Summitar advice needed

[amirko]

Oh well, please bear with me -- one more advice request🙂
Today I received much awaited Leica IIIF BD from the same seller and guess what -- it is not perfect.
Again, the appearance of the camera is ok (minor scratches and bright marks, nothing major), but the RF is very dim (my Zorki which never had CLA is much, much brighter!) and per inspection I found something which looks suspiciously like a spider nest inside the RF:

The rest is ok: shutter sounds about right though second curtain had been recently replaced and it is louder compared to Zorki (Leica II copy) -- may be it should be.
Again, the RF is probably just a subject to quick CLA, but I had been specifically told by the seller that the camera does not need immediate CLA.

So, what's your verdict? What would you do? Return it and continue the search? Keep it and send for CLA? The price paid was $400 which is normal for clean example of IIIF BD I think.

Cheers!
Emir

 

[Melvin]

I'd return it. That's too much for a IIIf with a serious issue like that. It looks like maybe some kind of glass separation, but I'm no expert. On the other hand the Summitar looks great. I do NOT recommend unscrewing the front element. The aperture leaves can be knocked out of place by simply blowing on them. They are very light and fragile. I recommend sending it to Sherry Krauter.

 

[amirko]

I'd return it. That's too much for a IIIf with a serious issue like that. It looks like maybe some kind of glass separation, but I'm no expert. On the other hand the Summitar looks great. I do NOT recommend unscrewing the front element. The aperture leaves can be knocked out of place by simply blowing on them. They are very light and fragile. I recommend sending it to Sherry Krauter.

Thanks! BTW I tried unscrewing the Summitar, failed on the first attempt and decided to leave it alone. Depending on test shots I either send it for CLA or just enjoy it as it is now.

 

[kknox]

Keep it the bubbles & dust will not hurt. If you were that old you would have some dust too. I have had 3 of those lens, you will be hard pressed to see any bad photos from that lens. The front & rear elements look good. You have a nice lens keep it, & enjoy it.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Keep the lens and bounce the body back. The repair etc will put too much on the cost of the camera for my liking.

In the end it will be far dearer and more hassle than just going to a dealer and getting one with a guarantee. BTW, before looking at anything on ebay it pays to look at the dealers to see what they have and what sort of price etc. Things can get all out of proportion on ebay.

Regards, David

 

[amirko]

Hi,

Keep the lens and bounce the body back. The repair etc will put too much on the cost of the camera for my liking.

In the end it will be far dearer and more hassle than just going to a dealer and getting one with a guarantee. BTW, before looking at anything on ebay it pays to look at the dealers to see what they have and what sort of price etc. Things can get all out of proportion on ebay.

Regards, David

Agree but in this case it was not ebay, it was well-known classic camera dealer (not KEH) and the reviews I was able to find were good. Oh well...I should be able to return it.

 

[David Hughes]

Agree but in this case it was not ebay, it was well-known classic camera dealer (not KEH) and the reviews I was able to find were good. Oh well...I should be able to return it.

If it was a dealer I'd ask for it to be repaired/cleaned etc and at their expense including postage back and forth. He/she should know better but - these days - I have my doubts.

Regards, David

 

[amirko]

If it was a dealer I'd ask for it to be repaired/cleaned etc and at their expense including postage back and forth. He/she should know better but - these days - I have my doubts.

Regards, David

I just exchanged e-mails with them (it was "he" BTW) and had been offered the choice of return or CLA. Have not decided yet...if the tech passed this to the sales, how good his CLA will be? So probably I'll return it.

 

[tennis-joe]

I sent my Summitar to Sherry to be cleaned and to take the haze out. Well I don't see it any better afterward than before. I will tell you that changing the f stop is very easy now after cleaning and lube.

Spend your money on new Voigtlander lenses which are clean.
Joe

 

[amirko]

Spend your money on new Voigtlander lenses which are clean.
Joe

That I already done 🙂 Fortunately mine has no haze.

 

[rumbliegeos]

That viewfinder looks like it has either some kind of dried adhesive, or oil, in it. Either way, not good. You could ignore it if you use an auxiliary viewfinder, but a good 50mm viewfinder can easily cost $100+.

Edit: Just noticed you said that the problem is in the rangefinder: even worse, as you need as clear a view as possible for lining up the rangefinder patch.

 

[amirko]

Before sending it back, I snapped this picture of family reunion:



🙂