lens "polishing"

[RubenBlaedel]

I got an ok deal on ebay on a M3 with a summarit 1,5 - hood, filtres, bag and flash etc - the lens had a near mint body BUT the front element has very fine scrahtces 1/20 of a hair all over and inside the lens close to the back element there are to large dust specks.

Does anyone have experience with getting front elements "repolished" and perhaps recoated ?

And is it possible to remove the dust by myself or should that be done professionally?

I have an identical lens with the same front element problem with very fine scratching.

Actually the pictures are fine but somewhat more soft than the characteristics of summarit lens - in other words it does not need any more softing

A work shop in europe would be preferable due to costums and postage fees but i would be happy for any input

 

[back alley]

a basic cla should take care of the dust, but i would shoot with it first and see what the results look like.
cleaning swirls would likely have no to little effect.
joe

 

[phototone]

I had good results having my Summicron front element polished and multi-coated by Arax in the Ukraine.

Some Leica lenses have cemented pairs for the front elements, and those would be more problematical, as firstly, the lens elements have to be uncemented, then polished, coated and recemented. Not for the faint of heart.

 

[kiev4a]

It's my understanding that anytime you try to polish out scratches you are, to one degree or another, changing the formula of the lens and nothing good is likely to come of it.

 

[phototone]

Polishing a lens element

Polishing a lens element

It's my understanding that anytime you try to polish out scratches you are, to one degree or another, changing the formula of the lens and nothing good is likely to come of it.

You are IF you alter the curve of the element. You need to compare before and after curves. That is why it is only done by optical houses that have the skill to do it.

 

[RubenBlaedel]

You are IF you alter the curve of the element. You need to compare before and after curves. That is why it is only done by optical houses that have the skill to do it.

Is ARAX a optical house ?? - I got the impression that they rebuilt kiev cameras ??

 

[phototone]

Is ARAX a optical house ?? - I got the impression that they rebuilt kiev cameras ??

Arax has access to the optical house that makes the glass lens elements for the Kiev line of medium format cameras. Those are the technicians that do the work.