Repair of Leica lenses from the 50s and 60s?

[thmk]

Hello,
is there any possibility to get older Leica lenses repaired for a reasonable amount of money? Especially I am asking for the Summaron 3.5/35 and the collapsible Summicron 2/50. Both lenses show some fogging inside and Leica or Foto Kielgas here in Germany do not repair them (no spare parts/not economical).

Cheers
Thomas-Michael

 

[rover]

Try the on line repair estimate at keh.com. I believe I plugged in the collapsible summicron a few weeks ago and it spit out an estimate of $35 to cla the lens.

 

[thmk]

Thanks for the information. I entered fungus/scratches and it really spit out 35 USD but that are only the costs for a price estimation 🙁 I think I will contact them to request some more information.

 

[former member]

Essex in New Jersey charged $80 to "deep clean" my Summarit. This does not include recoating the elements, but getting rid of the deep haze. They charged an additional $10 to straighten out a badly damaged filter ring, and it came out quite good.

 

[Graybeard]

Sherry Krauter does repairs and cleaning of Lietz lenses.

Ask her using eMail for a typical price . She is good about responding to questions.

 

[merciful]

My Canon 50/1.2 leaves DAG today, having had a cleaning of all glass (and de-fungusing) for US$90 shipped to Canada.

 

[peter_n]

How long did DAG have the lens?

 

[merciful]

How long did DAG have the lens?

Since pre-history, sometime. Let me check: shipped it on 6 January. I did tell him I wasn't in a hurry; and he checked in with me at one point to apologise for being unexpectedly busy, and ask if I needed it fast-tracked.

 

[thmk]

Thanks for the hints. I contacted Sherry Krauter and will now wait for an answer. If there is no chance I will send back the Summaron I recently got to the dealer and ask for refund. Don't know about the Summicron which came with my M3...

Cheers
Thomas-Michael

 

[peter_n]

Since pre-history, sometime. Let me check: shipped it on 6 January. I did tell him I wasn't in a hurry; and he checked in with me at one point to apologise for being unexpectedly busy, and ask if I needed it fast-tracked.

Thanks. I've heard he is very busy and that things can take a while. Guess you have to plan ahead.

Would be interested in a brief summary of the improvement in the lens when you get it back.

 

[andrewch]

I recently got a heavily hazed Summarit CLAed for US$45. But it may not be economical for you when you factor in the shipping and insurance expenses.

 

[thmk]

I think I will have to pass Starbucks for a few times because shipping from Germany is 32 Euro with insurance. But if I get a clean lens in return I think it is worth. The Summaron I got is in very good condition except for the fogging and other ones (in LTM) were more than 100 Euro more expensive. And last but not least I wanted a Summaron in M-mount without googles and that was the only one.

 

[merciful]

Would be interested in a brief summary of the improvement in the lens when you get it back.

Sure. I don't expect any big improvement from when I last shot with it; it was very clean then. But then I noticed fungus, and fired it off right away. I'll post a result as soon as I can, anyway.

 

[Jochan]

My Summicron 90 also have some fogging and thinking if it should go for cleaning. I bought it in a bargain shop so if cleaning just has tiny improvement, I simply forget about this. Could anybody give me some suggestions?

 

[thmk]

I sent the M-Summaron back to the dealer and snapped another one in LTM on this well-known auction site. This should be in better shape optically because it has been CLA'd by CRR-Luton last year. And it was 75 Euro less than the M-Summaron. For the Summicron I am still waiting for its return from Solms to decide how to go on with it.