My 50mm f1.7 just croaked!!

Paleo Pete · 10-09-2013, 08:46 AM

Picked up my M 50mm F1.7 this morning and tried to roll it out to infinity to clean off the rear lens. (infinity puts it closer to the rear of the mount.) It stops at less than halfway and what looks like one of the tiny ball bearings some of them have fell out...looks like I get to figure out how to get into a M 50 f1.7 now...

And boy am I disappointed...

Getting shots like that if I can't fix the thing I'm going to be really upset...this sucks...my 200mm is already toast..

I guess all I can do is bite the bullet, get out the jeweler's screwdrivers and...ohhhh crap I don't want to open up another lens...2 hours minimum and probably sit there afterward wondering where that one screw goes...

**boriscleto** · 10-09-2013, 08:50 AM

You could probably send it to Eric, but it would probably cost more than just buying a new one. The M50/1.7 isn't exactly rare...

**baro-nite** · 10-09-2013, 08:59 AM

Nor expensive. Rather than spend 2+ hours of tedium or frustration, I'd just grab another off eBay. Maybe with a film camera attached.

Paleo Pete · 10-09-2013, 09:39 AM

I wish I could, but right now finances wouldn't allow it, at least not till my band starts to get some bookings going. Then I'll have a wish list a mile long...200mm, replacement for this one...300mm...don't get me started...

**baro-nite** · 10-09-2013, 10:54 AM

Bummer. Somebody book this man's band!

tom1803 · 10-09-2013, 04:24 PM

The M50/1.7 is not difficult to open up. There are plenty of articles on this site as well as others, explaining the procedure clearly.

Good luck!

Paleo Pete · 10-10-2013, 04:08 PM

Think I got it working. Opened up the back this morning, tinkered with it a little and the focusing ring finally broke loose and started working right, took it for a walk and it got some excellent shots. Not sure what was going on, never did get too deep inside, just the K mount, black ring around the aperture arm and started trying to work it loose. About a half dozen tries and it went past whatever was stopping it, worked great all morning and nothing fell out...well except those 2 screws I dropped...but everything back in place now and working fine for now.

Wasn't a real hard stop, felt like it was getting into a bind about half throw. No idea what happened, I couldn't see anything out of place, nothing rattles when I shake it, nothing fell out...I dunno...

10-09-2013, 08:46 AM	#1
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880	My 50mm f1.7 just croaked!! Picked up my M 50mm F1.7 this morning and tried to roll it out to infinity to clean off the rear lens. (infinity puts it closer to the rear of the mount.) It stops at less than halfway and what looks like one of the tiny ball bearings some of them have fell out...looks like I get to figure out how to get into a M 50 f1.7 now... And boy am I disappointed... Getting shots like that if I can't fix the thing I'm going to be really upset...this sucks...my 200mm is already toast.. I guess all I can do is bite the bullet, get out the jeweler's screwdrivers and...ohhhh crap I don't want to open up another lens...2 hours minimum and probably sit there afterward wondering where that one screw goes...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Just got a Pentax-A 50mm f1.7	mtux	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	15	05-19-2013 02:05 PM
For Sale - Sold: FA 50mm f1.7 - (yes f1.7 - the awesome one)	Quazimoto	Sold Items	13	04-15-2012 04:47 AM
Which is better Pentax F 50mm f1.7 or FA 50mm f1.7	bdparker	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	12	04-07-2012 02:53 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax A 50mm f1.7, Ricoh P 50mm f1.7	vsl3-e	Sold Items	7	11-11-2011 04:06 PM

10-09-2013, 08:50 AM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	You could probably send it to Eric, but it would probably cost more than just buying a new one. The M50/1.7 isn't exactly rare...

10-09-2013, 08:59 AM	#3
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294	Nor expensive. Rather than spend 2+ hours of tedium or frustration, I'd just grab another off eBay. Maybe with a film camera attached.

10-09-2013, 09:39 AM	#4
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880 Original Poster	I wish I could, but right now finances wouldn't allow it, at least not till my band starts to get some bookings going. Then I'll have a wish list a mile long...200mm, replacement for this one...300mm...don't get me started...

10-09-2013, 10:54 AM	#5
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294	Bummer. Somebody book this man's band!

10-09-2013, 04:24 PM	#6
tom1803 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kokubunji, Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 465	The M50/1.7 is not difficult to open up. There are plenty of articles on this site as well as others, explaining the procedure clearly. Good luck!

10-10-2013, 04:08 PM	#7
Paleo Pete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,880 Original Poster	Think I got it working. Opened up the back this morning, tinkered with it a little and the focusing ring finally broke loose and started working right, took it for a walk and it got some excellent shots. Not sure what was going on, never did get too deep inside, just the K mount, black ring around the aperture arm and started trying to work it loose. About a half dozen tries and it went past whatever was stopping it, worked great all morning and nothing fell out...well except those 2 screws I dropped...but everything back in place now and working fine for now. Wasn't a real hard stop, felt like it was getting into a bind about half throw. No idea what happened, I couldn't see anything out of place, nothing rattles when I shake it, nothing fell out...I dunno...