Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 ED Ai-S repair!!!

[richardHaw]

http://richardhaw.com/2018/07/01/repair-nikkor-180mm-f-2-8-ed-ai-s/

had to rush this to help somebody  I was too late but I hope this will help others

[Bruno Schroder]

It will help me, I have one with a little bit of fungus. Thanks, Richard.

[richardHaw]

It will help me, I have one with a little bit of fungus. Thanks, Richard.

be careful with the front element! 

[Roland Vink]

The front element is ED glass, which is softer than normal glass ...

[richardHaw]

The front element is ED glass, which is softer than normal glass ...

ED and soft used in the same sentence 

only mr Akira will understand this aside from me 

[Akira]

ED and soft used in the same sentence 

only mr Akira will understand this aside from me 

Rick, I don't understand what you mean.   

But that's what I understand about  the ED glass.  If I remember correctly, 180/2.8 and 200/2.0 Ais lenses are the only Nikkors using ED glass as the front element without the fixed protection glass (flat or slightly concave).

[richardHaw]

ED is "機能不全"　

[Akira]

ED is "機能不全"　

 

[Roland Vink]

Most (all?) of the early ED lenses used ED glass on the front element, including the early ED telephotos for the AU-1 focus unit, and early AI and AIS ED telephotos. Nikon stated their ED glass was robust enough to be used on the front element, unlike the fluorite used by some competitors. However Nikon did recommend using large UV filters to protect the ED glass from damage.

In the mid 1980s Nikon upgraded a number of their earlier IF-ED telephotos, and among the changes, the front element was now protected by a permanent fixed front protection lens. Maybe due to feedback from professional, Nikon realised the ED glass was more vulnerable than first thought. Since then all big telephotos have had a front protection lens, or the ED glass was not used as the front element.

[Akira]

Roland, thank you for the correction.  I forgot about all of these super-teles.      It is insanely hot in Tokyo!

[richardHaw]

I remember working on a cracked front ED element before, it was a "Bruce Lee zoom" 

[Snoogly]

I need to attempt this soon. Just obtained a lens with clearish optics, but a stiff-ish. Helicoid. Usable, but not buttery.

I am now balancing the risk of repair vs living with a stiff one.

[richardHaw]

overhaul

[Snoogly]

I really don't know how it happened, but somehow I took it apart without removing the helicoid keys. I did try, but had a screw that refused to budge, even with heat. As I was fumbling, the helicoids somehow separated! Though I was quick enough to mark the separation points.

Assembling the lens after cleaning was like a rubrics cube  But, touch wood, it seems fine now.

In fact I was surprised at how simple it is inside. Clearly it's the glass that makes it magic!

[Dogman]

  Old photographer and his stories.  I think it was the 180/2.8 model prior to the one here but....

In the 1980s, I was working for a daily newspaper.  I was on an assignment shooting mugs (head and shoulders) at an interview.  I wanted a tight shot of the guy's face so I moved in close and used the 180mm.  I started focusing and I kept moving closer and closer and keeping the face in focus until I realized the lens had separated into two parts.  Totally embarrassed, I backed away and used an 85mm to finish the assignment.  I do recall I got some really tight shots of the subject before the "incident".