alfa
Member
Hi everyone,
I'm totally sure this is the best place over all to ask this sort of question. I've recently decided to buy my first leica lens for my little bessa, I allready owned a 35 CV color skopar classic so the 50 summicron came up as the natural lens to find. I bought a used one (1982) made in canada, with lens hood and both caps original and in great shape, from a reseller in berlin. The lens came in yesterday and it seems new, no scratches, no signs of being used in any way...until I look closely through the lens and I see something that looked like a scratch or a hair on the top. I try to clean it but it's from the inside.
Here are the images of the "thing":
The ad on ebay clearly stated no scratches or sort of thing that can influence the quality fo the picture but...looking through the lens at f/2 the "thing" is clearly visible so there is no doubt that it a picture it would show up. What should I do? Could it be a hair from a cleaning brush that was inside and was moved during shipping? Should I go to a Leica dealer to have it seen? Or send it back to who sold the lens?
Thank you for any suggestion.
I'm totally sure this is the best place over all to ask this sort of question. I've recently decided to buy my first leica lens for my little bessa, I allready owned a 35 CV color skopar classic so the 50 summicron came up as the natural lens to find. I bought a used one (1982) made in canada, with lens hood and both caps original and in great shape, from a reseller in berlin. The lens came in yesterday and it seems new, no scratches, no signs of being used in any way...until I look closely through the lens and I see something that looked like a scratch or a hair on the top. I try to clean it but it's from the inside.
Here are the images of the "thing":
The ad on ebay clearly stated no scratches or sort of thing that can influence the quality fo the picture but...looking through the lens at f/2 the "thing" is clearly visible so there is no doubt that it a picture it would show up. What should I do? Could it be a hair from a cleaning brush that was inside and was moved during shipping? Should I go to a Leica dealer to have it seen? Or send it back to who sold the lens?
Thank you for any suggestion.
photodog
Well-known
See if the seller will take the lens back if the speck bothers you. You probably will see no degradation in your images because of this minor speck of hair. I've seen this before in a Focotar enlarging lens. The speck moves around and at times is at the bottom of the lens and not on the glass. It is very possible it left the factory in this condition.
Or ask if they will allot some $ your way to have it cleaned.
alfa
Member
rover said:
uhm...so it's "cleanable"? if the cost is reasonable I could even spare me the arguing with the reseller....how much does this kind of operation cost usually?
I will try to finish up and develop a roll quickly to check out how much it can influence on the images...
ZeissFan
Veteran
I would guess that this tiny piece of debris worked its way loose during shipping. It looks to be a metal shaving, possibly from the lens bezel or left over from the assembly of the lens. Hard to say, and you'll likely never know.
I don't think it will have much of an effect on your photos, although I can see how it can be annoying. You probably could tap the lens so it fall onto the side and not be visible.
Usual cost for this sort of thing seems to be about US$50-US$75.
I don't think it will have much of an effect on your photos, although I can see how it can be annoying. You probably could tap the lens so it fall onto the side and not be visible.
Usual cost for this sort of thing seems to be about US$50-US$75.
alfa
Member
Thanks!! It's just psycologically bothering, not really if I think that'll never have an effect on the pics. Maybe I'll have it cleaned onew of these days...in the mean time I'll just enjoy my first summicron ever! Thank you for your replies, I knew I could count on this forum 
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It would bother me too, I understand your feelings.
I just had a lens CLA'd for $65 confirming ZeissFan's estimate.
I just had a lens CLA'd for $65 confirming ZeissFan's estimate.
Ben Z
Veteran
alfa said:
That's the sort of imbedded disclaimer that sets off alarms and rings bells in my head.
I would be certain it's a piece of debris and not a scratch before negotiating for a cleaning fee. It's not that a little scratch out there at the periphery of the front element is likely to impact the photos significantly, it's the idea the seller probably saw it too and tried to cover his tail with his wording.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
It's hard to tell from that picture whether it's a scratch, coating coming off, a hair, or some odd-looking "gunk".
I have a tabbed 50mm Summicron-M which has something in between the first and second elements, very faint, and it is evident if you look at it straight on. If you hold the lens to a strong light source, the "something" will cast a very faint shadow.
It bothered me a lot. *a lot*. But I got the pictures back. Compared them with pictures of another lens. Nothing to worry about, unless I were to use the lens to chart MTF graphs, perhaps.
It does boil down to how comfortable you feel with your gear. That sort of "scratch" or "hair" would only affect the picture quality by inducing flare and/or reducing contrast in your pictures. Shoot a roll of slide film with a flawless Summicron, side to side, and see if there is any difference.
I have a tabbed 50mm Summicron-M which has something in between the first and second elements, very faint, and it is evident if you look at it straight on. If you hold the lens to a strong light source, the "something" will cast a very faint shadow.
It bothered me a lot. *a lot*. But I got the pictures back. Compared them with pictures of another lens. Nothing to worry about, unless I were to use the lens to chart MTF graphs, perhaps.
It does boil down to how comfortable you feel with your gear. That sort of "scratch" or "hair" would only affect the picture quality by inducing flare and/or reducing contrast in your pictures. Shoot a roll of slide film with a flawless Summicron, side to side, and see if there is any difference.
peter_n
Veteran
My very first Leica lens, a Summicron 50, had a hair in it. I returned it to the dealer in Germany & got a full refund. What happens if it still has that defect and you want to sell it? I would return it for a refund.