Nikon Focus Ring VERY hard to turn

Taylor Rudd

Taylor Rudd

Veteran
I just got a Nikon AI 135mm f/2.8 off ebay. The lens is in great condition, except the focus ring seems very difficult to turn.

I also have a Nikon AI 28mm f/2.8 and AI 50mm f/1.4, and the amount of force required is vastly different on each.

Is this a matter of re-lubricating something inside? Or is it just hit and miss with these lenses?

I have yet to get a follow focus. Hopefully I'll have an indifocuspro within the month. How much torque can that FF handle?

I imagine there are repair shops that could do the work, I just don't know if there is an easier fix.
 
Is it hard all round to turn or does it have sticking points? I dropped one of my nikon lenses and must have pushed it into a slightly oval shape so it now has sticking points.
 
I have a bunch of older Nikon F lens I use with my Letus extreme and find those lens don't focus as easy as my 85mm AIS I have. I use the petroff follow focus and I seem to be fine, each lens is different. I have gotten a few bad copies which I had to return because of this problem. Lubricating might be a little expensive (at least where I live it is), if you find a shop that does it cheap then I would recommend it because it does make a world of difference.
 
When like tmnt suggests it's got sticking points you've got a problem. However your case could be solved easiliy with a little luck. You could try spending half an hour, while watching tv, simply turning it back and forth. Also a temperature difference could help (go on a holiday and use it a there). Re-lubricating it is tricky and can go wrong, so I'd try the tv first, unless you'd prefer going for a little holiday :-)
 
My experience is that the 135's I've seen in general seem to have more resistance. You can try doing the "turning it back and forth " routine or you could also bring it to a good lens repairman who can redo the lube inside. I've had that done for around $125 as I recall, though the first guy i went to sad it couldn't be done.

Lenny levy
 
i have a 135 that had the exact same issue, i sent it off, its costing me 80 canadian for the repair. sucks huh?
 
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