12-60 aperture sticking?!

[MJ0RZD]

My E-3 and 12-60 combo suddenly started misbehaving whilst on holiday in Malta! The aperture seems to be sticking part closed then clears itself but then all the pics are hideously over exposed so it seems the blades are sticking. Its not a problem with contacts or the E-3 by the look of it as the 50mm and 50-200 are working just fine. I've had problems with focus accuracy with the 12-60 so it may be worth sending it back yo olympus for repair and maybe re-calibration? Thoughts please AND has anyone got contact details/email address they can pass on?

Thanks

[griffljg]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Oh dear! That happened to my 12-60 about four years ago. I gather that it is a common problem. I was left with a choice of spending AUD350 to get the lens repaired or approximately AUD1300 for a new lens. I went with the repair and haven't had any problems since.

I think that the problem was an electrical connection that broke. Canon seem to have a similar problem on their 24-105 f/4 L lens.

[MJ0RZD]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Gulp, thanks! Anybody got a good 12-60 for sale?

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

You could try "exercising" the lens, by repeatedly pressing the DoF Pre-View in A or M mode and the aperture set to minimum. Done in a hot environment with the lens warmed up the lubrication will be thinnest and it may just do the trick. If it's no better after a 100 actuations, then it's off to the repair man.

Good Luck

[Ricoh]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Friction is the culprit - how old is the lens? Sounds like a manufacturing defect leeading to infant mortality or the lens became so hot that the lubricant dispersed from where it is required to where it is not. Heat treatment as a solution depends on how the viscosity changes as a function of temperature, which I'm sure very few on here would know to be certain. But you have nothing to lose really, it's like a mini science lab you have in your hands. Best of luck

[Bikie John]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

With luck Graham's suggestion will free it up. If not, I have used Luton Camera Repairs several times, including for a different problem with the 12-60, and found them very good:

http://www.lutoncameras.co.uk/

I have never had a reply from them to an email, but they are friendly and helpful if you phone.

John

[andym]

[alfbranch]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Same here

It is probably the known fault where the flexible aperture control printed circuit board is probably failing.
Ask Luton cameras for a quote too

[peak4]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Unfortunately it probably does need to go to Olympus to get an estimate for the repair, as the 12-60mm isn't on the fixed price list.

[MJ0RZD]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Hi all, thanks for the flurry of replies, i did try the 'exercising' approach which has helped 'some of the time' but not consistently. I'll run a few more tests as we are still on holiday in Malta untill the weekend. There is a good repair place in Jersey I will try as well as Olympus and see where we go from there! Cheers.

[Ralph Harwood]

[MJ0RZD]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Thanks Ralph, i have both 14-54 and 12-60 and love them and use them both but i feel the 12-60 has the edge (well, until it stopped working!). I'll get quotes from Oly, Luton and in Jersey and see how I get on.

[daveben]

[MJ0RZD]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Sounds ideal, i'll look into it thanks.

[MJ0RZD]

Re: 12-60 aperture sticking?!

Update! Now we are back from sunny climes I've been able to do a little 'low-tech' testing on the E-3 and E-1 with the 12-60 and confirmed the following:
At 12mm the aperture stops down, zooming in the stop down does't work (on either). Holding stop down button and zooming in the aperture stays stopped down and won't release until zoomed out to 12mm and the stop down button 'flicked'. Enquiries sent to Olympus and to Luton. More to follow!