Help required: Minolta 135mm f/2.8 Aperture blade problem

Timber Wolf · 22nd May 2006

Hello everyone,
I have found that my newly bought Minolta 135mm f/2.8 has problems opening up fully again after stopping down for a shot or DOF preview. It seems that I need to tap the DOF preview button while the camera is set at f/2.8 for the aperture to be fully open. This ruins my bokeh and steals about 1/2 stop of speed from my lens.

Question: Can anyone provide guidance as to how I can rectify this problem? It's out of warranty and I don't wanna spend a few hundred repairing the lens at Sony since I only paid about $400 for it.

Thanks! Replies appreciated!
QX

PS. I just sold my 1st photo online!

If you'd like to support me you can click the link in my sig and buy more hahah =)

drake336 · 22nd May 2006

Sounds like sticky aperture blades... should not be too expensive to service but I am really not sure how much they will charge...

Timber Wolf · 22nd May 2006

Thanks, you reckon TCW can do it?
QX

GENO · 22nd May 2006

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf

Thanks, you reckon TCW can do it?
QX

To me, once you open up a lens for cleaning, it is no longer 100% sharp and the coating on the glasses might be gone if cleaning is done...

drake336 · 22nd May 2006

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf

Thanks, you reckon TCW can do it?
QX

TCW should be able to do it... but as Geno point out, if you are really paranoid about the alignment of the elements, Sony may calibrate for you as part of the servicing, but think they may charge extra (?)

Timber Wolf · 23rd May 2006

Their base charge is about $200 for diagnostics etc. I just need them to tune it up a little. =)

QX

tankm · 23rd May 2006

A month ago send in two lens for servicing and repair with SONY.

KM 50 f2.8. Cleaning of some dust inside the rear element and service. Cost around $45.

KM 28-135 f4-4.5. Zoom lock-up. They called and indicated may not be able to repair as it's an old lens and they longer have parts. Told them to do what they can and they did fix it and cost less than $25.

One option is to ask KM/SONY to call you to give an estimate of the repair cost. However if you don't want to repair eventually you will still need to pay a token sum, if I remember correctly is $10.

Timber Wolf · 23rd May 2006

Thanks... cos I heard horror stories of pple being charged $200+ for such problems =)

QX

Timber Wolf · 23rd May 2006

Hello. Thanks, have sent it in to Sony already. Talked to Mr Sia (ex KM Chief Tech) over the phone, he said to send it with a note directing it to him. He knows what to do with it.

Really have to thank him for his service over the past year.

QX

dr34mc4st3r · 23rd May 2006

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf

Hello. Thanks, have sent it in to Sony already. Talked to Mr Sia (ex KM Chief Tech) over the phone, he said to send it with a note directing it to him. He knows what to do with it.

Really have to thank him for his service over the past year.

QX

you got that guy's personal contact?

eow · 23rd May 2006

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf

Hello. Thanks, have sent it in to Sony already. Talked to Mr Sia (ex KM Chief Tech) over the phone, he said to send it with a note directing it to him. He knows what to do with it.

Really have to thank him for his service over the past year.

QX

Tks God! Sia is still around

with him around.....got problem also no problem liao

Timber Wolf · 23rd May 2006

Yes he is still around. Out of KM service division, only him and another DSLR tech survived the transistion to Sony.

Nope I don't have his personal contact, but he can be reached if you call Sony support up and ask for him. Don't do it too often after Sony ban personal calls

Cheers
QX

radi9red · 26th May 2006

I never heard of these issues before where you clean an element, the coating is gone.. unless its a fungus situation , why would the tech people go clean and polish your elements ? Most people send it for dust cleaning or oily blades or fungus scenarios. Unsharp photos after servicing is mainly due to focal elements out of alignment ..

There is a calibration machine and the calibration standards are different for manufacturers to manufacturers and somemore cleaning should be done in a clean room statically discharged.

dun think sending lens to 3rd party shops is worth it.. getting it cheaply done might end up expensive later if wrongly serviced by non-manufacturer certified engineers.

Originally Posted by GENO

To me, once you open up a lens for cleaning, it is no longer 100% sharp and the coating on the glasses might be gone if cleaning is done...

radi9red · 26th May 2006

Timberwolf, if i'm not wrong, i know you just bought the lens right ? i was the other interested bidder as well but i think you need the lens urgently so i told the seller to proceed with you.. anyway i've ordered one mint copy that is shipping over overseas now. higher price than what you're paying for of course..

try calling the seller, i think he should pay at least 50% of the servicing fees. Especially its only couple of days with you..

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf

Hello everyone,
I have found that my newly bought Minolta 135mm f/2.8 has problems opening up fully again after stopping down for a shot or DOF preview. It seems that I need to tap the DOF preview button while the camera is set at f/2.8 for the aperture to be fully open. This ruins my bokeh and steals about 1/2 stop of speed from my lens.

Question: Can anyone provide guidance as to how I can rectify this problem? It's out of warranty and I don't wanna spend a few hundred repairing the lens at Sony since I only paid about $400 for it.

