carlprad Posted December 17, 2012 Share #1 Posted December 17, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello Is it possible to have a LEICA lens restored. I know that many people offer CLA service. However, some of my lenses have had much of the anodized black-finish removed over the years. I was wondering if anyone has ever been able to restore the black anodizing, or if they know of a service agent that can? Also, is there a product that can be used to restore the "black" surfaces that have worn-off the lenses over time? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 17, 2012 Posted December 17, 2012 Hi carlprad, Take a look here LEICA : Lens Restoration Service. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TomB_tx Posted December 17, 2012 Share #2 Posted December 17, 2012 Anodizing is an electro-chemical process under careful control, and I haven't seen anyone offering the service for lens parts. MicroTools sells a blackening agent that chemically darkens aluminum, and I've used it on worn edges of lens knurling, and it makes it look better - dark grey if not black. After cleaning the surface you wet the area with the solution and keep it wet as it reacts with the aluminum. I've used a Q-tip swab for this on assembled lenses with good result. I haven't had any lenses with large areas needing treatment - so your results may vary... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 17, 2012 Share #3 Posted December 17, 2012 Well loved lens used for a long time. Anything can be restored, only question is cost. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlprad Posted December 17, 2012 Author Share #4 Posted December 17, 2012 Please elaborate. What is the cost? What is the process? Who can do it? Thank you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 18, 2012 Share #5 Posted December 18, 2012 It's probably cheaper to just to sell the old ones and buy new lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlprad Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share #6 Posted December 18, 2012 James The lenses were given me as a gift, by my father. I cannot sell them. So, I'm hoping someone can help me figure out a way to restore them. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted December 18, 2012 Share #7 Posted December 18, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Carl, it would help if we knew where in the world you were. There are various repairers listed here, by the way. Regards, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlprad Posted December 18, 2012 Author Share #8 Posted December 18, 2012 Bill I am in the USA. I have looked at those repair people. However, non of them advertise "Lens restorations". More specifically, as mentioned in my original post, I need someone who can restore the "black" anodized color, to my LEICA R lenses. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 18, 2012 Share #9 Posted December 18, 2012 You can try to have them painted black. It is a rather specialized discipline and I don't know who does it in the States, But afaik CRR in the UK and Shintaro in Japan will paint lenses (If you are a patient man, in the case of Shintaro very patient.) 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 18, 2012 Share #10 Posted December 18, 2012 Yes, how many years did someone wait for their M to be painted & returned by Shintaro? My advice would be to leave your lenses alone if they are optically good. There is something nice about well used fully functioning gear. Antique dealers love patina! To restore a lens would probobly mean complete disassembly, and they may not be the same afterwards. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 20, 2012 Share #11 Posted December 20, 2012 LOL! I said very patient. I don't remember exactly whether it was three or four years -and without any sign of life too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted December 21, 2012 Share #12 Posted December 21, 2012 Talk to Sherry Krauter Sherry Krauter.com -- Home of the Golden Touch. If she doesn't do restorations, I would expect she knows someone who does. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted December 21, 2012 Share #13 Posted December 21, 2012 If you have patience and the wear is not too great, this will improve things with enough applications Birchwood Casey Aluminium Black Metal Finish 3oz | eBay The technique is get as clean as possible, I use a cloth with lens cleaning fund, getting all of the enground dirt off the lens, you'll be surpised how much better it will look and it takes time. You are basically wiping with a damp (lens cleaning fluid) cloth and not allowing fluid to be drawn into the lens. Then several applications of aluminium black with a bud, wait 1-2 mins, wipe with a damp (water) cloth and reapply. You will be surprised how much better it will look after a little while, not instant but it doesn't affect or mark the original anodising and does chemically treat the areas of wear. You will need patience 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Valdemar Posted December 26, 2012 Share #14 Posted December 26, 2012 Sure you can sell them. What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Dump the lenses and get better ones. They are just mechanical objects. James The lenses were given me as a gift, by my father. I cannot sell them. So, I'm hoping someone can help me figure out a way to restore them. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Allsopp Posted December 26, 2012 Share #15 Posted December 26, 2012 Sure you can sell them. What he doesn't know won't hurt him. Dump the lenses and get better ones. They are just mechanical objects. But perhaps you are missing the point in that it will hurt the OP. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Allsopp Posted December 26, 2012 Share #16 Posted December 26, 2012 I cannot help on restoration but perhaps the greatest tribute to the gift from your father is that you used it well. The patina derived from years of use demonstrates this. Leave well alone? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roydonian Posted December 27, 2012 Share #17 Posted December 27, 2012 But perhaps you are missing the point in that it will hurt the OP. I don’t think he is missing the point – given the nature of some of his past postings, it is more likely that he is simply trying to be offensive. About a decade ago, I was attending a Leica Historica fair in Germany, and a dealer spotted the presence of a screw-mount 35mm f2.8 Summaron on my camera. He indicated that he would be most keen to purchase it. When I said “It was my father’s”, he immediately apologised for having made the offer, saying that to sell such a lens would be unthinkable. Best regards, Doug 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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