Noctilux ASPH Damage! Help!!

[wlaidlaw]

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I have just dented the hood on my 135 T-E. It is more of a slight distortion in the roundness than a dent, from when it got squashed in a case during air transit. I shall be dealing with it myself by means of a round hardwood mandrel, covered in baize and a very soft faced small mallet. The hood is detachable, which makes my job easier.

 

You hold the hood very firmly on the mandrel and start tapping at either side of the dent. You will find that the distortion will gradually start to reduce. I restored my MATE hood to perfect roundness by this method. The secret is to shape the mandrel with a Dremel tool or similar, so that it mimics the shape of the inside of the hood at an undistorted point.

 

Wilson

[edmond_terakopian]

Ed,

 

After reading your name a few places and thinking about this post, I think you pull enough weight to call and ask for help from Leica directly. Maybe ask for a loaner.

 

If I had a Noctilux, I would loan it to you.

 

Many thanks Michael, you're too kind. A wonderful and much appreciated gesture. :-)

 

I did send off an email to Leo in Customer Care but he's off for a few days, so I'll se what happens when he gets back.

[edmond_terakopian]

Edmond, UK Passport on lenses is one year. It used to be two but the period was reduced about four years ago. I tend to agree with the previous poster that you're probably well known enough down at Mayfair (don't you run workshops there?) that Leica may straighten out your hood for free.

 

Thanks for that Ian; I did think it was one year but wasn't sure. I think I've had the lens longer than a year now; will need to check.

 

I did indeed run one of the Leica Akademie workshops; the M9 Interactive which was extremely popular and if not full always, had one space on occasion. Sadly Leica UK have revamped the way they do the workshops and have by the looks of it not have professionals running it but have one full time Leica employee.

 

I will ask, but judging by having to pay for a scratched rangefinder window change a month ago, I doubt anything will be on the house :-)

[edmond_terakopian]

Just had a similar experience with my Lux's hood.

I certainly did not wanted to do a repair myself. If you own a Ferrari and you dent a door you don't fix it yourself, - everyone will see that!

Send it via courier to Solms, there and back in three loong weeks, but it is new now, they test and clean it again. Happiness when it is back as good as new!

 

Streamlight Photography

 

Indeed you are of course right :-) The sad truth is that I'm a photojournalist and funds are tight. Using Leica equipment is a huge sacrifice for me as it takes a long time to prepare to purchase anything! As a result, having to pay for what is in essence a cosmetic issue isn't a huge priority. My only concern is the hood not going all the way back.

[edmond_terakopian]

I have just dented the hood on my 135 T-E. It is more of a slight distortion in the roundness than a dent, from when it got squashed in a case during air transit. I shall be dealing with it myself by means of a round hardwood mandrel, covered in baize and a very soft faced small mallet. The hood is detachable, which makes my job easier.

 

You hold the hood very firmly on the mandrel and start tapping at either side of the dent. You will find that the distortion will gradually start to reduce. I restored my MATE hood to perfect roundness by this method. The secret is to shape the mandrel with a Dremel tool or similar, so that it mimics the shape of the inside of the hood at an undistorted point.

 

Wilson

 

Many thanks for the walk through; much appreciated. You sir are a craftsman :-)

[farnz]

I have just dented the hood on my 135 T-E. It is more of a slight distortion in the roundness than a dent, from when it got squashed in a case during air transit. I shall be dealing with it myself by means of a round hardwood mandrel, covered in baize and a very soft faced small mallet. The hood is detachable, which makes my job easier.

 

You hold the hood very firmly on the mandrel and start tapping at either side of the dent. You will find that the distortion will gradually start to reduce. I restored my MATE hood to perfect roundness by this method. The secret is to shape the mandrel with a Dremel tool or similar, so that it mimics the shape of the inside of the hood at an undistorted point.

 

Wilson

As suggested earlier a decent bit of good, old careful panel-beating.

 

Pete.

[wlaidlaw]

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As suggested earlier a decent bit of good, old careful panel-beating.

 

Pete.

 

Pete,

 

The real problem comes if the aluminium has stretched (aluminium has a low modulus of elasticity). Then it is close to impossible to get the original shape back. Modern panel beaters usually don't even try on aluminium but just replace the whole panel or if it is for example, an old racing car, they cut out the damaged/stretched part and weld in a new section, curved to the correct shape on a wheeling tool.

