Re: [Leica] Lens haze-35mm Summicron

["Richard W. Harig" <deputydirmh@worldnet.att.net>]

I appreciate your post.  This is the very question I joined the list to ask.
I do have
a couple of questions:

(1) Could you clarify the description of the 'furniture leg thing'-
is this like a rubber of plastic cup?///
(2) Does the fungus actually eat into the glass or is there a
smooth surface after you clean it?
(3) is there any actual shop out there that does a good job
with fungus treatment?

thanks
richard
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Lee, Jonathan <Jonathan.Lee@hrcc.on.ca>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 6:03 AM
Subject: RE: [Leica] Lens haze-35mm Summicron


> Vick,
>
> I had a 1st version chrome Summicron that had a haze on the front surface
of
> the rear group and some fungus  on the front element.  I took it apart and
> cleaned the haze using straight up methanol (mehtyl hyrate in hardware
> store) and hydorgen peroxide (drug store) for the fungus.
>
> Taking a lens apart yourself is acutally quite easy.  Without previous
> experience,  I have cleaned my 35 Summincron, a 35 Elmar, a 50 Summar, a
50
> Elmar, and a 90 SM.
>
> A lens screws together quite simply.  You need three tools: an adjustable
> lens spanner ($35 at mciro-tools.com), a good jewlers screwdriver, and one
> of those rubber furntiure leg (Home Despot) things that will fit inside
the
> filter ring but not touch the glass.
>
> First us the rubber thing to unscrew the engraved ring on the lens front.
> It just unscrews (counter clockwise) through the filter ring after you
press
> in it.  This exposes the front elements which can be unscrewed using the
> lens spanner fitted into those two slots that should be clearly visible.
> There may or may not be the visible screws (I forgot). If they are there
> unscrew them. The rear elements unscrew also using the spanner slots that
> you can see through the lens mounts.  There may or may not be retaining
> screws.  If you are feeling ambitous you can clean the crud and old grease
> from the focus ring using mineral spirits and relube them with a lithium
> grease.
>
> Clean away!  Even if you don't have visible haze, a good methanol cleaning
> does wonders for the clarity of a vintage lens.
>
> Just remember work on a clean, clear surface and keep the distractions to
a
> minimum so you don't loose anything.
>
> Jonathan Lee
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vick Ko [mailto:vick.ko@sympatico.ca]
> Sent: Sunday, September 17, 2000 8:19 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Cc: leica@topica.com
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Lens haze-35mm Summicron
>
>
> If the metal is alloyed into the lens, John is probably correct - the
> glass is literally changing its opacity (kind of like cataracts).
>
> Here's an out-of-the blue suggestion!  Is the haze uniform?  If so,
> maybe compensate for it using filters.
>
> How much did you pay for it?  If it isn't outrageous, maybe I can
> offer to buy it from you.  No tricks up my sleeve to restore it,
> but I'd be interested in seeing what's inside.
>
> ...Vick
>
>
> Roland Smith wrote:
>
> > I purchased a 35mm Summicron with eyes on Ebay that was correctly
> > represented to contain haze.   The condition of the lens was not
> overstated.
> >
> > Upon its receipt, I sent it to a camera repair that has successfully
cla'd
> > other Leitz lenses for me.   It wouldn't clean.
> >
> > I sent it to John Van Stelton who indicated that the glass used in this
> lens
> > has metal in it and will oxidize and is not cleanable.  The two elements
> > with the problem are the ones on each side of the aperture diaphragm.
He
> > cannot eliminate the haze.
> >
> > While I greatly respect John's professional opinion, I am curious to
know
> if
> > anyone on this site has any suggestions before I scrap the lens.
> >
> > Roland Smith
> > roland@dnai.com