Old clunker of a lens jammed on me mid-wedding shoot last Saturday

I was swapping a 50mm f/1.4 onto a Canon body and the aperture ring just locked up solid, no clicks at all. Took it apart later and found a tiny screw had backed out and wedged between the blades. Anybody else run into random loose hardware on vintage glass?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaretw411mo ago

Hmm, I've actually had the opposite luck with vintage glass. Been shooting with old Nikkor lenses for years and never had a screw come loose. Maybe it's a Canon thing or just bad luck on that specific copy. A lot of those older lenses were built to last if they survived this long without issues.

knight.diana1mo ago

Wait, you've really never had a screw come loose on any of your Nikkors? That's wild, @margaretw41. I guess I've just been unlucky with a couple of my Canon FD lenses, but you're right that most of the old stuff is built like a tank. It's funny how a few bad experiences can make you paranoid, but then you hear stories like yours and remember why we love this vintage glass. Honestly, I'm a little jealous of your streak. Maybe I need to start hunting for some Nikkor gear next time.