Leica Summicron 50/2 Type 3 Coating question

[christian.rudman]

Have the ability to get a screaming deal on this lens right now due to it having bug particles in between the front elements. I am going to perform the cleaning myself. I am going to avoid, as much as possible, actually using any solution or other methods to clean the elements. I have heard that these interior element coatings are quite soft and vulnerable, which makes me reluctant to use any kind of solution on them.

The questions are:

Is this really the case? Are they really that delicate? I'm assuming so, being that they are internal coatings not designed to be exposed to anything, but want to make sure I heard right.

In either case, what can I use (short of Leica fluids) that would be safe to clean these with if they do indeed need more than the simple blow-off?

-------------------------------------------------------------
I'd like to photograph this process and provide a tutorial for the cleaning, but want to make sure that I can execute this part properly. Thanks for any and all help.

 

[nobbylon]

I believe the coatings post rigid are quite tough. I have used standard spectacle cleaning fluid in the past.

 

[ferider]

Don't worry. Only early Summicrons have soft coating. v3 coatings are quite hard.

Note that I have successfully cleaned internal elements of collapsible and DR Summicrons, as well as of a Summitar, just by applying lens cleaning cloths and isopropanol with care. Much of what you read about this on the intertubes is exagerated. If you follow normal sense, you'll be fine.

Roland.

 

[christian.rudman]

I love this forum!

Thank you guys for the prompt responses, and I was especially happy to see your response nobbylon (no offense ferider). I loved your Black M4 repaint thread, and that is part of what is encouraging me to get my hands dirty and provide the photographic proof and reference for the forum.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice guys! I'll be doing this tomorrow, hopefully with a tutorial ready by Sunday.

Cheers!

 

[ferider]

No offense taken. The trick will be to get the front element out. Remove the span/beauty ring; if the front element can not be simply taken out (this is typical with leica lenses), put a towel on a hard surface, a lens cloth on the towel, and carefully remove the front element by knocking the front of the lens onto the lens cloth. Here's the diagram of your lens:

BTW, you can get it professionally cleaned for less than 100 bucks. And the lens, if cosmetically clean, is worth close to a thousand. Just saying 🙂

 

[christian.rudman]

I'm aware, and actually had the option to purchase post cleaning for an additional $100, but this is something I am wanting to do for myself. Appreciate the reference and the diagram though!

 

[christian.rudman]

I know this is a silly question to start off with, but I do not want to futz with the aperture ring or focusing by unscrewing the optics from the focus mount in correctly. Where should I be grasping the lens to complete this initial part of the disassembly? Additionally, which direction should I be turning? Clockwise or counter when looking at the front face?

Many thanks for the help already provided and ahead of time for this!

 

[christian.rudman]

Scratch that, figured it out.

 

[christian.rudman]

Well, I gave up. Got into it a considerable bit and decided that I was probably going to end up screwing up the lens, and decided to get the CLA done instead. Good news is, by the end of the week I should have a nice copy of this lens all cleaned up!

Thanks for the help guys and I'll be attempting some repairs and modifications in the future. In the mean time I will be living vicariously through you guys' tutorials and walk throughs.