Slow aperture blades on lens ?

[John Youngs Photography]

I got a Nikon 80-200mm F2.8 lens which was as cheap as chips off ebay. I love the lens and it produces superb results.

BUT... I noticed when closing the aperture down beyond F8 I get over exposed images and on searching on Google I found what they call sticky aperture blades or oily blades. I have looked at my blades thoroughly and there is no oil at all, and they are not stuck. When moving the little lever I can see the aperture closing and opening but I did notice that the lever does not spring as hard as my other lenses but it does spring.

So could my aperture blades be a bit slow rather than stuck and is it possible that because the lens was previously owned by a pro-sports photographer so maybe it was always used wide open and due to lack of use of the lower apertures it has become a bit stiff.

Would working the lens through the apertures help ? anyone else have this problem before ?

[KeithT]

This is just a guess, but your lens may have been dropped at some point and the diaphragm might be sticking because of it.

The aperture will, or should, always work in concert with the shutter speed, so if you are experiencing dramatic overexposure after deciding it isn't user fault, then I would get it looked at by an engineer. Out of experience I can tell you that to replace the diaphragm is quite an expensive job to do and would only be worthwhile if the true value of the lens was far greater than the repair.

[John Youngs Photography]

Originally Posted by KeithT

This is just a guess, but your lens may have been dropped at some point and the diaphragm might be sticking because of it.

The aperture will, or should, always work in concert with the shutter speed, so if you are experiencing dramatic overexposure after deciding it isn't user fault, then I would get it looked at by an engineer. Out of experience I can tell you that to replace the diaphragm is quite an expensive job to do and would only be worthwhile if the true value of the lens was far greater than the repair.

Thank you for replying

Yes the lens was dropped and the reason it was being sold on ebay. But the guy said the only symptoms of the drop was a sticking zoom sleeve, so looks like I was duppped.

BUT... I am still happy with it, it still works great right up to around F11 and for £98 for a 80-200mm F2.8 lens I cannot complain. I will just be aware in future of its limitations as I wont get it repaired

[donoreo]

Yeah getting stuck with a f/2.8 lens for under 100 is not bad

[KeithT]

Originally Posted by John Youngs Photography

Thank you for replying

Yes the lens was dropped and the reason it was being sold on ebay. But the guy said the only symptoms of the drop was a sticking zoom sleeve, so looks like I was duppped.

BUT... I am still happy with it, it still works great right up to around F11 and for £98 for a 80-200mm F2.8 lens I cannot complain. I will just be aware in future of its limitations as I wont get it repaired

Personally then, at the give-away price you paid for it, I would send it in for a service and repair. It may cost you around a 100 quid, but you would still have a lens worth a bit more than that. I recently had the diaphragm replaced in my Canon 24-105 L which cost a little over 100 quid. But the lens has a street value of around 600 and maybe more still. It came back as new as the day I first bought it. Yours would be similar I guess.

You can get a Nikon lens service done here for upwards of £35 http://www.fixationuk.com/Fixation/Repairs%20old.html

[John Youngs Photography]

Originally Posted by donoreo

Yeah getting stuck with a f/2.8 lens for under 100 is not bad

*LOL* Yeah its a real pain

Originally Posted by KeithT

Personally then, at the give-away price you paid for it, I would send it in for a service and repair. It may cost you around a 100 quid, but you would still have a lens worth a bit more than that. I recently had the diaphragm replaced in my Canon 24-105 L which cost a little over 100 quid. But the lens has a street value of around 600 and maybe more still. It came back as new as the day I first bought it. Yours would be similar I guess.

You can get a Nikon lens service done here for upwards of £35 http://www.fixationuk.com/Fixation/Repairs%20old.html

Well I will use it as is for now and if it annoys me I will look at getting it fixed. This is one photo taken recently with it. Thanks again for all the help

[donoreo]

It looks like it takes a great shot. Uh.. you take a great shot, the lens helps

[KeithT]

Fair enough, John. That's a cracking shot by the way.

[John Youngs Photography]

Originally Posted by donoreo

It looks like it takes a great shot. Uh.. you take a great shot, the lens helps

*LOL* Thanks a lot, very diplomatic you should be a polotician

[QUOTE=KeithT;44862]Fair enough, John. That's a cracking shot by the way. [/QUOTE

Thanks a lot, and thanks for all the help