Warning: 8 years of brass vs nylon gears in the same lens model, and I finally saw the difference on my bench

Zara Hunt · 2026-10-08T14:30:03.650619+00:00

I keep a repair log for every lens that comes through my shop in Sacramento, and last month I pulled 6 copies of the same 1980s zoom, all with the same stripped focus gear. What got me was the split: 3 had brass gears and 3 had nylon, and the brass ones still turned smooth after 30+ years of use. The nylon ones all failed in the same spot, right where the grease had gone waxy and grabbed the teeth. I used to think the nylon vs brass thing was just internet lore, but seeing them side by side on my mat changed my mind fast. The brass copies needed a clean and regrease, that was it. So now I check gear material before I even quote a job. Anyone else seeing this pattern on older zooms, or is it just the batch that landed on my bench?

Topic Shares

Loading…

Warning: 8 years of brass vs nylon gears in the same lens model, and I finally saw the difference on my bench | Camera Repairers - Topic Shares