danvprod
Member
I just bought a Summicron 50mm Type III Rigid from someone on RFF. I received the lens in the mail today and he had mentioned there are some cleaning marks on the front, but after closer inspection it seems like it is a fungus, and not cleaning marks. I snapped a few pics in my apartment tonight and I can't see it in the pics... what should I do. I got a good price on it, should I send to DAG to get CLA'd or is it a lost cause... I've included a pic of the front element. Other than the spots the lens is in very good condition...
1) Are these spots fungus?
2) Can this be cleaned in a CLA by DAG or another Leica dealer?
3) Is it worth going through the hassle or should I try to get my money back?
1) Are these spots fungus?
2) Can this be cleaned in a CLA by DAG or another Leica dealer?
3) Is it worth going through the hassle or should I try to get my money back?
Tom A
RFF Sponsor
Fungus tend to look like a spiderweb and "blobs". This could simply be dust or minor coating flaws. Most likely will not affect image quality at all.
benmacphoto
Well-known
Im no expert but that looks like fungus to me. Had a dot like that in one of my Summicrons, luckily I took it apart and cleaned it before it spread and did damage.
danvprod
Member
cleaning
cleaning
what did you do to clean it?
cleaning
what did you do to clean it?
benmacphoto
Well-known
The dot on mine was on the rear element in the front module. So I unscrewed the front group and carefully cleaned off the element with a lint free cloth. Now its good as new. But as Tom mentioned, the dot never affected any image quality with the lens.
The more I look at your lens I think Tom's right in it looks like a minor coating flaw and not a fungus dot. It looks like it is on the very front of the lens and not between lens elements.
The more I look at your lens I think Tom's right in it looks like a minor coating flaw and not a fungus dot. It looks like it is on the very front of the lens and not between lens elements.
danvprod
Member
lens
lens
when I hold it up to the light and look through the rear element it looks like there are small pits in the front element and maybe the depth of the pits is making it look as if there were white spots but they do seem clear almost like small bubbles. I do understand that the handmade nature of the m lenses from 35 years ago are not as optically perfect as the modern ones. I am thinking to send it out to DAG to get the focusing ring CLA'd so I'll have him look at the front element too...
Thanks for your help
lens
when I hold it up to the light and look through the rear element it looks like there are small pits in the front element and maybe the depth of the pits is making it look as if there were white spots but they do seem clear almost like small bubbles. I do understand that the handmade nature of the m lenses from 35 years ago are not as optically perfect as the modern ones. I am thinking to send it out to DAG to get the focusing ring CLA'd so I'll have him look at the front element too...
Thanks for your help
mike kim
Established
That looks a lot like what my rigid summicron had. Check out this thread for more info: http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78414
I showed it to Steve Choi of Steve's Camera and he said it was definitely coating damage and not fungus.
I showed it to Steve Choi of Steve's Camera and he said it was definitely coating damage and not fungus.
danvprod
Member
another closer image of summicron problem
another closer image of summicron problem
now I'm not sure if it is fungus or a coating problem. It def. seems to be on the outside of the front element. I emailed sherry and DAG to see their take.
another closer image of summicron problem
now I'm not sure if it is fungus or a coating problem. It def. seems to be on the outside of the front element. I emailed sherry and DAG to see their take.
It does not look like fungus- which leaves a spider-web type of look.
I would try some ammonia based eyeglass cleaner on it, and just use it. If the focus is stiff, or if it has internal haze- it is worth the CLA.
These marks are not worth having a CLA on their own.
I would try some ammonia based eyeglass cleaner on it, and just use it. If the focus is stiff, or if it has internal haze- it is worth the CLA.
These marks are not worth having a CLA on their own.
danvprod
Member
Summicron 50
Summicron 50
Thanks Brian. You are setting my nerves at ease. This is only my second m lens and the first one I purchased used... I'm going to take the lens out and shoot today to see if I notice anything in the photos (I suspect that I will not). I sent DAG an email with the same pic and hopefully he'll get back to me on the price.
I have read that ammonia will harm the coating on the lens? Is this not true?
Summicron 50
Thanks Brian. You are setting my nerves at ease. This is only my second m lens and the first one I purchased used... I'm going to take the lens out and shoot today to see if I notice anything in the photos (I suspect that I will not). I sent DAG an email with the same pic and hopefully he'll get back to me on the price.
I have read that ammonia will harm the coating on the lens? Is this not true?
Paul T.
Veteran
I don't think it's fungus, either, and I've had marks like this on my lenses.
Usually it's a spot left by evaporated water, or grease, which has affected the refractivity of the coating; my guess, and I'm sure Brian would know better, is that you would get an alteration in flare at those points - which, their being tiny, would make no difference to the image.
Usually it's a spot left by evaporated water, or grease, which has affected the refractivity of the coating; my guess, and I'm sure Brian would know better, is that you would get an alteration in flare at those points - which, their being tiny, would make no difference to the image.
hiromu
Established
I don't know what they are, but IF they are fungus, then that may spread to other lenses if you keep them together. Also, Youxin told me that fungus cannot be removed completely...
I use an ammonia based eyeglass cleaner, and it has not hurt the soft coatings on my old Summarit and Summitar. Do not use 100% ammonia- go for premade and labeled lens cleaning fluid/ eyeglass cleaning fluid. I got mine with my coated eyeglasses.
And to add- shots with my Summicron, same type as yours. Wide-open on the Leica M3.
And to add- shots with my Summicron, same type as yours. Wide-open on the Leica M3.
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