Minolta MD Zoom 35-70mm 1:3.5 lens disassembly

Disassembly and reassemly a Minolta MD Zoom 35-70mm 1:3.5 lens. This is the 3rd generation with macro. Multiple parts of the lens have fungus so need to be thoroughly cleaned.

[@airship9637]

Thank you for a most informative and detailed lens disassembly. Question for you. On my copy of this lens, when the camera/lens is horizontal, the macro setting is stable as I focus. When I aim the camera/lens straight down, the macro setting drifts from 1:7 to 1:4. Is this normal for the lens or is there an adjustment that can be made to prevent this? Otherwise, I am very pleased with this lens and it stays on my camera 90% of the time.

[@atlantisq]

Mine only shifts if you shake the lens. It should be possible to mitigate this by re-lubricating the zoom helicoid (the cylinder with a lot of tracks carved in it), but I don't think it's worth the effort of taking the entire thing apart.

[@user-gm7hf3ey5l]

Thanks for the detailed teardown. I too attempted the disassembly for basic cleaning but now i cant get a sharp image across the frame. The image is sharp in center while the area in mid is smudgy and the corners & edges gets very blurry. This is most apparent on 35 mm. Also on 35 mm i am not able to focus anything closer than 4-5 meters. I am confused what wrong did i do. This makes me so sad, have i screwed up the lens beyond repair ? Any tips on troubleshooting will be so much helpful 🙏

[@atlantisq]

See if you put in any elements backwards. There are a couple elements on this lens that are kind of symmetric and easy to get wrong.

[@user-gm7hf3ey5l]

@@atlantisq I cross checked couple of times & all elements have been placed in the required orientation.

[@atlantisq]

@@user-gm7hf3ey5l The issue as you described definitely looks like the optics are not assembled correctly, so it may very likely be fixable.

[@user-gm7hf3ey5l]

@@atlantisq Okay, i will let you know if i get to fix this out.

[@elteuben]

Hi there, do you know if this same procedure is valid for the MD Zoom 28-85?

[@atlantisq]

No two lens models are the same, but these two (28-85 and 35-70 III with macro) are released around the same time, so chances are they are mechanically similar. Looking at the optical formula on lensQAworks, the 28-85 seem to also have 3 groups, so you might find a lot of similarities. Good luck.

[@atlantisq]

The mount mechanism is most likely the same across the two lenses. I've taken apart a few Minolta lenses and they have been pretty easy.

[@elteuben]

Thanks for the reply, and for mentioning that source. My 28-85 has a sticky aperture mechanism, so I'll see if I can fix it

[@atlantisq]

@@elteuben For sticky aperture you might only need to go in from the mount end of the lens and see if the lubrication is sticky or the spring is old.

[@-NHAN-KHO]

Hi bro. My lens is not focus at infinity correct. How to fix it? At 35, 70 to. im trying my best. All the time it out focus

[@user-ze9lh4se7j]

I have the 2nd generation 35-70 and the entire focusing part is loose. I tried to fix it, but found a ring on the inside of the focusing part seen fromt the front, that can't be made to sit in one position without eventually moving when I focus. Thus the focusing assembly can be move back and forth a littke bit by just pulling/pulling throwing it out of focus. Any suggestions?

[@atlantisq]

diediemustdive.wordpress.com/2016/12/03/minolta-md-zoom-35-70mm-f3-5-disassembly-and-cleaning/ This tutorial deals with a second gen 35-70. I think it might be the setscrews on the focusing ring.

[@macrophotography3152]

no one can unscrew the front lens.😢