50mm rigid summicron fogged

[Cagliostro73]

Hi! I saw a fog in my 50mm summicron.
It is into the inner rear element (I've dismantled it and checked it out).
Is there a way to fix it in DIY mode?
It seems not to affect IQ anyway, so I think I can live with it.
Thank you!

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by Cagliostro73

Hi! I saw a fog in my 50mm summicron.
It is into the inner rear element (I've dismantled it and checked it out).
Is there a way to fix it in DIY mode?
It seems not to affect IQ anyway, so I think I can live with it.
Thank you!

IMO, "It seems not to affect IQ anyway" can be stated when you compare it to a CLA'ed one, however " I think I can live with it" is absolutely up to you.

Do you have any experience in lens cleaning? If not, then this lens is not a $100-one so you could experiment with. I do not believe you can buy one with less than €400 in Italy, so send it to a technician for cleaning (maybe €50) or live with it. By the way, your opinion might change after having it cleaned.

[Sparrow]

I had mine rebuilt a couple of years ago when I noticed a little haze, I'm surprised you were able to dismantle it my technician says they are difficult to work on because they're built to such tight tolerances

I think haze must reduce performance one way or another

[Cagliostro73]

No, I do not have any experience in lens cleaning... Thanks for your advice.

[astro8]

I have posted this in the CLE thread.

28 m-rokkor. This lens actually looked pretty clear.

before cleaning...



after cleaning...

[Cagliostro73]

Ok! I'll do the same test on my RD-1... Thanks!

[Cagliostro73]

Ok here we are some test shots.

50 rigid summicron @ f2


_EPS2455.jpg di Zona sette, su Flickr


_EPS2457.jpg di Zona sette, su Flickr

And f4


_EPS2458.jpg di Zona sette, su Flickr

This is because I say it does not seem to affect IQ...
I cannot see the halo effect on lights... (thanks Astro8 for the suggestion).
@Sparrow: yes it's quite hard to dismantle... motivation is the key to success.
Any opinion, suggestion is really appreciated.
Thank you!

[errorlogin]

If you see fogging in your rigid Summicron, I would have cleaned it up.

All these old rigid and collapsible Summicons have haze more or less, if not cleaned before.
I am not 100% sure, but I think, the haze comes from an grease/oil that Leica used back then. The grease usually spreads over the aperture blades and dries. Within this process of drying and deteriorating, the lens surface (mostly the one underneath the blades) becomes hazy.

If you don't have it cleaned, the process remains, and the lens will get more foggy sooner or later. The earlier this is cleaned, the better, if you wait, the fog could go into another inner surface (within the elements) and then you will have a real problem.
But be sure, the repairmen cleans the blades and everything else, like the helicoil also, because, if he cleans the lens surface only, you will have it fogged in about 2 years or so again.

Hope this helps with your decision.

[Cagliostro73]

@errorlogin: thank you, sure it helps!!!
The only problem here in Italy is to find out a good repairman to have the job done.

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by Cagliostro73

@errorlogin: thank you, sure it helps!!!
The only problem here in Italy is to find out a good repairman to have the job done.

Go through this link, you will find what you need:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=65581

[teddy]

Originally Posted by Cagliostro73

Ok here we are some test shots.

50 rigid summicron @ f2


_EPS2455.jpg di Zona sette, su Flickr


_EPS2457.jpg di Zona sette, su Flickr

And f4


_EPS2458.jpg di Zona sette, su Flickr

This is because I say it does not seem to affect IQ...
I cannot see the halo effect on lights... (thanks Astro8 for the suggestion).
@Sparrow: yes it's quite hard to dismantle... motivation is the key to success.
Any opinion, suggestion is really appreciated.
Thank you!

I have a Summicron 50 f2 with Near Focusing Range. It has the same optics as the Rigid version. It has what it looks like fogging, but in fact its coating damage. This was looked at by a Leica certified repairer under a microscope and the best advise I was told is to LEAVE IT ALONE. It may not be necessary to touch it unless the fogging is affecting image quality. If your photographs are coming out unaffected, its best to leave it as is.

The glass types of some Leica lenses, specially the ones from the 50's can eventually develop coating damage just on their own due to age!

There are some exceptions, apparently the Elmar 135/4 and the Second Version of the Summilux 50/1.4 use hard coatings, while the others don't.

[errorlogin]

Yes, but coating damage looks different than fogging.

Btw., if someone of you ever think of cleaning the front or back surface of you old Summicron, DO NOT use modern lens cleaner. It will damage the coating.

[Cagliostro73]

@BobYIL: sadly u'll find a post of mine in that thread where I'm asking about a trusted tecnician in Italy... I'll keep searching.
Thank you.

[teddy]

Yes, fogging and coating damage are different things. I use an old cotton cloth, really worn out and soft to clean any lenses if necessary.

[BobYIL]

Originally Posted by Cagliostro73

@BobYIL: sadly u'll find a post of mine in that thread where I'm asking about a trusted tecnician in Italy... I'll keep searching.
Thank you.

(Can't you send it to Germany with registered post? Should not cost much..)

[Cagliostro73]

I've just found out a technician in Rome... I've used him before, now I remember!!! It will repair my lens!
I'll update the "tech" thread too.

[BobYIL]

R & C SERVICE di Rentsch Wolfgang e Calvi Ennio - Via Plinio 40 - 20129 Milano - Tel. 0229531867 - Fax 0229513803

BENATTI - Via Dezza 41 - 20144 Milano - Tel. 02435461

(I recall "G" seal from Italy.. belonging to Engineer Ippolito Cattaneo.. he was the actual importer of Leicas in my college years..)

[Cagliostro73]

Thank you RobYIL! precius notes!

[beyond]

Have it cleaned.

[baffosRF]

I recall "G" seal from Italy.. belonging to Engineer Ippolito Cattaneo.. he was the actual importer of Leicas in my college years..

The seal "G" stands for Genoa, the city of the firm Ippolito Cattaneo, now no longer active.
The Cattaneo's repair technicians are still in business under the name of Sam.Ca. and I consider them absolutely the best Leica repair specialists in Italy.
Possess the only (in addition to that present in Leitz Wetzlar) collimator for the calibration of rangefinders with the field of 11m. still in circulation.
Affix the seal yet "G" on their Leica cameras maintained:

SAM.CA S.n.c. Foto Service di Sammartino e Casanova
- Via dei Landi 15/r GENOVA
- CAP 16151 - Tel. 010 412237

Benatti, in Milan, is no longer in operation for some time.

Best to All.