Leica Elmar M mount 50mm Rust on aperture blades?

[punkzter]

I just purchased a Leica Elmar M mount 50mm f/2.8 lens. I'm a little worried about the aperture blades. They appear to have either rust on them, or orange colored grease. Can anyone suggest what this might be? Is it something to be concerned about?

Here is a shared link to photos of the lens:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ppzbDFjhLXoM1PyD8

Thanks,
Brad

 

[Erik van Straten]

It is rust. The blades are made of steel. A repairman can repolish them. Don't try it yourself.


Erik.

 

[punkzter]

And, silly question, but rust is bad, right?

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Have you checked the youtube vid on opening this one up? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Mcwz-S090 Yes it looks like rust. These are easy to take off the front element and use Ronsonal, lighter fluid, and several q-tips to lightly rub the blades, opening and shutting them to work the rust loose and wipe them off with fluid. I worked lens grease also on the blades and cleaned it off until it looked and worked well.

 

[punkzter]

I appreciate the comment, but I'm not comfortable doing this myself. Not for a lens that was supposed to be in perfect condition.

 

[Papercut]

If this was purchased as being in "perfect condition" the seller should refund or pay for the repair. The Elmar-M is a fabulous lens; imho, it's very underrated (if one looks at price as an indication of people's "rating" of it).

I appreciate the comment, but I'm not comfortable doing this myself. Not for a lens that was supposed to be in perfect condition.

 

[Erik van Straten]

The Elmar-M is a fabulous lens;

This is not an Elmar-M, but a normal Elmar 50mm f/2.8 from the early sixties.

When you use the lens, the rust will spread into the lens as a fine powder and will bind with the lubrication oil. Then the oil will dry, like oilpaint. Can you imagine the damage?

Erik.

 

[punkzter]

Okay, thank you. That's what I thought. I just need that info to pass onto the seller.

 

[Rob-F]

It is rust. The blades are made of steel. A repairman can repolish them. Don't try it yourself.


Erik.

I concur with that advice!

 

[Steve M.]

Normally I agree with Erik. He's very knowledgeable. But all that's needed is to unscrew the front element and wipe the rust off w/ a Q-tip that's moistened with lighter fluid. The rust won't go anywhere except on the Q-tip, and the aperture blades don't need repolishing, just cleaning.

But that's not the issue. The issue is you were sold a lens that has problems. I would ask for a full refund and send it back, or ask for a refund large enough to cover sending the lens out to be cleaned.

 

[Beemermark]

I'm not that sure it's rust, looks more like normal wear to me. Not sure how you could get enough moisture in the lens to cause rust while not fogging the lens or getting fungus inside.

 

[punkzter]

It doesn't look like any normal wear I have seen. I spoke with the seller and he has agreed to partially cover the cost of a CLA. My plan is to send it to Youxin for a cleaning. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Sure looks like rust to me. I personally wouldn't be satisfied with "the seller and he has agreed to partially cover the cost of a CLA". These are common lenses, I'd return for a full refund because the lens is "not as described" and find a better one.

 

[punkzter]

Is there any reason to think that a cla won't take care of the issue? And that the lens would then be worse than another lens?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Likely no, but rust does set off alarm bells for me. Other parts of the lens may also be corroded and there may be other non-visible damage. But that main issue here is why should you (even if just partially) pay for a CLA on a lens that was supposed to be in perfect condition?