Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/09/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 12:11 AM 9/10/05 +0200, Ruben wrote: >The old lenses scratch easy - fine scratches is not easy to see when the >lens is mounted and not easy to see closely >demount the lens - hold it up against the light in an arms lenght and look >thru it both ways - you will se the fine scrathes enlarged and this way you >can better determine how serious these will affect your images. If every >thing else is ok on the camera - schutter curtains , times etc. it could be >a very nice buy! Ruben This simply is not true as a universal statement. The 1.5/5cm Summarit does scratch easily as it has soft-glass elements facing outwards but the other 5cm lenses are quite immune to such. However, Leitz was forced to use a soft "drip coating" technique from 1946 until the Zeiss patent on vacuum-coating technology expired in 1960, and these coatings both scratch easily and are also subject to drying out. If you examine the lens surface under magnification, you will see a "dry lake bed", and that is the problem. (Have the lens recoated and Bob's your uncle, of course.) Marc msmall@aya.yale.edu Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir! NEW FAX NUMBER: +540-343-8505