Update: My Tilt-Shift Lens Saga After a Full Tear Down

I finally broke down and rebuilt a 1990s Canon TS-E 24mm that had oil on the aperture blades, followed the guide to the letter, and now the tilt mechanism feels stiffer than before I started. Did anyone else find that the factory grease on these is way thicker than what you'd normally use, or did I just use the wrong type? Has anyone else dealt with a lens that worked better before you 'fixed' it?

3 comments

3 Comments

robertcarr1mo ago

Wait, did you use something like white lithium grease or a damping grease for plastic gears? I made that mistake once on a Nikon shift lens and it felt like stirring peanut butter. @felix414 is right that old Canon grease was thick, but the TS-E stuff is a whole different beast. I actually had to go back and clean mine out three times before I found a super light silicone grease that worked. The factory goo is way thicker than what you used, trust me on that one. Your mileage may vary but I'd try a lighter lube before you blame the rebuild.

morgan_king361mo ago

Maybe it's just me but "factory grease" on old Canon lenses was basically tar, not regular grease.

felix4141mo ago

@morgan_king36 man, old Canon FD lenses had that thick goopy stuff but calling it tar feels a little dramatic.