RedZoom 17-50mm replacements parts / zoom brush lever broken

[fredforet]

Hi Dear RedUsers

I just had a little issue with a red zoom 17-50 mm V2
the zoom ring is stuck
the lens brush lever zoom is broken , it's very tiny little piece of metal
so I'm looking eventually for a donor or a replacement part somewhere on earth
I'm happy iwith any idea ? any advice ? shall I make a new part from scratch ? any repair service I can send it ?

huge thanks
fred

 

[Zack Birlew]

Little parts like this in lenses are impossible to find unless you get a donor lens and take it apart for spare bits and pieces. I'd email some of the usual lens repair and rehousing places and see if they might be able to do something.

All I'm saying is if some company would make replacement parts like this then vintage camera lenses would be way easier to maintain, especially if they're parts that are prone to failure for being made out of weak materials, off metals, or troubling designs, then they would be getting into an absolute gold mine for not only camera people but builders that might be able to repurpose them for other creations. Replacement odd camera screws would already be a lifesaver.

 

[Tommaso Alvisi]

Hey Fred,

It's worth trying to replicate the part starting with a solid piece of metal and then file/drill it to be identical, if you're not capable you can ask to a friend with the required skills ;-)

BTW I had some items repaired or pieces rebuilt in the past by a couple of watchmakers, they have the skills and all the gear to do it properly.

Hope it helps!

 

[fredforet]

Thank you guys for your advices... I'll replicate the part as you said ... I wish I knew which lens RED used as a base ... tamrom sigma? I'm still investigating... TBC

 

[Mike P.]

Hey Fred, did you ever fix this or find out what was the base lens (for replacement parts)?

Also, after removing the 8 screws, should the PL mount easily come off?

 

[Mike McEntire]

If I'm not mistaken it was a tamron lens that was converted.

 

[Mike P.]

Is there a tear down anywhere online?

RED support came up with nothing, just a “we don’t service them any more, have no more parts, and are unwilling to show schematics/assembly diagrams” stone wall (aka ‘Go **** yourself!’ ).

It’d be cheaper to buy another one than have it serviced, so I’d like to try DIYing it, but I’m running into hiccups just trying to open it up (the PL mount isn’t coming off after removing the 8 screws; it rotates freely, and half lifts off easily, but the other side has resistance and I don’t want to force/break it more)… should I be disassembling from the front?

 

[Zack Birlew]

Is there a tear down anywhere online?

RED support came up with nothing, just a “we don’t service them any more, have no more parts, and are unwilling to show schematics/assembly diagrams” stone wall (aka ‘Go **** yourself!’ ).

It’d be cheaper to buy another one than have it serviced, so I’d like to try DIYing it, but I’m running into hiccups just trying to open it up (the PL mount isn’t coming off after removing the 8 screws; it rotates freely, and half lifts off easily, but the other side has resistance and I don’t want to force/break it more)… should I be disassembling from the front?

That really is a tricky point, I'm actively cleaning up a large lens collection in my free time and I have several teardown videos that need to be edited with voice over and I can tell you, going in blind on a lens is the worst! Lenses can have tricks that throw you for a loop, some go from the front, others need things removed from the rear first, some lenses have hidden screws, the helicoid unscrews without notice, a few lenses come apart in sections, and the list can go on and on. I've broken and damaged several really nice lenses that still haunt me a little to this day but thankfully I've practiced enough to where I'm not too worried for the most part and I know the occasional accident can happen from time to time even with the most preparation (like my Laowa 15mm F4 Macro where the front element slipped right out of my fingers and landed just right to cause an internal crack).

For a cinema lens, I would say that you should just get another one and keep the old one for parts or spare glass. Alternatively, just pay to have it serviced and accept that it will be worth the investment over time. Lastly, you could just sell it as-is and move on. I might tackle such a project only if I knew there was no alternative and from what you're describing, I would say that the lens most likely would need to be taken apart from the front and it wouldn't surprise me if such a lens were a self contained unit for glass on the inside either in two parts or an all in one unit including the aperture mechanism (much like the Helios 44-2 lens for a basic example). If it's just a basic glass cleaning that would be fine for the most part but to renew the grease or fix aperture blades or adjust the helicoid or zoom mechanisms, you might as well send it in to be serviced and save the time and effort.