WurzelbertAngenervt Posted October 3, 2019 Share #1  Posted October 3, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello! I am a new user to the M-system, as I got myself my first Leica M9 with a Voigtländer Nokton 35/ 1.4. I don´t like that lens. Then it came back to my mind, that my grandpa still had his old Leica M2- but I couldn´t remember which lens he got. When asking him, he got his (very dirty) Leica out of a plastic bag and I saw, that he had a PreASPH Summilux 35 /1.4 on it. I let him know, that I really liked to test the lens on my camera, and he gave me the whole M2+Summilux combination as a present. How lucky I am! Thank you, dear grandpa! After cleaning the lens, I recognized two spots on the front lens outside, that I could not remove, but feel with my finger nails. On images I couldn´t find these marks, but did not go any stops closer than 5.6 yet.  So, what do you experts say? Is it Fungus? Is there any chance to get this lens fixed, or should I keep it as it is? I don´t want any other lenses to be contaminated. Are there any things I should do?  Thanks in advance! Sebastian  Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302098-summilux-35-f14-preasph-fungus/?do=findComment&comment=3830243'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 3, 2019 Posted October 3, 2019 Hi WurzelbertAngenervt, Take a look here Summilux 35 f1.4 PreASPH - Fungus?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pedaes Posted October 3, 2019 Share #2 Â Posted October 3, 2019 My, probably very limited, understanding is fungus is usually found inside a lens on the internal elements. I don't think you would every see those blemishes on images at any aperture. I would use the lens and enjoy its family history. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted October 3, 2019 Share #3  Posted October 3, 2019 Looks like a rub mark. If you are afraid of any fungus position the lens on a window sill right side up  with the aperture poem and caps off so direct sunlight shines through it for a couple hours. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WurzelbertAngenervt Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share #4  Posted October 3, 2019 It came back to my mind that my grandpa told me, that he was underground, shooting photos and then the camera fell down. He was a miner back then. So there could be a possibility, that these marks came from that fall.  Thanks for your advice! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted October 3, 2019 Share #5 Â Posted October 3, 2019 How does the focus ring turn? Smoothly? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WurzelbertAngenervt Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share #6 Â Posted October 3, 2019 vor 22 Minuten schrieb jdlaing: How does the focus ring turn? Smoothly? I feel it should be fine. Never touched a newer Summilux to have any comparison, though... Starting from infinite to near, you can feel a little play for a very little distance, but not anything, that would make big worries to me. The aperture ring also moves fine. It is kinda loose, but stops at every point. Going from 1.4 to 2.8 is a little bit stiffer than the rest. All in all it feels like a mechanically fine lens, which could need a disassembly, cleaning and proper lubrication to me... Do you think this lens is still worth to be sent to Wetzlar for an overhaul? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaeger Posted October 3, 2019 Share #7  Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Have you use a flishlight to see clearly what they are? 43 minutes ago, WurzelbertAngenervt said: Do you think this lens is still worth to be sent to Wetzlar for an overhaul? it's a great lens. Edited October 3, 2019 by jaeger Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted October 3, 2019 Share #8  Posted October 3, 2019 1 hour ago, WurzelbertAngenervt said: I feel it should be fine. Never touched a newer Summilux to have any comparison, though... Starting from infinite to near, you can feel a little play for a very little distance, but not anything, that would make big worries to me. The aperture ring also moves fine. It is kinda loose, but stops at every point. Going from 1.4 to 2.8 is a little bit stiffer than the rest. All in all it feels like a mechanically fine lens, which could need a disassembly, cleaning and proper lubrication to me... Do you think this lens is still worth to be sent to Wetzlar for an overhaul? If the focus ring is smooth and the aperture ring clicks you’re good to go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 3, 2019 Share #9  Posted October 3, 2019 (edited) Spots are on the front element and you can feel them by nail --> no fungus I'd say. Given that some minor mechanical issue is present, I think it's definitely Worth to send it to some lab (*) for cleaning and adjusting : for such a lens, is a job to be done, expecially when you haven't had a cost for aquisition..   