Cleaning aperture blades

**Spodeworld** · 09-18-2020, 08:57 AM

Hi folks,

Just picked up a Vivitar Series 1 (Komine) 28-90mm F2.8-3.5 Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

It's in great shape but I'd like the aperture blades to be snappy (they're pretty decent, not really slow, just not quite snap-to-it snappy). I contacted Eric, but he said he can't clean and re-oil the blades. Wondering if there is someone else out there who does this kind of thing who's reliable and is in the Eric price-range, (And, please no suggestions that I do it - I might as well just throw out the lens before I start because that's the condition it will wind up in.)

Thanks!

Steve
New Joisey

Last edited by Spodeworld; 09-21-2020 at 02:09 PM.

**ismaelg** · 09-18-2020, 09:33 AM - **1 Like**

Hi,

You can check with Mike at Phototronic.biz
Other than Eric he is my non-Pentax go to guy.

Thanks,
Ismael

pschlute · 09-18-2020, 10:59 AM

If the average price in the review section is correct, I would be surprised if you could find anyone to do the work for less than the cost of buying another one

**bobbotron** · 09-19-2020, 04:31 AM

Buy the tools and do it yourself!

**Spodeworld** · 09-19-2020, 04:32 AM

I expect that that's the case, but it's in really good shape, took it out last night and it produces really nice images, so part of me feels like I'd like to preserve a really nice piece of glass.....that's a judgement call I realize....but of course, I might not need to do this since it's very close to being snappy, just not as snappy as the best ones I have.

Originally posted by pschlute

If the average price in the review section is correct, I would be surprised if you could find anyone to do the work for less than the cost of buying another one

pschlute · 09-19-2020, 06:09 AM

I hope someone who has taken this lens apart can give you some pointers and it may be worth having a go yourself. I have dismantled lenses to clean the elements, but the aperture blade mechanism scares me to death

Things also get more complicated with a zoom.

Good luck

jcdoss · 09-19-2020, 07:35 AM

Please keep us posted on how it goes. I just sent my Precioussss (A*200 Macro) to Precision for an oily aperture blade cleanup, and am anticipating having to rob a bank to get it back.

**Spodeworld** · 09-19-2020, 09:44 AM - **1 Like**

I'm going to quote myself on this one "And, please no suggestions that I do it - I might as well just throw out the lens before I start because that's the condition it will wind up in."

Read more at: Cleaning aperture blades - PentaxForums.com

Originally posted by bobbotron

Buy the tools and do it yourself!

**bobbotron** · 09-20-2020, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by Spodeworld

I'm going to quote myself on this one "And, please no suggestions that I do it - I might as well just throw out the lens before I start because that's the condition it will wind up in."

Read more at: Cleaning aperture blades - PentaxForums.com

Ah shoot, you did say that in your post, sorry! I maintain this isn't as hard as it might be made out to seem, but totally get if you don't want to go there.

Astro-Baby · 09-20-2020, 11:09 PM

I have done plenty of lenses and have the tools but zooms are always a headache, always awkward and if you can get them to bits they are hellish to get back together and very often getting the infinity focus set correctly would test the patience of a saint.

I would say you either get a pro to do it and accept it will cost more than the lens is worth ( for love ), you live with it or you sell it on and try again. The problem with the latter option is you have no way of knowing what issues may be present in any other one you buy.

So it comes down to how much you want and like the glass.

**Spodeworld** · 09-21-2020, 01:35 PM - **1 Like**

So, called Phototronic.biz and they seem like a pretty decent place. I took the lens out yesterday and it worked great...so sharp and no issues. The guy I spoke to at Phototronic.biz just said to put it on F16 with a shutter speed of 1000 and see if there are any exposure issues, namely, that it stops down properly. It worked fine, no issues - he said if it doesn't show up under these conditions then it's fine and there's no reason to do anything further. So, it appears to be in good shape. It's really a hell of a lens!

Thanks for your feedback!

jcsnyc · 11-09-2020, 01:17 PM

Just spoke to Mike @ Phototronic.biz (Thanks - @Spodeworld) and will be sending him a couple of lenses. I will report back. Quoted prices are very competitive and he is a nice guy.

MikeMcE · 11-09-2020, 05:25 PM

Originally posted by Spodeworld

So, called Phototronic.biz and they seem like a pretty decent place. I took the lens out yesterday and it worked great...so sharp and no issues. The guy I spoke to at Phototronic.biz just said to put it on F16 with a shutter speed of 1000 and see if there are any exposure issues, namely, that it stops down properly. It worked fine, no issues - he said if it doesn't show up under these conditions then it's fine and there's no reason to do anything further. So, it appears to be in good shape. It's really a hell of a lens!

Thanks for your feedback!

Yep, if it works, shoot it . Some diaphragms just seem sluggish when operating manually. A fast speed, small opening with good exposure.That’s simple great advice.

Hang up and DRIVE!

**pentaxus** · 11-17-2020, 01:40 PM

When grease evaporates and condenses on the diaphragm blades it isn't always obvious. Doing the 1/1000 at f/16 test is good, but the blades will get more sluggish in cooler weather. So a lens that is great in the summer might not be so great in the winter.

