50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus.

Nick_b · 1st of November 2008 (Sat)

I bought a used 50mm 1.4 that had been dropped and the focus had stoped working. I bought it, took it apart, and fixed it!

Sorry for the poor quality images it was late when I took them.

Here was the problem.

And this is what it should look like.

There was too much space in the channel where that white block rotates in and it was causing the barrel to become jammed. I fixed it with a pair of pliers. I simply squeezed the metal back into shape.

It's a little nosier then it should be but it focuses quick and seems to be accurate.

Some sample shots testing the focus....

100% crop.

So if you drop your 50mm and the focus locks up you may not need to send it in!

Oh and I paid 50 bucks for it.

4x4rock · 1st of November 2008 (Sat)

That's pretty good fix. You did a great job. Very sharp afterward too.

angryhampster · 1st of November 2008 (Sat)

Nice job on the fix. What a steal. Are you going to keep it or sell it for a large profit?

hk300 · 2nd of November 2008 (Sun)

nice job, where did you get it? Ebay broken lenses are now way too expensive due to scammers who want to to swindle their insurance companies

Nick_b · 3rd of November 2008 (Mon)

I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with it? I'm probably going to put it through it's paces and then sell it, but I might just keep it!

I bought it off of a local online classifieds site. I'm not a big fan of the Ebay, although this lens might end up there. I'm not really sure how much to charge for such a lens? Obviously I'd be up front about it's history.

shaftmaster · 10th of December 2008 (Wed)

My 50mm f/1.4 focus broke about a month ago. The micro-USM motor was apparently working, because it would focus from about 3m to infinity but would not focus closer than 3m (AF or MF). It seemed that something internal was stuck and was preventing focus closer than 3m. If I spun the MF ring quickly it would get stuck in different spots but I couldn't get it to unstick. I relented to having it repaired by a Canon authorized facility, but now I wish I would've tried fixing it myself. I spent $35 to have the repair shop take a look at it, another $35 for parts, and $140 for labor. I'm still waiting a month later as the replacement parts are still en-route from Japan.

Anyway, what steps did you take to get access to the "white block" and the channel that it slides in? I may need to repair it myself in the future and I won't pay the repair shop $200 again.

P.S. I bought a used but excellent EF 50mm f/1.8 Mk 1 as a backup for much less than the repair.

andyman8662 · 26th of January 2009 (Mon)

took mine apart, the little white plastic thing was broken, guess ill have to get one of those

toxic · 26th of January 2009 (Mon)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick_b

I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with it? I'm probably going to put it through it's paces and then sell it, but I might just keep it!

I bought it off of a local online classifieds site. I'm not a big fan of the Ebay, although this lens might end up there. I'm not really sure how much to charge for such a lens? Obviously I'd be up front about it's history.

I'll buy it for $60

Perry Ge · 26th of January 2009 (Mon)

Nice job! And for 50 bucks, such a simple fix? Steal of the century there.

1st of November 2008 (Sat)	#1
Nick_b Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ottawa Posts: 968 IMAGE EDITING OK	50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. I bought a used 50mm 1.4 that had been dropped and the focus had stoped working. I bought it, took it apart, and fixed it! Sorry for the poor quality images it was late when I took them. Here was the problem. And this is what it should look like. There was too much space in the channel where that white block rotates in and it was causing the barrel to become jammed. I fixed it with a pair of pliers. I simply squeezed the metal back into shape. It's a little nosier then it should be but it focuses quick and seems to be accurate. Some sample shots testing the focus.... 100% crop. So if you drop your 50mm and the focus locks up you may not need to send it in! Oh and I paid 50 bucks for it. __________________ 50D, 2 x 20D, Elan 7E, 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 IS, 30mm 1.4 , 85mm 1.8, 200mm 2.8 II, flash 430EX, 580 EX Canon G10 Pentax P30, 50mm 2.0

1st of November 2008 (Sat)	#2
4x4rock Goldmember Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: san jose Posts: 3,642 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. That's pretty good fix. You did a great job. Very sharp afterward too. __________________ Sonny Jumpset.com\|Gear List "A good photographer knows how to avoid shadows, a better photographer knows how to use them."

1st of November 2008 (Sat)	#3
angryhampster "Got a thick monopod?" Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,634	Re: 50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. Nice job on the fix. What a steal. Are you going to keep it or sell it for a large profit? __________________ Steve Lexa Iowa City Wedding Photography Lights, Cameras, Lenses, Empty pockets.

2nd of November 2008 (Sun)	#4
hk300 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 250	Re: 50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. nice job, where did you get it? Ebay broken lenses are now way too expensive due to scammers who want to to swindle their insurance companies

3rd of November 2008 (Mon)	#5
Nick_b Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ottawa Posts: 968 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with it? I'm probably going to put it through it's paces and then sell it, but I might just keep it! I bought it off of a local online classifieds site. I'm not a big fan of the Ebay, although this lens might end up there. I'm not really sure how much to charge for such a lens? Obviously I'd be up front about it's history. __________________ 50D, 2 x 20D, Elan 7E, 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 IS, 30mm 1.4 , 85mm 1.8, 200mm 2.8 II, flash 430EX, 580 EX Canon G10 Pentax P30, 50mm 2.0

10th of December 2008 (Wed)	#6
shaftmaster Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: above 5000 feet Posts: 890 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: 50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. My 50mm f/1.4 focus broke about a month ago. The micro-USM motor was apparently working, because it would focus from about 3m to infinity but would not focus closer than 3m (AF or MF). It seemed that something internal was stuck and was preventing focus closer than 3m. If I spun the MF ring quickly it would get stuck in different spots but I couldn't get it to unstick. I relented to having it repaired by a Canon authorized facility, but now I wish I would've tried fixing it myself. I spent $35 to have the repair shop take a look at it, another $35 for parts, and $140 for labor. I'm still waiting a month later as the replacement parts are still en-route from Japan. Anyway, what steps did you take to get access to the "white block" and the channel that it slides in? I may need to repair it myself in the future and I won't pay the repair shop $200 again. P.S. I bought a used but excellent EF 50mm f/1.8 Mk 1 as a backup for much less than the repair.

26th of January 2009 (Mon)	#7
andyman8662 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 5	Re: 50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. took mine apart, the little white plastic thing was broken, guess ill have to get one of those __________________ Canon 30D 17-85 mm is usm 50mm 1.4 usm manfrotto tripod

26th of January 2009 (Mon)	#9
Perry Ge Batteries? We don't need no... Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 11,928	Re: 50mm 1.4 droped/broken focus. Nice job! And for 50 bucks, such a simple fix? Steal of the century there. __________________ Perry \| flickr \| C&C ALWAYS welcome \| Gear POTN Toronto \| Sharpening sticky \| Perspective sticky [READ THIS]

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