Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Where is the cheapest place that can fix my Zeiss Jena DDR 50mm f2?

The focusing is seized and can't get to upper focus ranges.

My budget is $50-100 max. I don't want to spend too much as I got the lens for very very very very very very cheap.

Or, does anyone here have experience fixing lenses and want to make a few dollars?

Check if there's a dent in the filter ring that's preventing you from turning the lens further.

Nope.

The lens was fine for the first few months of owning it. Then it seized. I think it was because it wasn't used for a week or two.

A week or two shouldn't do anything to this. A 30/40 year old lens has likely seen many months of just sitting around.

Is it just very stiff or does it not turn at all?

Is it even worth fixing for $50-100? You should be able to buy one of these for $30, I think.

On eBay I see them for $150+

I bought it for $5 from the Henry's junk bin attached to a broken Practika

did you try WD40?

you can fix anything with WD40 and duct tape: if it moves and it shouldn't use duct tape, if it doesn't move and it should use WD40.

I would double check. This lens is not that expensive, even on eBay. the Pancolar version ( f1.8 ) is more desirable and thus costs more. It shouldn't cost more $40 to $50 for an excellent condition copy.

Warm an oven up then turn it off and when it is still hot but just cool enough to touch put the lens on a piece of wood or cutting board and place in oven for 10 minutes. Remove it and while it is still warm check if it works. If it works then it needs a cleaning, if it doesn't then toss it or use it as a magnifying glass.

It won't turn past the 1m mark, it just stops.

I opened it up and a little ball bearing fell out.

???

I have no idea where it belongs but I have a feeling its for the aperture ring, Aperture is no longer smooth

I made it worse.

Using force I can get it past 1m occasionally.

The ball bearing is responsible for the click when you turn the aperture. You should find little holes that correspond to aperture values on the rim of the aperture ring.

The 50/2 is the early version of Pancolar, then goes 50/1.8, 55/1.4, 75/1.4, 80/1.8 and ends with 35-70/2.7-3.5 Vario-Pancolar. All except the 50/2 and 50/1.8 are rare lenses (with 75/1.4 to be the far rarest - someone on eBay has been selling its empty box for $150).

A good substitute for your lens would be the Russian Helios 44 58/2 series - basically the same optical formula and most of them with multi-coating to boot. They go for next to nothing as well.

I have the Pancolar 80/1.8 and can attest to its optical quality, although the aperture mechanisms are very easy to break. I had two of them and both needed work on the aperture.

Boy, am I ever glad you are not fixing a dislocated shoulder or tooth cavity through online instructions