09-18-2020, 08:57 AM	#1
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370	Cleaning aperture blades Hi folks, Just picked up a Vivitar Series 1 (Komine) 28-90mm F2.8-3.5 Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database It's in great shape but I'd like the aperture blades to be snappy (they're pretty decent, not really slow, just not quite snap-to-it snappy). I contacted Eric, but he said he can't clean and re-oil the blades. Wondering if there is someone else out there who does this kind of thing who's reliable and is in the Eric price-range, (And, please no suggestions that I do it - I might as well just throw out the lens before I start because that's the condition it will wind up in.) Thanks! Steve New Joisey Last edited by Spodeworld; 09-21-2020 at 02:09 PM.

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09-18-2020, 09:33 AM - 1 Like	#2
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,681	Hi, You can check with Mike at Phototronic.biz Other than Eric he is my non-Pentax go to guy. Thanks, Ismael

09-18-2020, 10:59 AM	#3
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,198	If the average price in the review section is correct, I would be surprised if you could find anyone to do the work for less than the cost of buying another one

09-19-2020, 04:31 AM	#4
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	Buy the tools and do it yourself!

09-19-2020, 04:32 AM	#5
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370 Original Poster	I expect that that's the case, but it's in really good shape, took it out last night and it produces really nice images, so part of me feels like I'd like to preserve a really nice piece of glass.....that's a judgement call I realize....but of course, I might not need to do this since it's very close to being snappy, just not as snappy as the best ones I have. Originally posted by pschlute If the average price in the review section is correct, I would be surprised if you could find anyone to do the work for less than the cost of buying another one

09-19-2020, 06:09 AM	#6
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,198	I hope someone who has taken this lens apart can give you some pointers and it may be worth having a go yourself. I have dismantled lenses to clean the elements, but the aperture blade mechanism scares me to death Things also get more complicated with a zoom. Good luck

09-19-2020, 07:35 AM	#7
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,769	Please keep us posted on how it goes. I just sent my Precioussss (A*200 Macro) to Precision for an oily aperture blade cleanup, and am anticipating having to rob a bank to get it back.

09-19-2020, 09:44 AM - 1 Like	#8
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370 Original Poster	I'm going to quote myself on this one "And, please no suggestions that I do it - I might as well just throw out the lens before I start because that's the condition it will wind up in." Read more at: Cleaning aperture blades - PentaxForums.com Originally posted by bobbotron Buy the tools and do it yourself!

09-20-2020, 05:21 PM	#9
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	Originally posted by Spodeworld I'm going to quote myself on this one "And, please no suggestions that I do it - I might as well just throw out the lens before I start because that's the condition it will wind up in." Read more at: Cleaning aperture blades - PentaxForums.com Ah shoot, you did say that in your post, sorry! I maintain this isn't as hard as it might be made out to seem, but totally get if you don't want to go there.

09-20-2020, 11:09 PM	#10
Astro-Baby Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Reigate, Surrey Posts: 764	I have done plenty of lenses and have the tools but zooms are always a headache, always awkward and if you can get them to bits they are hellish to get back together and very often getting the infinity focus set correctly would test the patience of a saint. I would say you either get a pro to do it and accept it will cost more than the lens is worth ( for love ), you live with it or you sell it on and try again. The problem with the latter option is you have no way of knowing what issues may be present in any other one you buy. So it comes down to how much you want and like the glass.

09-21-2020, 01:35 PM - 1 Like	#11
Spodeworld Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New Joisey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,370 Original Poster	So, called Phototronic.biz and they seem like a pretty decent place. I took the lens out yesterday and it worked great...so sharp and no issues. The guy I spoke to at Phototronic.biz just said to put it on F16 with a shutter speed of 1000 and see if there are any exposure issues, namely, that it stops down properly. It worked fine, no issues - he said if it doesn't show up under these conditions then it's fine and there's no reason to do anything further. So, it appears to be in good shape. It's really a hell of a lens! Thanks for your feedback!

11-09-2020, 01:17 PM	#12
jcsnyc Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Brooklyn, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 253	Just spoke to Mike @ Phototronic.biz (Thanks - @Spodeworld) and will be sending him a couple of lenses. I will report back. Quoted prices are very competitive and he is a nice guy.

11-09-2020, 05:25 PM	#13
MikeMcE Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2020 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,093	Originally posted by Spodeworld So, called Phototronic.biz and they seem like a pretty decent place. I took the lens out yesterday and it worked great...so sharp and no issues. The guy I spoke to at Phototronic.biz just said to put it on F16 with a shutter speed of 1000 and see if there are any exposure issues, namely, that it stops down properly. It worked fine, no issues - he said if it doesn't show up under these conditions then it's fine and there's no reason to do anything further. So, it appears to be in good shape. It's really a hell of a lens! Thanks for your feedback! Yep, if it works, shoot it . Some diaphragms just seem sluggish when operating manually. A fast speed, small opening with good exposure.That’s simple great advice. Hang up and DRIVE!

11-17-2020, 01:40 PM	#14
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 1,313	When grease evaporates and condenses on the diaphragm blades it isn't always obvious. Doing the 1/1000 at f/16 test is good, but the blades will get more sluggish in cooler weather. So a lens that is great in the summer might not be so great in the winter.