Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Marc James Small wrote: > > At 10:34 AM 3/24/97 -0800, Stephen Gandy wrote: > >The problem is that the rear element is sweated into the lens barrel, > >making it impossible to completely disassemble the lens and clean the > >rear element. > > WHICH version of the Tele-Elmarit is supposed to be so afflicted? Or are > both ostensibly cursed? > > Marc I just talked with Don Goldberg, a man recognized as one of the best Leica repairmen. He confirmed that the thin Tele has a problem cleaning the rear elements because the rear elements are inside a sleeve with metal bent over the end to retain them. While he can remove them and replace the sleeve if necessary, he said that often even the results are not satisfactory after the cleaning. Apparently the lubricants which Leica used with this lens can etch into the coating, causing the fogginess which then must be cleaned--but can't be. He could not recall if the Fat tele was of the same construction--he sees so few of them. BTW, he also confirmed the notorious fogging problem with Leica lenses of the 50's and 60's. If you would like to talk to him yourself about it, his number is 608-838-4769. Stephen Gandy