How to disassemble a Sonnar lens?

[ALPSSNOW]

Is here anyone has the experience of disassembling old Zeiss Contax Sonnar lenses, such as 50/1.5 or 85/2.0? Could you please give me some directions? I'am just planning to clean these lenses by myself, but I don't know how to open them without damaging them.

Recently I had my Sonnar lens CLAed by DAG Camera but the experience was really bad. I had waited about one month for him to CLA my lens. After he received my lens he did not reply my email anymore even he had replied very quickly before I sent the lens. The Result was entirely unacceptable: problems are still there and he even dented some aperture blades and damaged the press rings and its threads. I have never had my lens cleaned before, but I don't think a professional repair man will scratch the press rings when he open the lens. I really regret having his service, because I cannot see any improvement on my lens after the CLA but damages.

 

[rick oleson]

I have disassembly notes for the postwar 50/2.0, the prewar 50/2.0 and the prewar 85/2.0; I think the postwar 2.0 and 1.5 lenses shared the same shell, so they should be very similar for disassembly. I've never worked on a postwar 85 so I don't know whether my sketches would help much for that or not. Email me at rick_oleson@yahoo.com if you'd like the sketches.

I'm sorry and surprised to hear of your unsatisfactory experience with DAG; I haven't dealt with him personally but his reputation is excellent. I guess anyone (except for Henry Scherer, of course) can have a bad day.

 

[ernesto]

Don´t pleasse! It is painfull!
Ernesto

 

[rick oleson]

don't what?

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I would't dare disassembling any photo equipment of mine.

I'd send the lens back to Don too.

In any event, whichever path you choose, good luck! 🙂

 

[ALPSSNOW]

This is the damaged ring and there were still some cotton fibers on it. The picture was taken right after I got the lens back. I don't know if this is common after a repair.