Summitar Lens Repair

[benmacphoto]

Does anyone know of a lens repairman that can recement a lens?
I have a very early Summitar that is in need of some help.
It looks as if the front two elements have VERY bad separation.
However the rear group of elements are in great shape.
Thanks for any input.

A bit hard to capture with my phone.

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Focal Point Inc. Aka John Van Stelten in Colorado can re-polish and coat but I am not sure he does re-cementing. Best to send him an email.
He is not cheap but does quality work, I just shipped a Col Summicron to him yesterday with some coating marks on the front element.

 

[rfaspen]

Well, I can say for sure that John (Focal Point) does recementing. I can also verify what Jan said, he's not cheap but he's probably the best we can get in N. America.

Jan, didn't you once use a company in China for polish/recoat of a summitar? Sorry, I know I'm going back a while to a conversation we had ....um...a while ago.

 

[benmacphoto]

Great thanks for the quick info.
I will email John at Focal Point.
I paid almost nothing for the lens many years ago, so it won't be a big hit on the repair cost.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

If the Canada balsam it's yellowed and cracked sending it out for repair is the best option.

If not and you're feeling adventurous, you might try baking the front lens group at a 150 Celsius for half an hour. Balsam melts at that temperature and if you let it cool it might just reset properly

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Rfaspen, I did indeed use a company in China, this is where Youxin Ye ship lenses to be re-polished and coated and they did a great job on an ltm collapsible Summicron.
The turnaround is long, 3 months but the price is very affordable, i just wanted a quicker turnaround this time.
The M mount collapsible Cron i just shipped to Focal Point is a lot less damaged than the one Youxin Ye had polished in China so it should be as new when i get it back.

 

[Bingley]

Sherry Krauter did a partial overhaul of a Summitar of mine and did an excellent job. She admires the Summitar.

 

[benmacphoto]

Well John at Focal Point just replied and the damage seems to be too sever to repair.
I may just look for a cheap LTM adapter and use it for fun.
Though I don't expect much in image quality with the amount of separation.

Thanks for all of the replies and options listed in this thread.

 

[maddoc]

I would be careful with any DIY repair attempts by elevated temperatures. I tried this a couple of times under laboratory controlled conditions and got some severe element separation.

 

[James1]

Well John at Focal Point just replied and the damage seems to be too sever to repair.
I may just look for a cheap LTM adapter and use it for fun.
Though I don't expect much in image quality with the amount of separation.

Thanks for all of the replies and options listed in this thread.

I'd say you shouldn't be so hasty. If you're determined to try and have the lens restored, why not approach one of the European specialists?

Personally, Malcolm Taylor (United Kingdom) rescued and restored my 1933 black-nose Summar. This lens needed plenty fixing including polishing, sorting separated elements etc. It's now a stunning lens. Leica themselves use Malcolm for 'difficult' stuff.

It won't be cheap and in all probability your lens will be away for a good few months - but you will get a quality job.

Will van Manen in Holland is also recommended regularly, and apparently has shorter turnaround times.

 

[benmacphoto]

Even with the separation in the front elements the lens still produces a nice image.
I'll have to try it out more and see.

Thanks James, I will check out Malcolm Taylor and see.

Just took this with my Nex5N, had to bump the ISO a bit as it's getting dark.

 

[dogberryjr]

I kinda like what it's producing as-is.

 

[johannielscom]

Even with the separation in the front elements the lens still produces a nice image.
I'll have to try it out more and see.

Thanks James, I will check out Malcolm Taylor and see.

Just took this with my Nex5N, had to bump the ISO a bit as it's getting dark.

Some people buy very expensive Noctiluxes to get close to shots like this... 😉

Just saying' 🙄

 

[benmacphoto]

I kinda like what it's producing as-is.

I actually like it as well.
It reminds me a bit of how my old 50mm f1.5 Summarit rendered.
I'll have to test it out during the day tomorrow and see how stronger light affects the lens.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

I would be careful with any DIY repair attempts by elevated temperatures. I tried this a couple of times under laboratory controlled conditions and got some severe element separation.

Looks like expanded air bubbles.

 

[Flat Twin]

Contact Malcolm Taylor here in the U.K. It might not be the cheapest and it may take a while but he is your man.

He recently restored a pre series 50mm Summilux for me that was in a bad way and needed polishing and re-coating and he did a wonderful job, the lens is perfect now.

His experience is second to none in my opinion...

Give him a try...

Regards

Simon

 

[Steve Bellayr]

A good usable summitar can be had for under $300, certainly under $400. I would think long and hard about your lens repair versus putting it on the shelf and getting a workable one. Either way good luck and let's hope the repair is under $300.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Separation in a Summar is a whole lot harder to fix, because the front lens group is sealed in the bezel by a fold-over edge at the back, you need to machine off part of it to get the lens group out for reglueing.

 

[maddoc]

Some people buy very expensive Noctiluxes to get close to shots like this... 😉

Just saying' 🙄

Actually, a Noctilus usually shows a small part of the frame sharp and in focus. 🙂

Looks like expanded air bubbles.

I took a photo with this lens:

201503-07-M3-TMY-SUMMITAR-10 copy by maddoc2003jp, on Flickr