Rolleiflex 3.5F, fungus, repair or not?

[papaki]

I have bought a Rolleiflex 3.5F for 100 euros at a local fleamarket. It has some fogging and a few spots with fungus on behind the front element.
Do you think it is worth a CLA/repair? It is not in mint condition, but I'd love to get photos with the Planar.
Are there any repair shops in Europe? How much that CLA would cost?

 

[Arbitrarium]

You can probably just unscrew the front element and clean it yourself if that's as far as the fungus goes. 5 minute job

 

[x-ray]

I bought a 3.5F with a Planar in very nice shape recently for $75 in an antique shop. The shuttercwas frozen, focus stiff, counter stuck, transport rough and a few other minor issues. I sent it out for service (will be posting that ordeal soon) and when it returned from service I noticed a very tiny spot of what could be dried fungus between the front two elements. I wound up sending it back to the repair service to correct a few things they skipped over and clean out the fungus (?) residue. If it's fungus it's dried up and extremely minor.

The response I got back was they could not remove the residue because the front grouping is a sealed unit and can't be opened. That seemed odd to me and I'd like to hear from someone that knows if that cell is actually sealed. The Planar in my camera is a 5 element version.

Making images with the camera the tiny bit of residue has no effect on quality. My only concern would be if it started growing in more humid conditions.

 

[papaki]

You can probably just unscrew the front element and clean it yourself if that's as far as the fungus goes. 5 minute job

I thought so, but I am not sure how to get a grip on that ring with the teeths on its rim.

I bought a 3.5F with a Planar in very nice shape recently for $75 in an antique shop. The shuttercwas frozen, focus stiff, counter stuck, transport rough and a few other minor issues. I sent it out for service (will be posting that ordeal soon) and when it returned from service I noticed a very tiny spot of what could be dried fungus between the front two elements. I wound up sending it back to the repair service to correct a few things they skipped over and clean out the fungus (?) residue. If it's fungus it's dried up and extremely minor.

The response I got back was they could not remove the residue because the front grouping is a sealed unit and can't be opened. That seemed odd to me and I'd like to hear from someone that knows if that cell is actually sealed. The Planar in my camera is a 5 element version.

Oh my! In that case, removing the front block by myself would not help. At least yours seems not to have any fog. That affects things especially in cotra light.

 

[Arbitrarium]

I thought so, but I am not sure how to get a grip on that ring with the teeths on its rim.

You need a special tool that fits the little slots. Search 'lens spanner', that's what you need.

 

[papaki]

You need a special tool that fits the little slots. Search 'lens spanner', that's what you need.

I have a spanner, but its edges do not fit between those gears on the rim of the name ring.
It feels like I am goint for a big time mess. Some expert service feels right this time.

 

[x-ray]

If your 3.5F is like mine there are no slots for a spanner. I've read the front assembly needs to be removed but have seen a tech remove a retaining ring fromlens with a cup shaped rubber stopper. I'm not about to remove the front assembly of the camera myself.

Before I go to that trouble to find something to get the cell out of the shutter I need to know f it's sealed and can't be opened as the repairman said who worked on it. Let's say after my experience with the repair company I don't trust anything they said.