996GT2 adds a lot more detail with "Take off the lens cap. See that sticker that says "Canon EF Lens 35-80mm"? Take an X-acto knife and get that sticker off of there with some prying. You'll see 3 screws after you remove that sticker. Remove them all, take out the assembly that holds together the front 3 elements, and you're done. It's very, very simple."
But if possible, 996GT2, can you go into more detail about the 3 front elements, how they are held in place, and what options there are to add back in one of the three front
elements for less extreme macro shots.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The front 3 elements are attached to a plastic assembly, and once you remove the screws the whole works slides out as one piece. None of the other elements are affected by removal of the front assembly with the 3 elements. You can put the assembly back in and re-attach the 3 screws to regain AF and normal use of the lens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For what its worth, that ef 35-80mm lens is not very common on ebay and I have yet to see it on my nearest city Craigs list.
But still, at any one given time at ebay, there are a dozen or so of them for sale. But still, getting one cheaper than $40.00 shipped is the trick, its took me better than 2 weeks of patient bidding to get it at my price.
Actually I see at least 4 of those lenses on my local craigslist board. The trick is to search for EOS rebel G cameras or something similar that came with this lens. People are selling the the body and lens from $50-100. The lens just being an after thought. I have sent out a couple of offers so we will see.
Well you have me beat Rudder, I now have two of those lens at an average of $28.055 shipped in my hot little hands. And today I modded the first of them, 996G2 is indeed correct, the decal is easy to slit and remove, under the decal is indeed 3 fillips head screws, and as soon as the three screws are removed, then the front three elements remove as an assembly.
Luckily I have a tripod that will allow me to mount the camera straight up and down, with a rack like adjuster that will move up and down. And with a Canon C size sensor, a US nickel coin, will more than fill the frame once the front assembly is removed. And in aperture priority outdoor, the exposure was correct and sharp.
But the question is and remains, how do I remove one or more front elements, so one lens is an extreme macro and the other focuses less closely but gives me more working distance. Screws I understand, but how the front lens assembly is held together is clear as mud.
Somebody, anybody, help regarding disassemble of the front three elements. I do not want to use just use brute force and just totally break something.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------You have to use brute force to remove the outermost element. After that, the inner 2 are easy to take out
Nice shots Kaido. I actually bought one of these for $25 on POTN. Modded it, used it a bit. Then sold it on POTN for $50 lol.
hmm .. bit of a zombie thread this but
i just hacked a 35-80 zoom with non-working AF
looks like this now .. Tiffen 52mm skylight filter, so it takes lenscap as well as keeps dust out
the two rear elements were easy
had to smash the front one tho