BLKRCAT
75% Film
I finally got lucky enough to find an M2 at the price i was looking to pay. Bonus as well, it came with a summicron 50mm.
Untitled by nownownownow, on Flickr
Only thing is the outermost element of my cron has some hazing that is effecting contrast in the center of my images with the rare exception of a few. Im thinking of trying to remove it myself. It looks like someone has tried before me though. Does this look saveable?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Untitled by nownownownow, on Flickr
Only thing is the outermost element of my cron has some hazing that is effecting contrast in the center of my images with the rare exception of a few. Im thinking of trying to remove it myself. It looks like someone has tried before me though. Does this look saveable?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
gustavoAvila
Established
Judging from the photo, it appears that the front coating is damaged.
Contact Gerry Smith at Kindermann Canada to see if this is something he can handle. (Gerry is an ace Leica service technician.)
Focal Point Lens in Colorado will for sure be able to repair the lens. (This company specializes in lens repairs.)
Contact Gerry Smith at Kindermann Canada to see if this is something he can handle. (Gerry is an ace Leica service technician.)
Focal Point Lens in Colorado will for sure be able to repair the lens. (This company specializes in lens repairs.)
cjbecker
Established
Why do you have a ski mask on?
steveniphoto
Well-known
its what all the hip young kids are doing.
but to the OP, you say that you're not impressed yet. do you mean just because of the lens or about the M2 in general?
but to the OP, you say that you're not impressed yet. do you mean just because of the lens or about the M2 in general?
V-12
Well-known
The world has turned on its head! Once upon a time we worried about street muggers stealing our M2's, now they are using them!
To the OP, don't worry about the lens, that will have little effect overall and you will probably find a lens hood is more important than a new coating on the front element. Unless you say what it is that you aren't impressed with its hard to give advice, but study what others have done with a similar camera and gain inspiration. Nothing comes from nothing so influence from another photographer can get you in the creative zone. Read Robert Frank, Ralph Gibson, etc
clayne
shoot film or die
Front element haze like that is only going to diminish contrast in a minor fashion - if at all. Lens is fine.
thegman
Mentor
My Summicron, when I had it, was in worse state than that and the photos were fine. It flared in direct, harsh light, but it would likely have done that with perfect coating.
Personally, I'd leave it alone unless you're getting lots of photos with obvious problems.
Personally, I'd leave it alone unless you're getting lots of photos with obvious problems.
Archiver
Mentor
Didn't you know? He is the famous luchadore, El Leicha.
teddy
Jose Morales
The haze could be behind the front element and on the front of the second element group. Very careful cleaning will be fine with the front element. (Very little pressure needed). However, be careful of the second group because the lens coatings are very soft. You could easily damage the coatings again (fine scratches) You can do this yourself but best to get it done professionally. Having said this, if you use a hood, it will probably be 80% fine unless in super bright light.
clayne
shoot film or die
Yeah, depending on the nature of the inner coatings (some are ridiculously soft if they're early style [Rokkor 58/1.4]) you may or may not have a very easy job cleaning this with naptha. It's most definitely out-gassing from helical oil. However, if you've never taken apart a lens, don't even attempt a Leica rangefinder lens.
David Hughes
David Hughes
Hi,
In your shoes, I'd not even try it. You wonder if the bargain price was because they knew its history and guessed a little or a lot of sorting out would be needed; although that's just a suspicion. Anyway, a technician can check it all and clean the lens etc. Sooner or later it will need it and you might as well start with it done.
Regards, David
PS Everything about it ought to impress, which is why I'm wondering about it.
In your shoes, I'd not even try it. You wonder if the bargain price was because they knew its history and guessed a little or a lot of sorting out would be needed; although that's just a suspicion. Anyway, a technician can check it all and clean the lens etc. Sooner or later it will need it and you might as well start with it done.
Regards, David
PS Everything about it ought to impress, which is why I'm wondering about it.
leicapixie
Well-known
Shoot a few photos, some against the light. Get a hood.
Summicrons do flare, like most Leica lenses..the haze will add to it.
i use the Collapsible Summicron(mine mint) but flares..
Leica cameras need a lot of usage to get used to.
For some it's worth it, others never.
Summicrons do flare, like most Leica lenses..the haze will add to it.
i use the Collapsible Summicron(mine mint) but flares..
Leica cameras need a lot of usage to get used to.
For some it's worth it, others never.
NeeZee
Well-known
I used to own a collapsible cron in similar state and it definitely affected image quality. I now own a Summar with perfect glass and coated front element and it's a better lens: less flare, better contrast, better sharpness if you stop down to f4 at least. I think condition is (almost) everything with those old leitz lenses.
ray*j*gun
Mentor
What hasn't impressed you yet? I don't get the heading of your thread.
S.H.
Picture taker
I'd give the same advice.
upceci
-
a camera becomes a dream camera only after at least a month of constant use.
BLKRCAT
75% Film
wow, I didnt expect I would start such a flury.
Ski mask is more of an inside joke, but looks interesting to me in the end. Almost like a burglar decided to take a shot of himself because he couldn't resist shooting with a leica. Kinda lame if you want to think of it, take it with a grain of salt. It was more or less a properly exposed image with consistent contrast.
Now what havent i been impressed on.
