16x9 Anamorphic lens will not come off/ Attachement problem/Is this a common problem?

G

Gang_Green

Active member
I just bought the panasonic 16:9 Conversion lens (LA7200g) . Yeah!
I put it on and gave it a test and it worked great. The footage was awsome. Then I atempted to take it off to store it away...
The problem is the little screw that you have to loosen to get it on/off has aparently, inexplicibly lost all of its grip. It apears the screw hole has been striped. The screw can now just be yanked out/in without haveing to screw it at all. Worse then that, the lens will not come off at all, and instead just turns round round forever without getting any looser. Worse then that even, is the fact that if it is permenatly attached now it is also wobbly and can be moved out of alighnment with the slightest touch.

So is this a common problem or what? Can I get this fixed. Its still functional, I guess until you accieently hit it while trying to focus or something... I just want it to be tight on there and not move around. And it would be nice if it would come off also when I need it to.

Tyson.
 
Sounds like you broke/stripped the screw. To remove the lens you TIGHTEN the screw gently. You should not over-tighten it. (See the instructions) By tightening it, you engage the theaded portion so that the whole assembly can be screwed on or unscrewed. If you tried to remove it by loosening the screw (and loosening and loosening and loosening) you probably backed the screw clean out and possibly damaged the plastic in the process.

Maybe you'll get lucky but the treads may now (somehow) need to be repaired or retapped for a larger screw. You might want to consult with someone first. A jeweler maybe?

You might also contact a rental facility like Abel Cine - they might have a solution as I'm sure a rental customer or two has made this fatal mistake. You're not the first and you won't be the last.
 
this is unfortunate but threads can actually be replace with new ones. Try to avoid retapping it with a larger screw, try instead rebuild the thread with a Helicoil. Get out the phone book and look up machine shops and ask for a quote for this type of reapir.

Or you can buy a kit and reapir it yourself, its not that difficult but you must follow the directions to the letter! Below is an example, but you should find out what the screw size is (diameter/threadpitch) and purchase a kit for that type of screw. Take the screw to ACE and they might have them there!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Heli...43998QQitemZ4601551511QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

good luck
 
Not a bad idea. I've done Helicoil repairs on my car projects. It's a pretty small screw though. Do they make Helicoils that small? They also require drilling the hole larger, then tapping for installation of the coil. I'm afraid the results could be disastrous in this case.
 
yea preston is right. Had the same problem myself. The reason it spins like that is so that you can screw it on tight, then loosen the screw, make the adapter straight, then tighten it down. Make sure to use extreme caution on both the anamorphic and stock DVX lens hood as they strip easily.
 
I hate that damned lens, but I've been stuck with it for almost a year now! I'll probably end up buying a new camera before I get it off. I tried the bigger screw thing and all it did was make scraping noises, and the lens is still stuck. Problem with mine was not only stripping, but there is a crack in the plastic where the screw goes. I thought I was paying 900 dollars for something that might hold up. I want my money back(for the camera and lens!) of course I'd like to keep them both as well.
 
Peter Murphy said:
I hate that damned lens, but I've been stuck with it for almost a year now! I'll probably end up buying a new camera before I get it off. I tried the bigger screw thing and all it did was make scraping noises, and the lens is still stuck. Problem with mine was not only stripping, but there is a crack in the plastic where the screw goes. I thought I was paying 900 dollars for something that might hold up. I want my money back(for the camera and lens!) of course I'd like to keep them both as well.
Click to expand...

wait, your lens has been stuck on to your DVX for a year?
 
yes, the helicoil may not work becuase it only works if you can tap it into a thicker peice of metal.

This is pretty dissapointing from Panansonic, I have heard too many horror stories about this lens, if its not mounting problems then there was the issue of dust in the elements. Sure the user has some responsibility for using it carefuly, but too many stories of problems right out of the box..
 
Yes, this is a Horror story! We all need to put the word out better about this lens. I am in no way careless. I take the best care possible of all of my gear. This is a design flaw and the finger can only be pointed at panasonic. Who thinks to make a metal screw that goes into weak plastic? I always obide by the # 1 rule of equipment; "If it wont go dont force it". -For me, this was a used lens and this was the first time I put it on. The threads must have been weakend prior to my purchase. -and now it wont come off.
I am more afraid of any attempt I make to fix it further damaging the lens and the camera. So I dont know what to do besides keep shooting with a lens that wont stay in place and wont come off.

So just to make this clear, none of you out there have actualy fixed this problem that you are makeing sugestions for right??? Im afraid I dont want to try somethign that no one has proved to work.
 
By the way, To all of you sugesting I loosen the screw. We are beyond that point. Thank you. But the screw is complety striped. It was stripped when I bought it. You cannot tighten or loosen it at all.
 
Dude, I checked your user name against the ebay transaction - you bought that lens from me!

