worth replacing front element in 1960s summicron 50mm f/2?

[bgaugs]

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I received an M3 and a few lenses from a neighbor moving away. With the camera was a summicron 50mm f/2 and a Hektor 135mm f/4.5 . the summicron's body is virtually flawless, however the front element is severely scratched. When I had the camera refurbished, the mechanic tried to clean it but the scratches would not come out. Reading about how pristine the early summicrons are, and how expensive they are now, is it worth it to send the lens to Leica to get a new front element? Is this possible? If it is possible, will the image quality suffer in comparison to the original lens because of the new glass? Thanks for your input!

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[Guest]

I received an M3 and a few lenses from a neighbor moving away. With the camera was a summicron 50mm f/2 and a Hektor 135mm f/4.5 . the summicron's body is virtually flawless, however the front element is severely scratched. When I had the camera refurbished, the mechanic tried to clean it but the scratches would not come out. Reading about how pristine the early summicrons are, and how expensive they are now, is it worth it to send the lens to Leica to get a new front element? Is this possible? If it is possible, will the image quality suffer in comparison to the original lens because of the new glass? Thanks for your input!

 

Have you tried taking a picture with this lens.David Stephens ( Stephens Premier Manchester ) was showing some pictures a while ago taken with a Leica M lens where the front element was broken not just scratched and the results looked OK . Worth a try?

BrianP

[bocaburger]

Are you positive the glass is scratched or just the coating? Those lenses are notorious for breakdown/cleaning-marks on the front coating. The main effect of that is increased flare and decreased contrast. If you just want the lens for yourself then I'd give it a whirl, just remember to use a hood and try to avoid shooting into bright light sources.

 

I believe Leica no longer has replacement elements for those lenses, but there is/was a guy in the US named Jon VanStelten (Focal Point) who re-coats them. And I recall reading of someone in the Ukraine who did likewise. I am not certain whether this process changes the performance any, or if so, how and by how much. You could also try locating a scruffy sample with perfect glass, but that's a very long shot.

[Ivar B]

It is also not given that Leica still has this lens element available. I had a Summicron 35mm with Leica for cleaning, and they had to take two lens elements apart to do this. This is not an easy thing to do and I was told that if one elment should brake there was nothing they could do about it as new elements were unavailable.

[Bill W]

I just wanted to add that you certainly had a great neighbor there. Hope you get the lens worked out. I would try to see about re-coating.

[menos I M6]

As I understand re-coating does indeed include a step of re-polishing the optical element.

If it is scratched not deeply, those scratches might indeed come out during the process, making saving the the lens worth it (even financially, depending on the version of the lens).

 

I would take some close up macro photographs, showing the damage of the lens (light a strong torch through the lens and photograph the front element with a small aperture for maximum detail at an angle) and inquire with Focalpoint of potential cost.