Thanks! Replies appreciated!
QX

PS. I just sold my 1st photo online!
If you'd like to support me you can click the link in my sig and buy more hahah =)

Timber Wolf · 26th May 2006

Thanks Radi9red. You guessed right. =)
I've sent it to Sony, Mr Sia is working on it.

QX

Thanks for being gracious and letting me have the lens =)

radi9red · 26th May 2006

yeah , minolta apeatures jammed is common issue with old lens.. and our 135mm is almost 20 years old. Oh yes, do you know i saw a pricelist dated 1988 in a local shop ? 135mm selling at S$499. =( . I paid almost $400+ for it to be shipped in.. nonetheless , 135mm f2.8 thats the only lens for minolta, no 3rd party of that range. hope its as good as my carl zeiss 135mm f2.8

once that lens is in my list, i only left with 35f2 to get.. still hunting for it .. no luck so far.

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf

Thanks Radi9red. You guessed right. =)
I've sent it to Sony, Mr Sia is working on it.

QX

Thanks for being gracious and letting me have the lens =)

zcf · 26th May 2006

Originally Posted by radi9red

yeah , minolta apeatures jammed is common issue with old lens.. and our 135mm is almost 20 years old. Oh yes, do you know i saw a pricelist dated 1988 in a local shop ? 135mm selling at S$499. =( . I paid almost $400+ for it to be shipped in.. nonetheless , 135mm f2.8 thats the only lens for minolta, no 3rd party of that range. hope its as good as my carl zeiss 135mm f2.8

once that lens is in my list, i only left with 35f2 to get.. still hunting for it .. no luck so far.

Wow, can show us your collection of lens? May be during some outing?

radi9red · 26th May 2006

dont really have a large collection, around 7 minolta primes, i think there are others here more primes than me.. i sold off all the zoomies liao .. only 18-70mm DT left.. haha

Originally Posted by zcf

Wow, can show us your collection of lens? May be during some outing?

zcf · 26th May 2006

Originally Posted by radi9red

dont really have a large collection, around 7 minolta primes, i think there are others here more primes than me.. i sold off all the zoomies liao .. only 18-70mm DT left.. haha

Good primes are hard to beat on quality. Think I am more of a zoom person due to weight and flexibility issue.

Timber Wolf · 26th May 2006

Hello radi9red...
What I found during my few days of use is that.
1.) The focusing speed is well. blazing fast. Nothing to complain in this department.
2.) Manual focus is a nightmare. Try turning such a small ring.
3.) Focusing is very finicky and unforgiving, if you point it at the wrong spot it -will- focus precisely on that wrong spot.
4.) Miraculously it almost never hunts on my 7D, even in very low light. The target can be way out of focus and the 7D nails it all the time.
5.) Build quality is nice. Feel solid and well made. Pity the focus ring is puny. I might try to add some stuff to make it slightly wider.

6.) It's rather undersized for my 7D. Makes it looked imbalanced. It's a great optic though.

=)
QX

22nd May 2006	#1
Timber Wolf Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 910	Help required: Minolta 135mm f/2.8 Aperture blade problem Hello everyone, I have found that my newly bought Minolta 135mm f/2.8 has problems opening up fully again after stopping down for a shot or DOF preview. It seems that I need to tap the DOF preview button while the camera is set at f/2.8 for the aperture to be fully open. This ruins my bokeh and steals about 1/2 stop of speed from my lens. Question: Can anyone provide guidance as to how I can rectify this problem? It's out of warranty and I don't wanna spend a few hundred repairing the lens at Sony since I only paid about $400 for it. Thanks! Replies appreciated! QX PS. I just sold my 1st photo online! If you'd like to support me you can click the link in my sig and buy more hahah =)

22nd May 2006	#2
drake336 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 827	Re: Help required: Minolta 135mm f/2.8 Aperture blade problem Sounds like sticky aperture blades... should not be too expensive to service but I am really not sure how much they will charge...

22nd May 2006	#3
Timber Wolf Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 910	Re: Help required: Minolta 135mm f/2.8 Aperture blade problem Thanks, you reckon TCW can do it? QX

23rd May 2006	#6
Timber Wolf Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 910	Re: Help required: Minolta 135mm f/2.8 Aperture blade problem Their base charge is about $200 for diagnostics etc. I just need them to tune it up a little. =) QX

23rd May 2006	#7
tankm Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,619	Re: Help required: Minolta 135mm f/2.8 Aperture blade problem A month ago send in two lens for servicing and repair with SONY. KM 50 f2.8. Cleaning of some dust inside the rear element and service. Cost around $45. KM 28-135 f4-4.5. Zoom lock-up. They called and indicated may not be able to repair as it's an old lens and they longer have parts. Told them to do what they can and they did fix it and cost less than $25. One option is to ask KM/SONY to call you to give an estimate of the repair cost. However if you don't want to repair eventually you will still need to pay a token sum, if I remember correctly is $10. Last edited by tankm; 23rd May 2006 at 11:44 AM.

26th May 2006	#15
Timber Wolf Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 910	Re: Help required: Minolta 135mm f/2.8 Aperture blade problem Thanks Radi9red. You guessed right. =) I've sent it to Sony, Mr Sia is working on it. QX Thanks for being gracious and letting me have the lens =)