99% of it has been the flare on the lens. I also shoot with my IIIa and uncoated summar and get more consistent contrast than this lens. I couldnt find a nice hood yet but figured that a pair of genuine orange and green filters would do ($25 for the pair, mint condition) to help even things out for the time being.
I LOVE the feeling of the camera. the brightness of the rangefinder blows me away every time. And things like the rewind that most people complain about havent really bothered me yet.
I never meant to say that it wasn't the camera alone that I havent been impressed with yet. But its all new to me and I have to get used to it. My metering has been absolute **** the first 3 rolls with a lot of corrections in the scanning dept (probably enhancing contrast flaws and grain). Im using the Voigtlander VC II that ive had for my IIIa eons ago. Worked perfectly fine on that camera but Im thinking its the film that's tripping me up. Ive put 2 rolls of foma 400 and 1 roll of neopan 400 which i cooked because I dont think the meter works well in half stop increments (had it set to ~250 iso).
In the past I liked the foma 100 but never tried the 400. I have a roll of 100 in now to see what happens. If not then I'll just end up purchasing some Tmax like everyone else as it seems to be very forgiving.
I didnt mean to offend, or get anyone's hair up. Nor end up typing out a wall of text (ha). I think i was just attributing my lack of having that "golden" shot on the haze on the front element. But in reality i have a lot more trial and error to learn the quirks a bit better.
Also i think a hood would be a good idea. Whoever suggested that, i'll order one from KEH today.
thanks for all the feedback, Heres some of what I've got thus far.
all of these look pretty decent, but i cant get over how in the last shot the two people in the middle have WAY less contrast than the woman on the far right for example. A lot of shots exhibit this effect. Most of which were corrected but end up losing detail.
Ski mask is more of an inside joke, but looks interesting to me in the end. Almost like a burglar decided to take a shot of himself because he couldn't resist shooting with a leica. Kinda lame if you want to think of it, take it with a grain of salt. It was more or less a properly exposed image with consistent contrast.
Now what havent i been impressed on.
99% of it has been the flare on the lens. I also shoot with my IIIa and uncoated summar and get more consistent contrast than this lens. I couldnt find a nice hood yet but figured that a pair of genuine orange and green filters would do ($25 for the pair, mint condition) to help even things out for the time being.
I LOVE the feeling of the camera. the brightness of the rangefinder blows me away every time. And things like the rewind that most people complain about havent really bothered me yet.
I never meant to say that it wasn't the camera alone that I havent been impressed with yet. But its all new to me and I have to get used to it. My metering has been absolute **** the first 3 rolls with a lot of corrections in the scanning dept (probably enhancing contrast flaws and grain). Im using the Voigtlander VC II that ive had for my IIIa eons ago. Worked perfectly fine on that camera but Im thinking its the film that's tripping me up. Ive put 2 rolls of foma 400 and 1 roll of neopan 400 which i cooked because I dont think the meter works well in half stop increments (had it set to ~250 iso).
In the past I liked the foma 100 but never tried the 400. I have a roll of 100 in now to see what happens. If not then I'll just end up purchasing some Tmax like everyone else as it seems to be very forgiving.
I didnt mean to offend, or get anyone's hair up. Nor end up typing out a wall of text (ha). I think i was just attributing my lack of having that "golden" shot on the haze on the front element. But in reality i have a lot more trial and error to learn the quirks a bit better.
Also i think a hood would be a good idea. Whoever suggested that, i'll order one from KEH today.
thanks for all the feedback, Heres some of what I've got thus far.
all of these look pretty decent, but i cant get over how in the last shot the two people in the middle have WAY less contrast than the woman on the far right for example. A lot of shots exhibit this effect. Most of which were corrected but end up losing detail.
newsgrunt
Well-known
very soft contrast on parts of that last frame.
OT, Starbucks shops in YYZ seem to be undergoing lots of reno lately, move away from big chairs to communal row of benches etc. Guess they want to create churn. This location has always been stupid crowded/busy.
OT, Starbucks shops in YYZ seem to be undergoing lots of reno lately, move away from big chairs to communal row of benches etc. Guess they want to create churn. This location has always been stupid crowded/busy.
dave lackey
Mentor
I finally got lucky enough to find an M2 at the price i was looking to pay. Bonus as well, it came with a summicron 50mm.
Untitled by nownownownow, on Flickr
Only thing is the outermost element of my cron has some hazing that is effecting contrast in the center of my images with the rare exception of a few. Im thinking of trying to remove it myself. It looks like someone has tried before me though. Does this look saveable?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Congratulations on the M2...would love to have one myself. With my M3, I have found that it is so much easier than the S3 2000 that I used prior to that and "guessing" or metering exposures was my biggest challenge.
The heading of this thread is backwards in my opinion. I honestly think that you should be using a camera that you love (camera and lens), but you should be working through the niggles and issues until you impress yourself.
It really is the space between your ears that determines your final results as well as what camera you love, how you compose, how you express yourself and all manners of things. So, quit expecting the camera to impress you with images....it is a tool. Learn it and Use it. Then keep learning. And at some point you will impress yourself...or not, it is up to you.
Hang in there. Got a great start already. Fine tune it with the film you like and exposures the way you want them.
upceci
-
its almost inevitable where Leica is discussed for Starbucks to be mentioned as well... One of those funny/sad things about the whole Leica fluffdoom.