Summitar 50mm f 2.0

[Penduboy]

Hi,

I purchased a Leica IIIf with Summitar 50mm 2.0 lens from eBay. Returning the camera is not an option. Both camera and lens have issues.

Camera does not fire at all when I press the shutter button but fires when I move the rewind/shutter cock knob. Shutter curtains have some wrinkles but otherwise looks fine. I am thinking to send it for repair, is there any good reliable repair tech in Vancouver area in Canada?

Aperture ring on the lens was jammed and I learned from internet that it is an easy fix but when I tried to do the repair by myself. I managed to open and lubricate aperture ring but when I tried to put it back aperture blades came off from their groves and now I have no idea as how to fix them. I guess this needs to go in for repair as well.

I will appreciate if you can suggest a good repair person preferably in Vancouver, Canada but I am willing to ship it within Canada or even in US if I have to.

Thanks, Pendu

 

[lawnpotter]

There is a great guy in Vancouver. I believe his name is Horst. He worked on two of my leicas. He is awesome. I hope he is still in business, I last saw him about 4 years ago. If you private message me, I will dig up his number, or someone here may quickly give you the info

 

[Penduboy]

Thanks, I know Horst but was not sure if repair Leicas. I thought he is go- to person for Rolleis. Anyways, I will give him a call tomorrow.

Is there anyone else in Vancouver?

Thanks, Pendu

 

[raydm6]

If you can't find a local resource to fix your camera, I can highly recommend Youxin Ye in Massachusetts (USA) http://www.yyecamera.com.

He CLA'd both my IIIf's, a Summitar, and a Collapsible Summicron. He does good work, is reasonable, and has fairly fast turnaround times.

He will get that Summitar cleaned and back together for you fairly quickly.

Good luck and enjoy the IIIf!

 

[Penduboy]

Thanks, I forgot to mentioned that couple of aperture blades bent a bit. Do I need to replace them or those can be used as they are not that bad.

Thanks, Pendu

 

[Penduboy]

is there any source which can show how to put these aperture blades back as I have no idea, how to put them back but if I can find a picture or something, I can at least try.

Thanks, Pendu

 

[jrose125]

I also recommend Youxin Ye. He did my M3 a few years ago.

 

[bakemono]

Is your lens with 10 aperture blades or 6?
If it's 10 you might be able to do it yourself, the ones with 6 seem to have much more difficult construction.

I managed to do the exact same thing when I got my lens - tilted the lens while lubricating the aperture ring and then wondering what the weird rattling sound was... my first and only aperture reassembly job, I think I spent a few hours over multiple days until I got it back together.
Once you get frustrated, put it down and come back a bit later.

You can see the basic process used in this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_lRB6vXbP8

Expect it to go a lot worse though if this is your first try. Oh, and note that the pins on blades are not the same on both sides - on is centered and one is offset. So make sure you are inserting them the correct way 🙂

 

[bakemono]

found this picture on another forum - this is a collapsible summicron, but I think it was the same way for summitar.

 

[Murray Kelly]

I bought a Summitar for repair. It had 12 leaves. One was lacking the rivet but I made one. However there was no way I could figure the orientation of the iris components and ended up giving it to a tech. After a while I got on the phone and discovered he was in strife with it.
Long story short, the iris in that issue was cone shaped and had a 6 sided aperture Beats me why it had 12 leaves. The actual aperture moved back and forth as you opened and closed it possibly to do some magic thing with the focus shift - IDNK.
To reassemble you can put a small cone of suitable size and rebuild on it and remove that after it's all back together.
I tell you this to cheer you up!😀

 

[Penduboy]

Hi all, thanks for all the information and link. I can put the blades back if they are like normal lens. But this Summitar is 12 leaves construction and I have no idea how to put them back. There are 2 sets of blades (6 of each type). I ended up giving it to a local tech but not 100% confident that he will be able to fix it 🙂. He told me that he can do it and I can pick it up over the weekend.

If not I will ship it to someone more reliable.

Kelly, I think you are right, there has to be some sort of trick to put these blades back as they are two different shapes and they are curved as well.

I will let you guys know how it goes. But still appreciate if someone can post a picture of correct orientation of these blades.

Thanks Pendu

 

[Penduboy]

I think the aperture blades should look like this when in right order....looks very complex.

I also find the picture of actual aperture leaves.

 

[Murray Kelly]

It's over 10 years ago but when I look the shape is more a flattened dome than a cone. Probably makes no difference in the long run.

Good luck.

 

[Penduboy]

My local technician was unable to put all the blades back. He put most of them except the last two. He said one blade has bit damage to it and that is the reason he was unable to put everything in. should I try to send it to experts or that will be waste of shipping cost?

Is there any place, I can order one of two blades for this lens?

Thanks

 

[sepiareverb]

Gerry Smith at Kindermann in Ontario?

 

[rfaspen]

Kindermann, DAG, Sherry. Or Gus. One of these are your best bet. All are actual Leica trained, skilled, and *experienced* with older LTM Leica gear.

FWIW, I use Don Goldberg at DAG Camera Repair for all my important Leica repairs. He's in Wisconsin.