 

Shrinking stretched aluminium can be done but it is an extremely skilled job. The panel beater uses a hammer with lots of small blunt points on it, a bit like a steak tenderiser mallet and a special dolly behind the panel. I have only ever seen one being used once successfully on aluminium, when I went round the Park Ward Mulliner coach works over 40 years ago. A 1920's vintage Daimler belonging to the royal collection, was having a dent removed from a front wing, where something heavy had been dropped on it.

 

Below is a pic of a shrinking hammer. They come in all different shapes and sizes, flat, concave and convex.

 

Wilson

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[hoppyman]

I certainly feel the pain for the owner who has been unlucky enough to damage his lens hood. Thank heavens that there was no damage to the front element. Hoods have saved me twice.

 

Am I the only one who thinks it is bizarre that the thread has turned to panel beating... on one of the most expensive Leica lenses available

I would guess that the front body of the lens can be removed by a competent repairer without disturbing the optical cells and a mechanical repair (or hood replacement) would be relatively inexpensive.

Now stop posting references to pliers and meat tenderising hammers!

[farnz]

... Am I the only one who thinks it is bizarre that the thread has turned to panel beating...

Probably not but I think many people are unaware of the skill and craftsmanship involved in high quality panel-beating and the understanding of curves and planes that an experienced panel-beater gains. A close friend of mine was a top panel-beater and he would regularly do work for an up-market jewellers when customers brought in their dented multi thousand pound irreplaceable antique silverware (often worth more than a Noctilux) that the jeweller was unable to repair another way. He was also commissioned to straighten and remove dents from some very well known sports trophies after unfortunate 'mishaps'.

 

I suppose the popular image of a panel-beater is a chunky chap with big hammers belting the bejeesus out of car doors. Some probably are like this but not all.

 

Pete.

[Erik Gunst Lund]

I would suggest that you apply for a Leica Professional Service at the very bottom of the page.

If you get accepted, they will fix your lens with just a few days turn around time.

[wlaidlaw]

I would suggest that you apply for a Leica Professional Service at the very bottom of the page.

If you get accepted, they will fix your lens with just a few days turn around time.

 

I cannot recommend this service highly enough. There are all sorts of benefits to keep all your Leica equipment in first class order.

 

Wilson

[aesop]

I cannot recommend this service highly enough. There are all sorts of benefits to keep all your Leica equipment in first class order.

 

Wilson

 

 

...for a price, Wilson - and a "Leica" price at that.

 

I believe Edmond stated (quite clearly) that he is a working PJ and that funds are tight. That is his reality, and in view of this, I would join previous posters in recommending a call to Malcolm Taylor.

 

Edmond, have you clarified your specific Passport situation (as opposed to making assumptions)?

[waileong]

There's a reason why we pay so much for new Leica products. It's because of the Passport warranty. Use it.

[edmond_terakopian]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I have dealt with Andrea before on past lens codings and other matters, so am assuming I'm in the Pro service. I have sent her an email though to check, as I had sent in an M9 to have it's sensor re-mapped and rangefinder window replaced, and it did take ages to come back! So am I right in understanding there's a charge to join the pro service? How much is it?

 

I found that I got the lens in January 2011 - time does fly!! If the passport is for one year, guess I'm stuffed! I've emailed the Leica Store for clarification, so fingers crossed!!

 

Again, thanks for all the care and suggestions. It's quite heart warming :-)

 

Cheers,

 

Edmond

[Erik Gunst Lund]

It's for free. There is one free service per year included, you will only have to pay for the repair itself, you get a quote first.

The 'normal' Pro service turn around time is within a week or so.

The 'fast' Pro service turn around time is within a few days but costs extra.

Ask Andrea, she will send you the paperwork with an application form.

[edmond_terakopian]

It's for free. There is one free service per year included' date=' you will only have to pay for the repair itself, you get a quote first.

The 'normal' Pro service turn around time is within a week or so.

The 'fast' Pro service turn around time is within a few days but costs extra.

Ask Andrea, she will send you the paperwork with an application form.[/quote']

 

Cheers :-) Just got an email from her so will make the arrangements.