bender73 Posted December 11, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted December 11, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have been buying some older Leica lenses to build my M system and learn which focal lengths will serve me as I begin my rangefinder experience. I don't want to drop a fortune on glass...yet. Â I grabbed this lens for 3 Benjamins tonight. They seem to be selling for $700-1200 right now so I figured it was not a huge risk. It will be $100 to CLA at the local camera shop. Â I LOVE the bargain 90mm Elmar-C I got recently so I double-downed. Â The catch? FUNGUS. What a nasty word. Let's hope the image quality is not drastically affected. I don't think it will be, but I'm sure I'll lose a little contrast. Am I nuts? Maybe. Â It does not spread to other lenses, that is a myth. Every lens you own has fungal spores on it right now that will only grow in a proper medium and perfect conditions. (I practice medicine as my day job) This lens sat in a damp place for too long un-used. A good CLA should destroy all the fungal spores and whatever damage is done to the coating now will hopefully be minor. Â I'll post some photos when I get it. Hopefully this will answer some questions/concerns that new folks like me have when it comes to buying classic vintage glass. Â (fingers crossed) Â Â Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 11, 2014 Posted December 11, 2014 Hi bender73, Take a look here Impulse buy: 50mm Summicron Type 2 with FUNGUS!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TRIago Posted December 11, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted December 11, 2014 I got mine for less than 600 usd at Tamarkin. Body is in user condition but glass is mint. Â I never used a lens as sharp as the 50mm rigid. I also have a 35mm Summicron ASPH, Canon 50mm 1.4 LTM and had a bunch of Canon L in the past. The rigid is the sharper. You can shoot this thing wide open 100% of the time, seriously. It's scary sharp. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenshacker Posted December 11, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted December 11, 2014 Is it only the front element that has the problem? Â I sent the front element of a hot-glass Summicron to Focalpoint for polish and recoating. Went in looking like wax paper, came back like new. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender73 Posted December 11, 2014 Author Share #4 Â Posted December 11, 2014 Yes, seller says glass looks clear except for those multiple dots with flashlight test. probably a little etching but I assumed that. I think a good CLA will make this lens real nice. If not, a polish and coating will revive the front element (only element with significant issues). Â If this can be brought even to 90% of its original life for another $150-200, I hear it is a fantastic 50mm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted December 11, 2014 Share #5 Â Posted December 11, 2014 Three Benjamins for the glass, another 3 or 4 (or 5) for Focal Point? I don't know if I agree with your math here... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender73 Posted December 11, 2014 Author Share #6 Â Posted December 11, 2014 Three Benjamins for the glass, another 3 or 4 (or 5) for Focal Point? I don't know if I agree with your math here... Â I am only paying for a CLA. For argument sake, people are selling unclean versions of this lens for $800-1200, average market value now. Even if i chose to spend $400 more, that is $700 investment for like new exceptional lens. That said, i bet it will perform spectacular the way it is. Or, I am totally wrong! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted December 11, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted December 11, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Idk. Virtually none of those lenses have 100% perfect glass due to the soft front coatings, and in decent shape they seem to be going for $700 and up. So if Jon @ Focal Point can bring it back to its former glory and you're in under $700 I'd say it's worth it. Â Another tack would be to shoot the lens first (get a shade, you would want one even for a perfect sample of that lens) and see if you actually see any objectionable artifacts attributable to the front element grunge. Remember, rear element defects will have a much more pronounced effect than front element defects. I've seen shots people made with front elements that were legit cracked, or had 3-4mm chips out of them and the pics looked fine. Â EDIT: LOL Chris you posted while I was composing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenshacker Posted December 11, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted December 11, 2014 Three Benjamins for the glass, another 3 or 4 (or 5) for Focal Point? I don't know if I agree with your math here... Â Or $200, as in the case of my Thorium Glass Collapsible Summicron. I was worried that he would not work on thorium glass. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geotrupede Posted December 12, 2014 Share #9  Posted December 12, 2014 in case of fungus you may want to read this:  fungus - The GetDPI Photography Forums  Good luck G. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted December 12, 2014 Share #10 Â Posted December 12, 2014 John at Focal Point will reject lenses that have already been etched by the fungus. Ridding the surface may not suffice; one thing if it needs to be recoated, but if the glass is pitted, you have to live with whatever comes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender73 Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share #11 Â Posted December 13, 2014 John at Focal Point will reject lenses that have already been etched by the fungus. Ridding the surface may not suffice; one thing if it needs to be recoated, but if the glass is pitted, you have to live with whatever comes. Â Yes, risk makes life so exciting! Â I could end up with a gem and the CLA is already scheduled, which could shine it up even more. Â (or I have a paperweight) Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iLikeLeica Posted December 13, 2014 Share #12 Â Posted December 13, 2014 Be careful - fungus can get to your other lenses too! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender73 Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share #13 Â Posted December 13, 2014 Be careful - fungus can get to your other lenses too! Â no, it cannot. Â Like humans (i practice medicine and photography semi-pro), fungus is all around us and on us. There are fungal spores on and in your lenses now. However, it takes a perfect medium to promote growth. Warm, dark, damp places. Condensation and then leaving your lenses in a bag, etc. Â I even confirmed that with a camera shop. Zeiss, etc. are paranoid and to be honest, why take a risk when you are dealing with millions of dollars? Statistically speaking, there is almost no risk. Sure, you might transfer a spore, but it won't grow unless you let it, feed it, etc. Â Just take care of your lenses and you will be fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
james.liam Posted December 13, 2014 Share #14 Â Posted December 13, 2014 no, it cannot. Â Probably not; as you correctly state the spores are all about us. Â But am I willing to store a lens with visible colonies ready shed billions of spores when it's 'ripe and ready', alongside pristine glass in the same box? Â No. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iLikeLeica Posted December 13, 2014 Share #15  Posted December 13, 2014 no, it cannot. Like humans (i practice medicine and photography semi-pro), fungus is all around us and on us. There are fungal spores on and in your lenses now. However, it takes a perfect medium to promote growth. Warm, dark, damp places. Condensation and then leaving your lenses in a bag, etc.  I even confirmed that with a camera shop. Zeiss, etc. are paranoid and to be honest, why take a risk when you are dealing with millions of dollars? Statistically speaking, there is almost no risk. Sure, you might transfer a spore, but it won't grow unless you let it, feed it, etc.  Just take care of your lenses and you will be fine.   I don't disagree to what you're saying but to your point, it needs the medium - once on the road or in the bag one might create this - without knowing. Guess I wass just advocating the cautious approach.... you don't want to have to send the entire lens kit for CLA in 1 go :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bender73 Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share #16 Â Posted December 13, 2014 I don't disagree to what you're saying but to your point, it needs the medium - once on the road or in the bag one might create this - without knowing. Guess I wass just advocating the cautious approach.... you don't want to have to send the entire lens kit for CLA in 1 go :-) Â Oh sure, I would not tempt fate until after the CLA. It is getting a full cleaning in the next 2 weeks along with the M3 I got with the lens. Both were sitting in some estate forever. The package deal was way too good to pass up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkP Posted December 13, 2014 Share #17 Â Posted December 13, 2014 Be careful - fungus can get to your other lenses too! Â ...or in your groin or between your toes . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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