While I sympathize with your situation - I guarantee you that lens was in perfect shape when I shipped it, and exactly as I described it. It was on and off my camera only few times. I knew exactly how to correctly attach and remove the lens even before I bought it, as others had complained about the set screw design. I never had problems getting it on or off. Those threads were neither weakened or stripped when you bought it. My integrity is too important to risk selling something without disclosing a problem I would have known about.

If you're uncomfortable with attempting repairs, I suggest you contact a vendor or rental facility that deals with them on a daily basis - and has certainly had to address the issue when someone damages it.
 
Preston,

Hello. Yes, you are correct, and I am not saying otherwise - the lens and screw was in working condition when i got it and first put it on. The screw worked to clamp it down; it may have just been a bit week... It was only after I attempted to take it off that it got stripped. -I believe I was afraid of over tightening it so I did the oposite until I loosened it all the way out. -But now that I understand how this lens works, I may have helped strip it more by taking it all the way out. (maybe?) _Regardless, it is not anyones fault, but panasonics design flaw. The treads must be very weak. I belive had I bought this product brand new then it would have still eventually done the same thing.

And Thank you for the timly shipment. You got it out very quickly. And the lens works great. I was afraid of scratches in the glass but everything was very clean.

I will probably try to contact Abel Cine on Monday and see what they have to say. I am afraid of trying the do it yourself -rethreading idea. In the mean time the lens can still be used if I dont touch it and knock it out of place. Maybe Ill try to get ahold of panasonic and see what they have to say...

Tyson.
 
I hate it too.

first time we used the lens. the AC took almost 2 hours to figure out how to put it on till i walked by and helped him.. its not a normal way of mounting... anyways later on in the shoot we broke the damn lens. and not by the screw.. it was the plastic. cracked it.

I hate the anamorphic lens.. I know blah blah you can get a much better picture with it but to me its not worth the pain in the ass it is to use.. focus issues, mounting, etc.
 
Jarred Land said:
I know blah blah you can get a much better picture with it but to me its not worth the pain in the ass it is to use.. focus issues, mounting, etc.
Click to expand...
And there it is in a nutshell. Excellent example, Jarred -- this pretty much sums up the whole HVX vs. XLH1 vs. HD100 debate. Some things may be better on one or the other, but is it worth putting up with the tradeoffs? For some, yes. For some, no.

So you have to learn what the tradeoffs are, and then pick which solution you're satisfied with. I think for most people squeeze is a much-embraced solution vs. dealing with the issues surrounding the anamorphic. Others won't give up the resolution no matter what.

Perfectly crystallizes the ongoing argument. Great example.
 
Ok, I have been calling a few repair places. I found one camcorder repair technican that was familar with the lens problem. He was not sure he could get it off and was not sure if he could do it without damaging the focus and CCD block, and he was not sure he could get it off without destroying the lens -but he said he could order another one for me!

Certaily there is someone out there who had this problem and got it fixed right??? Or are there just hundreds of anamorphic lens users out there with broken lenses flopping around during there shoots stuck to there camera?

Anyone know how to contact panasonic directly? Do I have to fly to Japan?
 
My lense is ok, and I still use it every now and then. It did take me about a year to figure out how to properly put it on and take it off.

But yeah, its a major PITA. And dust seems to accumulate on the inside of the lense, and was there when I bought it new and had it shipped from japan (I had it cleaned, but after a few months of storage it showed up again.)

The focusing issues aren't really major -as long as you aren't focusing while you're shooting. But getting that thing on and off can be a real headache if you haven't done it a few dozen times.
 
The design is similar to a circular polarizer where the front half of the filter rotates freely around the threaded back half. The adaptor has a set screw to effectively lock the two together in order to get in on and off. Try applying some firm but gentle pressure on the adaptor (as if you're trying to push the adaptor ONTO front of the camera) while unscrewing it. You might create enough friction to get the threaded portion to break loose from the DVX. Once that happens, if you can maintain the right kind of pressure, you'll eventually get it unthreaded. Shouldn't harm anything.
 
I called Abel Cine Tech, and they said they could look at it.... But they are not an authorised panasonic repair house. Shouldnt I only send it to panasonic authorised whatever...?

Plus, I am very hesitant to send the camera off to any repair place because I am afraid they are going to simply remove the lens to where it cant be used at all any more and then call me and say they fixed it. If this is the case, then I would rather stick with the lens stuck to the camera - becasue at least I can shoot with it like this.

Then Ill have to pay a shipping cost and inspection fee and repair fee for getting a lens removed that cant work at all anymore. I mean, Im sure I can take a hack saw to it and get it off if I really wanted to... but I want the lens to work.

I wish I could find a place that could tell me they know how to fix this.
 
On the opposite side of the lens from the stripped screw, tap in another. Use a drill, make a hole, find a hex head bolt and go for it.
 
Yeah, and what if I hit the glass by drilling too far? these are precise mesurments i would have to be able to do with a drill.

Wonder what would happen if I took the 4 tiny screws that hold the lens body together out. WOuuld this give me a better view of the inside ? Or would the whole thing fall apart where I couldnt use it anymore?
 
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