Elmar 50 3,5 question

[Rhodes]

Not a easy question, but how much an elmar 50 3,5 with fungus in one of the elements worth?
I do not use the lens since I got my jupiter 8. I do not know how much is to send it clean (here it could me more expensive than sending abroad). And I do not know what to do with it. Do the cleaning myself is not a option, since I could do more damage!

 

[Bingley]

Probably not a lot, and it may depend on whether the fungus has permanently damaged the element (it may, or may not have). A clean Elmar 50/3.5 probably goes for $150-200 USD these days; more for the red scale version. Were I in your situation, I would send the lens out for CLA, and see if the fungus has damaged the lens. Then decide whether to keep or sell it.

 

[John Lawrence]

Here in the UK a dealer is selling some Elmar 50 3.5 lenses with minor marks on the elements (but no fungus) for around 80 - 90 Euros.

 

[Ronald M]

Nothing. Find a clean one

I paid lots of money for my Red Scale , but worth every penny.

 

[Steve M.]

Ronald's right (if it's on the front element), unless the fungus is just starting and you're comfortable cleaning it up yourself. If it's on the rear element, forget about it. Best bet is to move on.

 

[FrankS]

Perhaps with the fungus it may be worth $75, if you can provide pictures taken with the lens that look okay, and if the fungus is not rampant.

 

[Rhodes]

I see! The lens come with my IIIc and already had the fungus. It is stable, never grew more that it was. I will post here photos taken with the lens, but it could take some time, I have to dig up the albuns!

 

[Rhodes]

Here are a few photos taken with the lens. I scan from ths prints and since my scanner has some age and a "dirty", "spoty" glass, the quallity of the photos is not so good. But I think one can see the fungs efect.

















The first 4, I can not notice the fungus (with the prints eider). The 5th was taken with out lightmeter so possibly the incurrect exposure may be the cause why the photo appers to be wrong in some way. The last two has the fungus afecting the photos. Both were taken at infinit, so no focusing problem. The efect may only be present when using certain apertures. I should run a new film with the lens and note each photo the aperture and shutter speed.
Mind that the last two, that blurr is in the prints, it's not my scanner doing.

 

[charjohncarter]

Here are a few photos taken with the lens. I scan from ths prints and since my scanner has some age and a "dirty", "spoty" glass, the quallity of the photos is not so good. But I think one can see the fungs efect.

















The first 4, I can not notice the fungus (with the prints eider). The 5th was taken with out lightmeter so possibly the incurrect exposure may be the cause why the photo appers to be wrong in some way. The last two has the fungus afecting the photos. Both were taken at infinit, so no focusing problem. The efect may only be present when using certain apertures. I should run a new film with the lens and note each photo the aperture and shutter speed.
Mind that the last two, that blurr is in the prints, it's not my scanner doing.

You have a lens with character. Use it for a while to decide if you want to keep it or not. You have a bigger problem with dust on your negatives. I like the photos very much.

 

[Rhodes]

Thanks charjohncarter!

 

[Rhodes]

Here is the latest photo with the lens. Posted in the film section, here is the link. Should I keep or sell it and try to buy a new one or summitar?
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85351

 

[Erik van Straten]

The best Elmar 50mm f/3.5 is the one in M-mount.

Leica M2, Elmar 50mm f/3.5, Tmax400 printed on ilford MGIV fb.

Erik.

 

[Bingley]

Here is the latest photo with the lens. Posted in the film section, here is the link. Should I keep or sell it and try to buy a new one or summitar?
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85351

I would keep it. OK, you've got an Elmar that's kind of Summar-ish. Not bad. And a new (to you) clean Elmar won't cost that much if you decide to get another one.