Have you an hood for it ? on Summilux is very advisable (and not so easy to find… ) (*) dunno if Wetzlar does the job… in case, it will be costly but of course you have both a good result and (keeping the docs on the work) an add on value to your item; a very qualified 3rd party lab is Van Manen in Holland (https://www.kamera-service.info/index.php/en/leica) Edited October 3, 2019 by luigi bertolotti Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreasG Posted October 4, 2019 Share #10 Â Posted October 4, 2019 vor 1 Stunde schrieb luigi bertolotti: it will be costly Yes, I recently paid 525Euro for the CLA of a pre ASPHÂ Summilux, it is like new now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted October 4, 2019 Share #11  Posted October 4, 2019 For balance, my pre-asph 35/1.4 Summilux v2 was CLA'd by Wetzlar for £150 about a year ago. If you can feel it with your fingernail then it's not fungus.  From the photo it looks like it might be chipped glass but equally it could be small droplets of a sugary drink that have 'set'.  If they don't cause noticeable problems in your pictures then I recommend leaving them where they are because removing them could cause damage to the lens coating underneath.  Even then, damage of that size to the lens coating of a pre-ash 35 Summilux probably wouldn't make a lot of difference because the lens is known (and loved) for its flare anyway. If it was me and it wasn't bugging me I'd let it lie and use the lens and wait until it did bug me and do something about it then. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WurzelbertAngenervt Posted October 4, 2019 Author Share #12  Posted October 4, 2019 Thanks Pete. It won´t be a drink. I tried to clean it with a bigger amount of 2-propanol, but it would not move. You maybe could remove it with some abrasive stuff, but I will not try that 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted October 4, 2019 Share #13 Â Posted October 4, 2019 Since it is't causing an issue with your images and seems to be working fine...just leave it like it is and take pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreasG Posted October 4, 2019 Share #14  Posted October 4, 2019 vor 1 Stunde schrieb WurzelbertAngenervt: Thanks Pete. It won´t be a drink. I tried to clean it with a bigger amount of 2-propanol, but it would not move. You maybe could remove it with some abrasive stuff, but I will not try that Isopropanol does not dissolve sugar, did you try with water/dish soap? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted October 4, 2019 Share #15 Â Posted October 4, 2019 48 minutes ago, AndreasG said: Isopropanol does not dissolve sugar, did you try with water/dish soap? I would be careful of using dishwashing detergent/soap because they often contains powerful grease-dissolving additives that might not be 'lens-friendy'. Â Better to use unperfumed soap that you would wash yourself in. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 4, 2019 Share #16 Â Posted October 4, 2019 If it is sugar tap water will dissolve it, if it doesn't it's not sugar. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreasG Posted October 4, 2019 Share #17  Posted October 4, 2019 (edited) As long as you don't soak the lens with the detergent, nothing happens - apply gently with a cotton swab and don't rub too hard. Edited October 4, 2019 by AndreasG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCPix Posted October 4, 2019 Share #18  Posted October 4, 2019 It looks like physical damage from your picture - where about is it when mounted on camera (rotationally)? The lens projects an image circle and the sensor/film is only a rectangular area taken from that bigger image circle.... because the damage is right at the edge of the front element it is unlikely to be creating a loss of image quality unless it happens to coincide (rotationally) exactly with one of the frame corners.  It might cause a bit of flare shooting into the light too? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WurzelbertAngenervt Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share #19  Posted April 3, 2020 In the meantime I had the lens sent in for a service and it works perfect. Unfortunately it just not fits my needs. It´s softness at f1.4 is kinda nice, but I need a lens that is sharp at that aperture. As I already have a Sony A7iii with 28mm as a workhorse, I am looking for a Voigtländer 40mm f1.2! I think I am going to sell this lens, as I would still have, and of course keep my grandpa´s M2. The price I could ask for is the only thing that concerns me... what would be a realistic price to ask for?  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreasG Posted April 3, 2020 Share #20 Â Posted April 3, 2020 Depending on the exact version, overall condition (there seems to be a small crack on the aperture tab in #1), accessories like lens caps, hood and box it should be in the range 1700-2400$ according to recent sales via ebay. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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