That old trick for stuck lens barrels actually worked on a Minolta X-700

Had a Minolta X-700 come in with a 50mm lens that wouldn't budge, probably from old grease. I was about to start taking it apart, but remembered a story from a guy at a camera swap meet in Austin. He said to wrap a thick rubber band around the barrel for grip and gently twist while applying a hair dryer on low heat for about 30 seconds. I figured it was worth a shot before opening it up. The heat softened the grease just enough and the rubber gave me the grip to break it free without a scratch. Has anyone else had luck with this method on different models?

2 comments

2 Comments

iris56516d ago

Just be careful not to melt any plastic bits with that heat.

oliver_carr2815d ago

Learned that the hard way with a cheap hair dryer. Plastic trim can warp before you even notice the heat. Keep it moving and test on a hidden spot first.