conurus

Tom Berkowski · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 13

I got some sand in the focus of my converted Planar. I can hear it sometimes when autofocusing. I can hear it more when I turn the focus ring manually. I can see a few pieces of sand in the manual focus ring, but I can't get out with an ordinary blower.

What recommendations do people have?
1) Do nothing. Don't worry about it.
2) Try a high pressure blower and/or micro vacuum on the lens. I don't know if this would do more harm than good.
3) Take to a repair shop. Would they know how to deal with a converted lens, or does this not even matter?
4) Other suggestions?

conurus · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 6:48 am Post subject:

The construction of your Planar 50/1.4 is very simple. A competent local camera repairman will be able to clean the sand out.

Alternatively you may also send us your lens in September and have us take a look. However we are not a general repair shop and your local repairman may be able to do a better cleaning job than us. You may have your repairman call me at 604-433-0483 on any technical questions concerning the disassembly of the lens.

Tom Berkowski · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 13

Thanks for advice. I'll do that. Does anyone have any suggestions about how they have used local repairs? I suppose I should bring my body so they don't try to slap on a Contax body to test. Any other things I should keep in mind?

conurus · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:06 am Post subject:

It is unnecessary to desolder the conurus circuit board. The lens can be disassembled/reassembled with the conurus circuit board intact. Our install guide may be helpful.

Tom Berkowski · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 13

As follow up, everything went well with local service to remove sand. I wanted to let people know that in my case, there was no problem with complete disassembly & reassembly by local service person. When I was considering buying a lens for conversion, I was worried about service-ability. I'm reassured by my experience.

I just got my first set of prints back after I had my lens serviced, and everthing looks great. There is no sand sound in focus ring, and autofocus, body-controlled apeture work fine.

Thanks to Bo-Ming for the assurance that local service would not have a problem. Also, thanks to him for offering to answer questions from a local service provider. I don't know if this was required in this instance, but it was great that he offered.

In case you want a recommendation of service person who has handled a converted lens, I used Advance Camera in San Francisco

http://www.camerarepair-sf.com/

They don't have a retail store anymore, but the person (Yakov) works out of his house in San Francisco. It was great to talk face-to-face with the real person who would do the service. (The few remaining camera shops in San Francisco all send their repairs out. I don't know to where.) My lens was ready for pickup 11 days after dropping it off.

conurus · Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:06 am Post subject:

Thanks Tom. Yes I did get a phone call from your local repair technician concerning reassembly.