functional repair won't help.

10-15-2012, 09:59 PM	#1
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528	Pentax FA 80-200/2.8 Repair and Spare Parts? I purchased a FA 80-200/2.8 from a forum member recently fully knowing that the front element was scratched: I know from various posts that the scratch will probably not affect IQ much, but I thought the lens is worth repairing, so I contacted C R Kennedy (Australian Pentax distributor). They warned me that they may not have parts, and sent it to Japan. They just replied: Quote: Unfortunately there are no parts for the 80-200. It is being returned unrepaired. Even Eric said he won't touch it saying he has no parts. CRIS in the US also said the same thing. Any ideas on who else may have the parts for this? FYI I'm based in Sydney, Australia, but obviously I am happy to send this overseas. Thanks in advance.

10-16-2012, 04:32 AM	#6
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	I remember the ad thinking how can a physical defect not affect IQ. It's close to being an expensive doorstop/paperweight Last edited by tabl10s; 10-16-2012 at 08:32 AM.

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10-15-2012, 10:11 PM	#2
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Probably the best you can hope for is finding another lens that is damaged in some other way that happens to have a perfect front element.

10-15-2012, 10:12 PM	#3
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528 Original Poster	Quote: Probably the best you can hope for is finding another lens that is damaged in some other way that happens to have a perfect front element. This lens is rare as it is - I have to get terribly lucky for this to happen...

10-15-2012, 11:22 PM	#4
buzzvic Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 270	Sent you a PM with contact details of a shop in Queensland who has been doing my lens refurbishments and repairs.

10-15-2012, 11:24 PM	#5
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528 Original Poster	Thanks mate. Yeah, unfortunately I had already contacted that shop in Qld and he sources parts from CRK himself, so no luck there

10-16-2012, 06:33 AM	#7
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Google "Lensrentals broken front element".

10-16-2012, 06:47 AM	#8
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	Maybe try fixing the scratch. If you use acrylic floor polish (Future in the USA, called something different everywhere), you can fill in the scratches and polish with a cotton cloth. Drip it in with a toothpick, go slow. I'd bet you can get it 90% there this way. If it fails, window cleaner will remove the polish, so you are out nothing to try.

10-16-2012, 07:25 AM	#9
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by iht I know from various posts that the scratch will probably not affect IQ much, but I thought the lens is worth repairing Try filling the scratch with matte black paint. The T-value may drop by a decimal point or two, but the IQ should be fine. Compare Scratch on Lens - Photo.net Canon EOS Forum - scroll down to the Dec 07, 2006; 11:44 a.m. post

10-16-2012, 04:22 PM	#10
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528 Original Poster	Thanks for the various DIY suggestions - I had read about them before, and I may try them as a last resort. However, I would rather have the lens fixed if at all possible. It's just not a good look. Does anyone know where parts (front element) can be found? Thanks.

10-16-2012, 05:45 PM	#11
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	I suggest that you peruse other international Pentax forums and see if anyone has a damaged lens. What will you do if all the lenses you find have scratched FE's?

10-16-2012, 05:46 PM	#12
iht Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 528 Original Poster	Quote: I suggest that you peruse other international Pentax forums and see if anyone has a damaged lens. Thanks for the suggestion. Quote: What will you do if all the lenses you find have scratched FE's? What do you mean?

10-16-2012, 07:48 PM	#13
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	If other specimens have similar front ends. This could become quite expensive. There's the funny Chinese guy who does YouTube videos(I think it's DigitalRev)that's based in Hong Kong. If there are vendors that can fix long dead Sony Walkmen, I'm sure there should be a damaged lens somewhere. I bet the search could be made into a video.

10-17-2012, 04:27 AM	#14
bassek Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 706	A friend of mine made his own telescope. There are a wide selection of generic lenses available. So theorethically you could find a glass element with the same optical specs, you would have to cut it to fit (if d>FE) and you would have a non-SMC front elemented FA*80-200. There is a guy in Finland who makes elements according to specs. I assume there are others on your side of the globe. Seb

10-17-2012, 04:50 AM	#15
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by iht However, I would rather have the lens fixed if at all possible. It's just not a good look. Of course, your decision as to what "fixed" means will depend on what you expect from the lens. If you just consider the lens as a photographic tool, then matte black in the scratch should fix it. But if you are thinking of the lens as a collector's item, then a functional repair won't help.