Lens Polishing and Coating

[Novembersierra]

I'm currently looking for a polishing and coating service, having acquired for a very reasonable price a Rollei 2.8 with a lot of scratches, or as they call it, cleaning marks.

From what I found, a cheap (but very good) service of polishing and multicoating at industrial quality level was offered by ARAX in Kiev, but is now out of business (machines were sold, but to who? They still produce lenses so I guess it's just an excuse).
They asked 30$ for every surface if I recall correcty.

Other options are now Focal Point for around 225$ (for that price it better be coated with gold powder) and I'm waiting for a quote from a local italian optician (A. Lolli's COMA).

A 1996 article scan I found on the internet says that at the time he asked for 60.000 lire (about 30EUR/40$) for polishing, 70.000 (35EUR/45$) for single coating and 135.000 (70EUR/90$) for multi coating. Still, we're talking about more than a decade ago so I'll update with the actual price when I know it.

Do you know others that are in the business?
Thanks

 

[Jockos]

If you can wait till '14 CRR Luton does it.

 

[Novembersierra]

Is the turnaround time so long? I checked the site and looks like he offers this service, but there's no more info on price.

 

[Jockos]

I don't know about the turnaround, b ut they are not accepting any more jobs this year as per their homepage. Last time (2011 or 2012) I checked i think it was ~100-150 quid per surface that you want fixed, I don't think you can expect 1996 prices any more..

 

[Blanc]

Well even turkish services are around 100-150 per surface for polishing only and are overcrowded.
Marc Nicolas in France may be faster but would only work on a selected models for which he perfectly knows how far he can go without modifying too much the optical properties of the lens...

 

[Platinum RF]

If the lens works fine, do not do it. The polishing processing may change the curve of the element's surface make the lens useless. Focal point reassembling the lens and check infinity. I never have good experience with lens re-coating especially send the front element only. All these came back made the lenses useless. I have used ARAX and others not focal point.

 

[Rdtaylor_sea]

I had John at Focal Point polish and recoat the front element of my 3.5E. It's now spectacular. Sharpest lens that I have.

 

[kzphoto]

John also did one of my 3.5 F units, removing fungus and polishing / recoating the front and I think two other elements. Total bill was around $350 and I would pay it again without hesitation. The man resurrected my first camera, which I turned around and traded for an M4. 🙁

 

[Robert Lai]

Youxin Ye is offering the service. He sends the element (or entire lens) to a shop in China. They will polish and attempt to multicoat the surfaces. If the glass doesn't appear to tolerate more than single coating, they will leave it single coated. I'm taking a chance by entrusting my Leica ADVOO closeup lens with him. They've never done an ADVOO before. For those of you wondering what an ADVOO is, it's a closeup device for the Leica IIIG and the 50mm lenses. It's a + 1.25 diopter close up lens. A compensating viewfinder prism allows use of the VF and RF for focusing and framing.

Cost is $150 for treating both sides of the single glass element. Only issue is time. The lens won't be back until 6 months later.

I did ask Focal Point about this also. He quoted me $195 to single coat ONE SIDE.

 

[Platinum RF]

Youxin Ye is offering the service. He sends the element (or entire lens) to a shop in China. They will polish and attempt to multicoat the surfaces. ......

Cost is $150 for treating both sides of the single glass element. Only issue is time. The lens won't be back until 6 months later.

I did ask Focal Point about this also. He quoted me $195 to single coat ONE SIDE.

Polishing and re-coating in China listed as 200 RMB for each elements (both side) plus shipping. Roughly about $37 for each element. However, when my element came back and the infinity focus point is back focus (behind of the original focus plane). I guess they removed too much glass and change the glass surface curvature. Good luck with your re-coating.