SMC FA 100/2.8 Macro focusing problem

Hi there,
i have a problem with my focusing ring on my recently acquired FA 100.
Firstly, it refused to focus to infinity, now the focusing ring is loose and doesn't even rotate, just a noise.
I think the focusing gear mechanism is out of alignment. Is there any service manual on the internet or somebody who has opened this lens can share thoughts.
And how much do you think lens repair would cost, though i am sure there is nothing broken, just the gears are off. I had the same problem with my sigma, but they fixed it under warranty. And do you know somewhere in Southampton or Portsmouth i can go to fix it.

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http://bhristov.com
K-5 with FA 100/2.8 Macro, DA* 300/4 SDM, Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5, M 50/1.7 and Cobra 2X TC

Get in touch with Asahi Photo or Harrow Technical. They both cover older Pentax repairs.

I doubt that the job is a DIY one and I wouldn't chance ruining an expensive and desireable lens.

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Best regards, John

+1 from me. You risk destroying a £300 - £400 lens, that may not be easily replaced, by attempting what might be a simple and inexpensive repair for a professional repairer.

BTW, the fact that it wouldn't focus to infinity is no real problem for a macro lens, which is almost never used at infinity anyway.

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Peter E Smith

Body: Pentax K5, K5-II, K20D + BG's, MZ-6, Super-A
Prime: Pentax A28, FA31/43/77 Ltd, M50/1.7, FA50 Macro, DA*55, D-FA100mm Macro, Sigma EX180 Macro.
Zoom: Pentax DA12-24, DA*16-50, DA*50-135, Sigma 70-200mm EX DG OS HSM, 150-500 DG OS HSM.
Flash: Pentax AF240FT(2), AF500FTZ(2), AF540FGZ(2), AF160FC Ringflash.
Software: Adobe Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS4, Photomatix Pro, Noise Ninja, iWatermark, Picasa 3.

My flickr Photostream

"Knowledge is knowing that a Tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad."

Fixed it... all ok.
Young, dumb and brave, but everything is ok when it ends ok, right?

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http://bhristov.com
K-5 with FA 100/2.8 Macro, DA* 300/4 SDM, Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5, M 50/1.7 and Cobra 2X TC

Well done, you're a lot braver than I am.

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Peter E Smith

Body: Pentax K5, K5-II, K20D + BG's, MZ-6, Super-A
Prime: Pentax A28, FA31/43/77 Ltd, M50/1.7, FA50 Macro, DA*55, D-FA100mm Macro, Sigma EX180 Macro.
Zoom: Pentax DA12-24, DA*16-50, DA*50-135, Sigma 70-200mm EX DG OS HSM, 150-500 DG OS HSM.
Flash: Pentax AF240FT(2), AF500FTZ(2), AF540FGZ(2), AF160FC Ringflash.
Software: Adobe Lightroom 4, Photoshop CS4, Photomatix Pro, Noise Ninja, iWatermark, Picasa 3.

My flickr Photostream

"Knowledge is knowing that a Tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad."

Was it the tried and tested hitting it with a hammer and shouting "work you stupid ********"!

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My Photobucket

Ah, that's where I go wrong .. didn't realise you had to shout at the same time.

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Nothing to see here, move along please ....

One of the screws was lost and the others was loose. Little tightening and it is all right now.
Got some aperture misalignment... +1.0EV error when stopping down after F2.8. After some 'scientific tests' i managed to get it to no error at all - works excellent at all apertures.
Then again... another problem occurred... i messed up the ribbon cable for the focus limiter-the result is no limiter now. Just Af from infinity to 1:1. Doesn't bother me at all.
When I get back home to Bulgaria where I have the right tools for the complete repair i will fix the ribbon cable and the lens will be back at excellent state.
Better no limiter than no focus at all.
It just behaves as DA/DFA.

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http://bhristov.com
K-5 with FA 100/2.8 Macro, DA* 300/4 SDM, Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5, M 50/1.7 and Cobra 2X TC