Leica LTM Cleaning haze in a 90mm f/4 Elmar

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Chuck A

Chuck A

Chuck A
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Mar 16, 2005
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364
Hey All,

I just received a very sweet little 90mm Elmar. It is all silver, coated and the serial number is from 1953. It is in perfect condition, except for the dreaded haze. It is bad enough that it will probably effect the photos.

I did some searching in the forums and came up with some bits and pieces about cleaning it, but not enough detail to feel comfortable doing it yet. Does anybody have any detailed info on how to clean the haze? If not who on the RFF is good at doing this sort of cleaning? I will gladly pay a reasonable price as this lens is in excellent shape and worth keeping. The only drawbacks to it are that the aperture works backward of my other lenses and it has no click stops. But I can work around that.
 
Does the filter collar unscrew to allow the lenses to come out? I don't quite understand. If so, does it come off CW or CCW.
 
Presuming that the head is of the type that unscrews from the focusing mount, it's pretty easy to open up.

Yes, the ends really screw off the optical cell. But they are REALLY tight. Rubber gloves for traction. If that doesn't work, you must buy or make appropriate ring wrenches.

Realize that the internal coatings on a 1954 Elmar will be VERY soft. Trivial to remove in cleaning, unfortunately. Also, the haze might well be in the coating, leaving you little choice but to lose the coating? You might want to look at chemical methods of trying to clean out the haze first. (Peroxide?)

Tomosy's Leica Camera Repair Handbook does cover this lens, get it via inter-library loan...
 
back alley said:
i'd gladly offer up my expertise...but i can't handle the cat calls anymore.

someone should be along soon...
Click to expand...

Not sure what you mean but you can email me if you want. I need some expertise.
 
sorry chuck, sometimes i forget who was around for some of the craziness that has happened around here.

i have had some luck cleaning old canon lenses so when i got an older leitz lens i thought i'd try my hand at it. long story short it was a disaster and i wound up selling a baggie full of lens parts to a fellow member here.
trust me, you don't really need my help.

joe
 
back alley said:
sorry chuck, sometimes i forget who was around for some of the craziness that has happened around here.

i have had some luck cleaning old canon lenses so when i got an older leitz lens i thought i'd try my hand at it. long story short it was a disaster and i wound up selling a baggie full of lens parts to a fellow member here.
trust me, you don't really need my help.

joe
Click to expand...

Sorry Joe,

Can you point me in the direction of someone who would know or who could do the job?
 
on the board, i would trust greyhoundman to fix most anything. i'm not sure if he's taking new work on though as he's had some trouble with his eyes lately.
there are some very handy guys here but they mostly fiddle with their own gear only.
bump this post a few more times and i'm sure someone will pipe in.
joe
 
Chuck A said:
Does the filter collar unscrew to allow the lenses to come out? I don't quite understand. If so, does it come off CW or CCW.
Click to expand...

Sorry Chuck I thought a previous post may have cleared up your questions... I have my 90/4 infront of me now... Where abouts is the haze?

To get acess to the front element group: grab the frontmost collar of the lens and screw CCW... I used an opposite turning motion on the focusing collar set at infinity (using rubber gloves if the thread is tight is probably a good idea!)... This should remove the front two elements... There is a retaining ring on the back of the lens grouping that should be removable with a lens spanner or needle-nose pliars with their tips ground (i tried a drafting compass, but it is not strong enough on my lens)... Someone else may have to guide you on further dissasembly of this section. A note of caution here... the aperture blades are now pretty vulnerable at this point as they are exposed & care should be taken...

To remove the rear elements from the lens barrel: using either the collar with the aperture markings (not the aperture ring itself!) or the knurled collar below the aperture ring turn CCW again turning the focusing ring in the opposite direction. This will remove the rear elements & again there is a retaining ring holding the glass in I have not tried to remove this retaining ring, but I'm hoping the lens surfaces you would want to get to are now acessible...

If I can be of any more help please let me know...

Peter
 
Peter,

Thanks for the info. I looks like the haze is behind the front elements. I will give disassembly a try when I get the time. Again, thanks.
 
Last edited:
An ultrasonic cleaner is best and the lens needs to be columnated when you are done.

If you care about it, send it to Sherry or DAG so the insides do not get scratched.
 
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