Help with my KM 100mm f2.8 (d) macro!

Just got this lens off Ebay last week. Everything worked fine apart from tiny rattle inside. Took great pix - portraits and macro - Lens looked and performed like new! After leaving it mounted to my 5d in with the focus limiter On (limit) the lens seems to be stuck in the Limit mode. Will only focus half way - or up to 1:4 mark. I tried resetting the the focus limiter, and nothing. The zoom ring moves freely. The lens auto focuses/sets when on the 5D but will not fully extend?

Anyone with a similar problem? Is my lens jammed? I already emailed the seller - that I wanted to return the lens - they have a 3 day return policy.

Im kind of bummed about this! It's a great lens, looks like its broke - and I might be stuck with it!
Thanks,

this lens does not have one.
--
Ralf

• now hosting an online gallery

Not the zoom but the focus!

Was the lens described as optically & mechanically perfect ?
--
Keith-C

..Sounds like a screw fell into one of the slots of the floating element body.

The floating element macros are constructed more like a zoom lens than a prime.

Early macros had a self adhesive foil that would jam the "focus" but yours sounds more like a loose screw.

http://www.pbase.com/pganzel/disassembly_of_maxxum_50mm_f28_macro_

Repair needed before something else gets damaged.

--
http://www.pbase.com/pganzel

The lens was described as:
Very Good Condition

• Very clean
• Fully functional
• All controls operate smoothly
• No visible scratches or fungus on optical surfaces
• Good cosmetics

It worked for about 20 picks - macro/portraits before it jammed. Already talked to the guy - he says he tested it, and blames me or my camera for braking it. Opened a Pay Pal dispute and dropped the lens off at United Camera in Bensenville, IL for en estimate. We'll see what happens - but I doubt the repair will be chap!
Thanks for the responses!

Thanks for the reply. It might be a loose screw, since I did notice something small rattling inside the lens when I got it. It worked fine for a short while before jamming. The repair looks like, it should be left to a professional - but thanks for the repair link/pictures.
I'm in the process of getting en estimate from a lens repair shop.
Thanks

Oh, and the lens came without the original box - that was listed in the auction. When I called the guy, he was kind of rude and indifferent - and told me to send it back at my own expense. I kept it. but it jammed short after that. I think I might be screwed on this one?

planeshooter72 said:

Oh, and the lens came without the original box - that was listed in
the auction. When I called the guy, he was kind of rude and
indifferent - and told me to send it back at my own expense. I kept
it. but it jammed short after that. I think I might be screwed on
this one?

Click to expand...

Hi Planet,

Check out the guys ratings/feedback on Ebay, unless it's filled with a lot of negatives, I would give him the benefit of doubt. I have both 50mm & 100mm Macro Minolta and KM (D), respectively. The 50mm developed a small rattle after I picked it up used from Cleanmaxx (local pick up) about two years ago.

I was able to get the "piece" of debris out of the 50mm macro, (small piece of ABS plastic) and I honestly have NO IDEA where it broke off on the inside of the lens, but with the debris out of the lens, the rattle is gone and the lens is fine!

Most likely a piece of debris might have broken off during shipment of the lens from SELLER over to you. US Postal and UPS are NONE too careful during shipment! If the SELLER, despite NOT having the original box, managed to bubble wrap the lens with care and ship it to you in a expediently, I would lay the blame on shipper and not the SELLER, again IMHO.

Hopefully nothing MAJOR was/is damaged on the lens and that it's only a simple matter of removing the "debris" from the gears that's causing the jamming.

Either way good luck, hopefully this post will provide some measure of relief?

--
-Alex

From the minds of Minolta to the imagination of Sony, Alpha, like no other.

http://www.pbase.com/lonewolf69

Thanks for the reassurance - that it may only be a piece of debris/screw that has jammed the gears of the focus mechanisim. I'm having it looked at right now. Did you get the debris out yourself or did you have a camera shop do it, and if so what was the cost?
Thanks,

Got en estimate for the repair of my lens, in case my Pay-pal dispute does not go in my favor -
$114.27 Repair Focus Scale, Clean and Check to good working order.
I paid $400.00 for the lens - with shipping!
At least I know it in fact is broken and can be repaired!
Thanks to all for your comments,

Its a shame that you bought a broken lens...and probably the seller knew this.. Ebay is a treacherous place to deal sometimes
--
Bill
Capturing memories, one at a time.



Please visit my galleries at
http://evil-twin.smugmug.com/

EBay can be pretty much a "crapshoot" when it comes to buying quality, used camera equipment! I remember selling a lens that didn't meet the buyers expextations, so I refunded his price along with his shipping costs - no questions asked! Too bad every seller, cant stand by their product 100% - maybe that's just me, but I wouldn't feel right about selling defective lenses.
My .02 cents!

I just have to hope that the process of claim/dispute, with Pay-Pal, falls in my favor!
If it does I'm buying a new KM100mmF2.8(d) from B&H

Lesson Learned!

planeshooter72 said:

I just have to hope that the process of claim/dispute, with Pay-Pal,
falls in my favor!
If it does I'm buying a new KM100mmF2.8(d) from B&H

Click to expand...

Same thing kind of happened to me. Only my focus ring on my Minolta 100 2.8 Macro (RS version) is completely frozen. I bought it off of ebay and after about 50 or so shots, the malfunction happened. I didn't blame the seller. I don't see how he could've known this would happen since it happened all of a sudden.

Just as your contemplating, I decided to buy a new D version from B&H, but also bought the warranty. Still have the RS and may send it for repair, or may sell it for parts.
--
From the original Pheanix:
'Shoot first (pictures that is); ask questions later'
Keith (me) - the original pheanix

planeshooter72 said:

Thanks for the reassurance - that it may only be a piece of
debris/screw that has jammed the gears of the focus mechanisim. I'm
having it looked at right now. Did you get the debris out yourself or
did you have a camera shop do it, and if so what was the cost?

Click to expand...

Hi Planet,

I gently shook the lenes with the focus ring all the way out, the rear element moved up and away from the body and there was an open gap and I was "shake" out the small broken plastic bit...

Good Luck!

--
-Alex

From the minds of Minolta to the imagination of Sony, Alpha, like no other.

http://www.pbase.com/lonewolf69

Well, I was able to shake lose whatever was blocking/jamming the lens at the 1:4 focus scale. The focus could be move from full open to full closed smoothly with the Limiter to Full but with resistance at Limit. Resistance and kind of like grinding - not a fluid motion! I actually felt somethig tattling inside, but was unable to shake lose. Shortly after that, the focus stcuk in the full open mode, Limit to full - not retracting past the 1:1.5 focus scale. Resistance, stuttering/grinding with Limit switch set. I'm willing to bet it's a pieace of debris, more likely a screw, lose inside the lens. Possibly around the Limit switch. Still waiting for Pay-pal to get back to me, but at leat now I know what is wrong.