Leica Tele-Elmarit - Marks on Rear Element

[brobbins]

My 90mm Tele-Elmarit, which I have used for years, has developed some sort of marks on the rear element. I have been told by a local camera store that this is common with this lens. Does anyone experience with this issue, and if so, will cleaning remedy the problem? Does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement small and lightweight short telephoto?

Thanks.

 

[kbg32]

Do you have any images of the rear element? Hard to say what it might be without seeing the marks. Has it been stored somewhere for awhile? I'm sure it can be cleaned if that is the problem. I wouldn't replace it until you have the lens checked out by a repair technician.

 

[brobbins]

Thanks. I will try to take a picture of the rear element and post it later today.

 

[peter_n]

If you have the "thin" Tele-Elmarit and the marks look like a spider web etching then your lens has developed "TE disease". What's the serial nr. of the lens?

 

[brobbins]

I have attached a photo of the lens. It actually is normally hard to see these lines. I had to have strong side lighting across the back element and view the lens from the front to get this photo. Please let me know if you have any ideas what this is, whether it can be cleaned, and whether I should be considering a replacement.

Thanks in advance.

 

[brobbins]

Peter,

Thanks for your response. My lens is indeed a thin Tele-elmarit. What is "TE disease"?

I see you live in Boston. I live near Boston. I asked Youxin Ye whether he cleaned lenses and he said generally no, recommending instead DAG or Sherry. Do you know of any person near Boston that might be able to help with this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[brobbins]

By the way, the serial number is 2968631.

 

[markinlondon]

"Thin TE disease" is the etching of the rear element probably by fungal action. I've only seen one example and it looked a lot like yours, I'm sorry to say. Stephen Gandy discusses it on this page (you'll have to scroll down a bit) and I think E. Puts mentions it in his Leica Lens Compendium. It's generally reckoned to be fatal.

 

[brobbins]

Thanks Mark. That is unfortunate from my perspective. Has anyone identified which ranges of serial numbers of TEs have this potential issue, or is this issue spread throughout the entire prodiction of TEs? Also, are ther any other short teles that people recommend?

 

[peter_n]

I think from your photo that your lens has the disease I'm afraid. Youxin normally will only work on classic old lenses and is careful about what he takes on. I understand that TE disease can be fixed if it is caught in the very early stages, but that certainly doesn't look like the case here. 🙁 I would try sending your photo to DAG and asking his opinion, I'll bet he's seen a few of these in his time. Worth a try anyway.

As I recall, the problem is that the rear elements of this lens are a sealed unit, discontinued, and way too expensive to replace. Much cheaper to buy a new lens for $400-450. I think about 5-6% of the total production was estimated to be affected. There is more on the subject at this link:

What does TE disease look like?

With respect to serial nrs., I seem to recall that when I bought mine (about 2 years ago) the current theory FWIW was that if you bought a lens with a serial nr. >=32xxxxx then it should be OK; any serial nr. lower than that was suspect. All I can say is that on the basis of a sample of one (serial nr. 3378xxx) that one lens is still crystal clear although I do check it every time I read a thread like this.

I am really sorry to be the bearer of bad news and I feel your pain, the thin TE is truly a very special little lens that deserves a much better reputation than it currently has. If this happened to me I would almost certainly buy another one. I would also strongly recommend to you the Konica Hexanon-M 90mm/f2.8, if you are unfamiliar with this lens there is one currently on sale on eBay = please see the link below. I have no connection with the seller.

Konica 90/2.8 M Hexanon RF Lens Hexar Leica

 

[Rico]

Looks like terminal TE disease. Good news is the broad selection of replacement lenses: fast or slow, new or old, hi-tech or characterful. The 90mm FL is not super-popular, so it's a buyer's market. I couldn't decide between a Wetzlar chrome Elmar and Elmarit, so I bought them both!