I was rummaging in my local camera store, and found a Pentax A 50mm f/2 at a bargain price. The "only" thing wrong with it was that the focussing ring wouldn't turn. I thought it should be an interesting challenge to try to fix it. (From previous experience with A and F lenses, I knew I shouldn't remove the aperture ring, since tiny parts pop out which are almost impossible to replace.)

I have succeeded in pretty thoroughly taking it apart. The toughest part is often getting the front retaining ring off. I got a roll of electrical tape that was the same size, which I pressed down on it, and I managed to unscrew it fairly easily, without damaging it. After that, it is a simple series of small screws and retaining rings, and all the front parts come off pretty easily right down to where the diaphragm is. This is a picture of what it looks like disassembled:

http://ca.geocities.com/spirope/pentax50aparts.jpg

Well, now I have it taken apart (and I took digital pictures of it along the way, so I would remember what goes where). However, I have no idea what to fix now. The focussing ring is now loose, and turns nicely, but it doesn't engage with anything, and even worse I can't see anything for it to engage with.

I would have thought focussing is a pretty simple matter of one object turning against the threads of another. I thought perhaps the parts had gotten misaligned, and it would be a matter of snapping it back into place. However, I can't see anything like that here. Does anybody know what the moving part is supposed to be for focussing this lens?

I don't have another 50 f/2, so I don't know if the rear element is supposed to move when it focusses. Does it? Any tips would be appreciated.




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