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I put a soligar zoom lens the wrong way on a Nikon FA film camera and can't get it off. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

juanbalv Loc: Los Angeles / Hawthorne

Not enough info.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Welcome to the forum. So, What happens when you press the release button? Lens won't turn?

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

It was a Nikon mount lens, right?

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

Wow, good luck getting it off without destroying both mounts. Did you not feel the greater resistance when trying to mount the lens? That aside, when you finally got the lens on did the locking mechanism click like it normally would when the lens is properly seated? If it did happen to find a recess to lock into you might not be able to get it undone as the mechanism may not have enough travel throw to allow it to disengage from the new home it's found when the button is pressed.

If you didn't hear a click you've got a better chance, you'll just have to keep applying pressure until the mating surfaces separate causing the cam lock to break free. If you can't apply enough pressure with just your hands, you'll have to secure the camera body in a well padded vise with just enough pressure to keep it from rotating, and using a small pipe strap wrench around the lens and it's mount try the process again. Keep the wrench as parallel to the camera mount as you can to avoid adding twist to the motion. Good luck, hopefully you don't destroy (if they aren't already) one or both of the mounts. Don't over do it use gentle constantly increasing pressure at least to the point where you feel something will break or you could rip it apart.

At which point it may have to go to the shop and see if they can disassemble the two without damage to the camera body and then replace both the mounts once they get it apart. If it can't be undone, you've got a dedicated setup if you're able to shoot with it the way it is.

RWR Loc: La Mesa, CA

A fixed lens FA is a rarity. You have a collector’s item!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Find a good repair shop - Actually send it to Nikon. The charge will be small, but the damage will be non-existent. Start it online. No other good alternative.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/service-and-support/service-and-repair.page

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Send it into Nikon and get your wallet prepared.

Bill_de Loc: US

Searching the internet the most common (and it is common) cause seems to be a loose screw on the lens getting caught on the camera mounting ring. A couple of folks got it off by holding the camera with the lens pointing down. Rotating the lens gently back and forth allowed the screw to fall back into its hole enough for the lens to rotate. One guy got mad and used excessive force, and to his surprise it worked, with no damage. He went on to say he was not recommending that method.

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Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

Don't force anything, take to a good camera repairman.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I had a Soligor 35mm primary preset lens back in the 60's that I was given by the camera store as an incentive to buy my first Nikon F. I was not impressed with the image quality it produced. I forgot the name Soligor until I saw your post. Since you could do substantial damage to your camera if you proceed incorrectly, I would have a professional camera repair man look at it and I would be more concerned about damaging the camera than the lens.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

60's huh? that's going back a ways. Soligor (Allied Impex) was a marketing company, not a manufacturer and as such their lenses were made by any number of 3rd party manufacturers. Many of their lenses were consumer grade lenses but they did have a few gems. After Vivitar, they were among the first to use computers to design their lenses.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

With the current prices of FAs...I would look for another rather than get it repaired.

Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga

Personally, I wouldn't want an FA... Too many failures on that line... I'd go with an all mechanical model like an F2

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Especially one that you don’t know the condition on. I bought one new and took a ton of pictures covering corporate affairs. Never had a problem—but my FM2 suits me fine.