CV Skopar SC haze/separation fix

[bucs]

These Skopars are known to develop haze in between cemented elements in the rear group. I bought my copy a while back at a price much lower than market value thinking I got a bargain. I learned soon enough of the haze issue, and decided to get it fixed rather than reselling it at a loss.

I sent it off to Taiwan after reading about a specialist who can separate then recement lens elements like these. Total turnaround time from sending it out to receiving it back (overseas shipping!) was about a month and a half. The lens look clear now. It cost about US$250 including roundtrip EMS shipping. Just sharing in case other people who own the same lens are interested in getting theirs fixed.

You can reach out to the specialist via his Facebook page linked below:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DGNRFwNLd/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Before cleaning:


After cleaning:

 

[Cascadilla]

Good to know, thanks for posting this. Have the results improved substantially?

 

[Coldkennels]

Wow. I'd say this is pretty game-changing for the LTM crowd.

I've got a 21mm Color Skopar with "the rot", and I'd resigned myself to always having to deal with the side-effect of the haze. Might have to send it away next year while this is still an option, though.

 

[bucs]

Good to know, thanks for posting this. Have the results improved substantially?

Yes! I tested it on a digital body and the contrast greatly improved. I’ll post pics soon from a roll of film I tested. Just getting through the holidays before sending it out for processing.

 

[aw614]

Hmm it might be worth fixing the middle element on my 50mm.

 

[Godfrey]

You piqued my curiousity so I just examined all my Color-Skopar (and other) Voigtländer lenses. Happy to report that all's clear and clean, including the first I bought which was the Color-Skopar 28mm f/3.5 SC. 😀

I think I bought that in 2011 or somewhere around there, along with the Color-Skopar 50mm f/2.5. So almost 15 years and no sign of haze yet. Life is good!

G

 

[sojournerphoto]

Wonder if they could do a misty 35/1.7 lymph Ultron?

 

[bucs]

Wonder if they could do a misty 35/1.7 lymph Ultron?

I’ve seen some of those with haze also.

I hope more recent CV offerings have been “redesigned” to get around this issue. To be fair these lenses are a decade or two decades old from when they were released?

 

[38Deardorff]

I’ve seen some of those with haze also.

I hope more recent CV offerings have been “redesigned” to get around this issue. To be fair these lenses are a decade or two decades old from when they were released?

at the same time there are much older lenses that have not suffered that fate....

 

[Nitroplait]

My hazy 12/5.6 was deemed unreliable by C/V Germany. They claimed parts were needed and that they were not available anymore.

Bummer!! and makes me worry about my LTM 21/4 and LTM 50/1.5 - and maybe also my newer VM lenses?

 

[bucs]

Forgot to report back… shots turned out great. Quick scans using cheap film. Hello from the Philippines 🙂

 

[Freakscene]

I’ve seen some of those with haze also.

I hope more recent CV offerings have been “redesigned” to get around this issue. To be fair these lenses are a decade or two decades old from when they were released?

No need for redesign, just use different optical cement.

 

[bucs]

No need for redesign, just use different optical cement.

Agree. I used the wrong word in quotes.