Zeiss Tessar 50mm Zebra - Missing ball bearing & spring

krilun · 04-16-2023, 09:36 PM

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement for the ball bearing and spring of the aperture ring of my Zeiss Tessar 50mm (Zebra)?
I bought it de-clicked and the ring is a little loose for my taste...
Thank you!

kypfer · 04-17-2023, 01:02 AM

I'd suggest finding a cheap lens with fungus or other damage and break it for parts

**yucatanPentax** · 04-17-2023, 10:37 PM

Possibly check with lens repair places to see if they have anything in parts drawers they'd send you or a source for tiny BBs. The spring is the trick part.

I think I might ask KEH, as they do seem to go through a lot of sales of vintage equipment. Used Cameras, Lenses & Gear For Sale | Buy & Sell at KEH Camera

At the bottom of this list is the US with several places which do repair lenses. Check their websites to see what brands they might handle.

krilun · 04-19-2023, 12:11 PM

That is awesome, thanks for the tip! I just randomly ordered a bag of 0.5mm balls, guessing sine it was made in Germany, there are pretty particular about the metric system. It was only $7, so no big deal if it doesn't work, I just give it to my daughter to do an art project. I couldn't find any compression springs in that size, I looked on aliexpress and Amazon. I'll report back once I find out more. Thank you guys!

Not a Number · 04-19-2023, 12:16 PM

Where did you find the 0.5mm balls? I've been looking for them. Smallest I could find were 1.0mm, though it's been about 4-5 years since I checked.

krilun · 04-19-2023, 05:13 PM

uxcell 0.5mm Bearing Balls 304 Stainless Steel G100 Precision Balls 500pcs uxcell 0.5mm Bearing Balls 304 Stainless Steel G100 Precision Balls 500pcs: amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific?tag=pentaxforums-20&

Update: The balls came in the mail today, there is no way that they are 0.5mm, they are way smaller...

Not a Number · 04-19-2023, 06:43 PM

Awesome, thanks.

Not a Number · 04-19-2023, 07:06 PM

You might be able to make your own spring. I've done it before. Get one of those picture frame hanging sets with the bit of wire cable. Take something with a small diameter like a sew needle and poke it into a wine bottle cork to make it easier to handle. Then take a strand of the wire cable and wrap it as tightly around the needle as you can. Once you have a good length you can stretch it out a little so it has some springiness. Take it off the needle and you can adjust the diameter by carefully twisting and stretching. Once you get it to a workable diameter cut it to length with some diagonal wire cutters. Since the wire is raw steel you should probably coat it with some grease to prevent rust unless you have something to electroplate it with.

krilun · 04-19-2023, 09:08 PM

Great idea, I was going to try to use a spring from a pen and then use your method to tighten it. I'll get mine in the mail in a couple of days. Do I drink the wine before or after twisting the wire?

krilun · 04-25-2023, 09:45 PM

I got the balls from Amazon today... they are not 0.5mm like the order said. They are a fraction of that, way too small. I don't know if they were mispackaged or mislabeled. Don't order from the link I left above.

Not a Number · 04-26-2023, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by krilun

I got the balls from Amazon today... they are not 0.5mm like the order said. They are a fraction of that, way too small. I don't know if they were mispackaged or mislabeled. Don't order from the link I left above.

Ok, thanks for the heads up. Years ago I bought some 1.5mm bearings off eBay for my Pentax-A SMC 50mm f/1.7 lens. They were the right size. Smallest at that time 1mm. US vendor. Don't remember the seller but there are a number of listing from China for 0.5mm bearings. Sellers seem more reputable then Amazon.

04-16-2023, 09:36 PM	#1
krilun New Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 16	Zeiss Tessar 50mm Zebra - Missing ball bearing & spring Does anyone know where I can get a replacement for the ball bearing and spring of the aperture ring of my Zeiss Tessar 50mm (Zebra)? I bought it de-clicked and the ring is a little loose for my taste... Thank you!

04-19-2023, 05:13 PM	#6
krilun New Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 16 Original Poster	uxcell 0.5mm Bearing Balls 304 Stainless Steel G100 Precision Balls 500pcs uxcell 0.5mm Bearing Balls 304 Stainless Steel G100 Precision Balls 500pcs: amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific?tag=pentaxforums-20& Update: The balls came in the mail today, there is no way that they are 0.5mm, they are way smaller... Last edited by krilun; 04-25-2023 at 09:47 PM.

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04-17-2023, 01:02 AM	#2
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,600	I'd suggest finding a cheap lens with fungus or other damage and break it for parts

04-17-2023, 10:37 PM	#3
yucatanPentax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas / Yucatan Posts: 1,842	Possibly check with lens repair places to see if they have anything in parts drawers they'd send you or a source for tiny BBs. The spring is the trick part. I think I might ask KEH, as they do seem to go through a lot of sales of vintage equipment. Used Cameras, Lenses & Gear For Sale \| Buy & Sell at KEH Camera At the bottom of this list is the US with several places which do repair lenses. Check their websites to see what brands they might handle.

04-19-2023, 12:11 PM	#4
krilun New Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 16 Original Poster	That is awesome, thanks for the tip! I just randomly ordered a bag of 0.5mm balls, guessing sine it was made in Germany, there are pretty particular about the metric system. It was only $7, so no big deal if it doesn't work, I just give it to my daughter to do an art project. I couldn't find any compression springs in that size, I looked on aliexpress and Amazon. I'll report back once I find out more. Thank you guys!

04-19-2023, 12:16 PM	#5
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Where did you find the 0.5mm balls? I've been looking for them. Smallest I could find were 1.0mm, though it's been about 4-5 years since I checked.

04-19-2023, 06:43 PM	#7
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Awesome, thanks.

04-19-2023, 07:06 PM	#8
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	You might be able to make your own spring. I've done it before. Get one of those picture frame hanging sets with the bit of wire cable. Take something with a small diameter like a sew needle and poke it into a wine bottle cork to make it easier to handle. Then take a strand of the wire cable and wrap it as tightly around the needle as you can. Once you have a good length you can stretch it out a little so it has some springiness. Take it off the needle and you can adjust the diameter by carefully twisting and stretching. Once you get it to a workable diameter cut it to length with some diagonal wire cutters. Since the wire is raw steel you should probably coat it with some grease to prevent rust unless you have something to electroplate it with.

04-19-2023, 09:08 PM	#9
krilun New Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 16 Original Poster	Great idea, I was going to try to use a spring from a pen and then use your method to tighten it. I'll get mine in the mail in a couple of days. Do I drink the wine before or after twisting the wire?

04-25-2023, 09:45 PM	#10
krilun New Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Posts: 16 Original Poster	I got the balls from Amazon today... they are not 0.5mm like the order said. They are a fraction of that, way too small. I don't know if they were mispackaged or mislabeled. Don't order from the link I left above.

04-26-2023, 02:01 PM	#11
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by krilun I got the balls from Amazon today... they are not 0.5mm like the order said. They are a fraction of that, way too small. I don't know if they were mispackaged or mislabeled. Don't order from the link I left above. Ok, thanks for the heads up. Years ago I bought some 1.5mm bearings off eBay for my Pentax-A SMC 50mm f/1.7 lens. They were the right size. Smallest at that time 1mm. US vendor. Don't remember the seller but there are a number of listing from China for 0.5mm bearings. Sellers seem more reputable then Amazon.