Hazing/ Fogging

[millfields]

I'm looking to acquire a good value Leica lens, probably one of the older, cheaper, types. The cameraquest web guide mentions that many of the older Leica lenses would likely be acquired in fogged condition. Can this be cost effectively fixed?

cheers

 

[Tuolumne]

I have bought many old Leica lenses on eBay, from users here, and from RFF sponsors with no fogging. \You can still easily find clean ones if you look.

/T

 

[Henk]

Will Van Manen in Zoetermeer can CLA your Leica lenses.
He does a very good job at a good price.
Henk

 

[bmattock]

Can this be cost effectively fixed?

Two-part question:

1) Can it be fixed? Probably. Not always, though, depending on what is 'fogged' or otherwise damaged. Damage between air-spaced elements is usually easily fixed up, unless the type of damage has done an insult to the lens coating (like fungus in some cases). Damage between cemented elements is much more difficult to fix, although it can also generally be done.

2) Cost-effective? Depends entirely on what you have in mind and how extensive the damage may be.

My opinion, gained over some years of playing around and trying to save a buck or two, is that some minor types of between air-spaced element fogging can be cleaned by a layman such as myself, giving me a low-cost lens that I'm quite pleased with, while having the lens CLA'd almost always ends up costing me more than a prime example of the same lens would have to start with. There are always exceptions, such as rare lenses or lenses which one might obtain from a family member and wish to keep for sentimental reasons, etc.

Although I am still tempted by low-cost lenses from time to time, in general nowadays, I tend to wait and pay a bit more for a lens that I believe will not need to have work done, from a reputable seller who will stand behind their word when they claim the lens is 'without scratches, fogging, haze, etc'.

 

[Blank288]

I follow bmattock on this. I try to save a bit on my hobby by paying as little as possible for lenses with obvious problems. I CLA most of my lenses myself, and gathered quite a collection this way, but haze can be a nasty problem. In most cases it can be cleaned, but sometimes indeed coating is damaged or unreachable between glued lens groups.
For me it is not always easy to see in advance what the possibilities are. So I gambled wrong with a € 90,- Elmarit 2.8/90 where haze appeared to be etched into the front glass, where it looked quite removeable. Later I saved my loss a bit with an even cheaper second example with a bad back element. I changed front elements and results are tack sharp.

Later I ran across a late 'red scale' Elmar and screw-Summaron 3.5/35 together for € 100,-. I couldn't resist, though both lense were a bit hazy. Unfortunately I didn't succeed in dismantling these two lenses without risking to damage them. By now I have had the Summaron CLA'd by NL-repairman Will van Manen (nice job!), and I still doubt if the Elmar goes the same way.

 

[millfields]

I have bought many old Leica lenses on eBay, from users here, and from RFF sponsors with no fogging. \You can still easily find clean ones if you look.

/T

I was looking to ebay to get the lenses so I know there's always a chance I might get a nasty surprise. I didn't think of using the RFF posters here - will keep an eye out!

What would you suggest in terms of simple questions I should ask to a ebay seller to test for fogging, other than the obvious ''is the lens foggy'' ?

thanks again.

 

[millfields]

Will Van Manen in Zoetermeer can CLA your Leica lenses.
He does a very good job at a good price.
Henk

thanks for the tip, I live in Den Haag so fairly local to me.

 

[millfields]

Two-part question:

1) Can it be fixed? Probably. Not always, though, depending on what is 'fogged' or otherwise damaged. Damage between air-spaced elements is usually easily fixed up, unless the type of damage has done an insult to the lens coating (like fungus in some cases). Damage between cemented elements is much more difficult to fix, although it can also generally be done.

2) Cost-effective? Depends entirely on what you have in mind and how extensive the damage may be.

My opinion, gained over some years of playing around and trying to save a buck or two, is that some minor types of between air-spaced element fogging can be cleaned by a layman such as myself, giving me a low-cost lens that I'm quite pleased with, while having the lens CLA'd almost always ends up costing me more than a prime example of the same lens would have to start with. There are always exceptions, such as rare lenses or lenses which one might obtain from a family member and wish to keep for sentimental reasons, etc.

Although I am still tempted by low-cost lenses from time to time, in general nowadays, I tend to wait and pay a bit more for a lens that I believe will not need to have work done, from a reputable seller who will stand behind their word when they claim the lens is 'without scratches, fogging, haze, etc'.

You're probably right. Paying more from a reputable seller will likely save me $ in the long term.Thanks for the advice.