Leica LTM Diagnose my Summitar

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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ravid905

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I just received this Summitar today, fully aware that there was a problem with it. The question is, what exactly is wrong with it? I opened up the lens and learned that whatever it is, it is between the first and second elements. Since I think those two are cemented together I won't be able to get at whatever it is that way. Any tips? I bought this looking to tinker with it myself. There aren't any cleaning marks on the lens, just barrel wear and the lens tends to not want to stay locked out when extended. I would like to try and save it though, as I think it may be possible to get interesting results from it.
 

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I'm certainly no expert but that looks like separation of the first and second elements. A skilled repairman might be able to separate them fully and reglue them but the old Leitz lenses used very soft glass so this is by no means a trivial task.

I would try it as is, though with that degree of separation I wouldn't expect much.

Matthew
 
I'd agree that the lens is suffering from relatively severe seperation. A lot of the repair techs won't even attempt to do anything with a lens in this condition. Someone like John van Stelton at Bald Mountain can probably do it, and at least give you an idea of the feasability of it cost-wise.

As mentioned, I'd try the lens and see how much effect there actually is, before even thinking about a repair.

I've read threads before about people trying to seperate, clean and re-cement a lens, with widely varying results. With the soft glass of the Summitar also possibly negatively affecting the outcome, it may not have been a wise purchase.

Harry
 
It didn't cost me very much really, it was more an experiment than anything else. I have never shot with an uncoated lens before, maybe I will get lucky and there is an aperture or two that is usable. Thanks for the help.
 
You might try removing the cemented pair and place on a level metal surface in the oven and heat to 350 degrees for 1 hour then turn off the heat and allow to cool in the oven to the touch before handling it.

I once saved a lens that way. However the glass can break if you heat it this way..
 
colyn said:
You might try removing the cemented pair and place on a level metal surface in the oven and heat to 350 degrees for 1 hour then turn off the heat and allow to cool in the oven to the touch before handling it.

I once saved a lens that way. However the glass can break if you heat it this way..
Click to expand...

Colyn,
Just to clarify for us continental Europeans: that's Fahrenheit, isn't it?

Cheers,
Uwe
 
Earlier I found a post by Uwe, another oven trick bringing the temperature up slowly to 110c (230f), it did change the colouring a little bit. I shot a roll but have yet to develop it. I next tried Colyn's trick with the temp going up to 175c (350f). As the temp went up I could see the cement turning to liquid again.

I'm going to leave it in the oven to cool off and in the morning I will shoot another roll, for comparison. What I did the first time was follow Uwe's steps in this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62865&highlight=summitar. The second time I started off at 50c (120f) for 15 minutes, up to 75c (170f) for 15, and on at the same rate until 150c (300f) and left it at that for 45 minutes.

Hopefully it comes out better in the end, so far it has been as interesting as I expected.
 
Thanks for this thread and the link to the other thread ! 🙂 I found something what I assumed being haze on the inner side of the front element of my Summitar (coated) and thought that some UV light might be a good treatment ... 🙄 Well, after one hour of intense 254 nm hard UV irradiation, the "haze" was still there but I have now a nice separation mark in the center of the front element where the cement was destroyed by the UV light ... :bang::bang:

If I can disassemble the front part, I could try to clean the front element in our lab and then re-bake it in one of our special ovens ... 😎
 
I see my Summitar is starting to show signs of separation at one of the edges. Not too bad yet, so I'll save the cooking lesson for a little later. 😉

Good tip though
 
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