sboyle92 Posted October 28, 2019 Share #1  Posted October 28, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello all. Recently, I obtained a Leica Summicron 5cm collapsable lens. Overall, it's in really great shape and surprisingly, no marks on the lens elements - no scratches, no cleaning marks, etc. Not even fungus. The only noticeable issue is some slight haze on the inner elements. I know this is probably due to the oils drying on the lens elements. The lens is remarkably sharp and shows great detail, however, the haze does diminish the contrast a little. In Lightroom, I can correct it with the dehaze slider but I really don't want to. The only other issue the haze causes is when there is strong side or back lighting, there is a bit of haze in the image. This side lit haze effect is a bit more difficult to correct in Lightroom. The question I have is, would a thorough CLA remove the haze and help improve the contrast? After pouring through this forum, I was thinking of sending to to DAG for service. His price seems reasonable but I was curious to know from readers here if it would be worth it. I'd rather sell the lens and apply the CLA fee for a newer Summicron if there won't be much of a return on the CLA. With the exception of the haze, the optics are really in excellent shape. That's what's making my choice tough. And the fact, it looks really cool on my M240. I'm eager to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 28, 2019 Posted October 28, 2019 Hi sboyle92, Take a look here Summicron 5cm collapsable with haze. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TomB_tx Posted October 28, 2019 Share #2  Posted October 28, 2019 (edited) The old Summicrons, Summars, Summarons, etc. I’ve had haze-cleaned by DAG made quite an improvement in the images. Well worth it IMO. Edited October 28, 2019 by TomB_tx 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinjun Posted October 28, 2019 Share #3 Â Posted October 28, 2019 A CLA competently done should certainly improve a haze-affected lens and an otherwise unmarked lens deserves it. I recently had this done to a collapsible summicron and contrast was noticeably improved. Getting a newer summicron instead might be worth considering depending on what you are after. I think most agree that later summicrons are technically better in terms of image quality - though perhaps less characterful and less compact. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 28, 2019 Share #4  Posted October 28, 2019 I have 2 Summicron collapsible (both SM) : first one shows haze, and it was never CLAed : see hereunder 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! the second one (a bit older) was professionally cleaned-repolished ; see herunder quick takings just made :  jpg out of camera (M240), cropped and resized for publish : f8 on bot, best focus I could achieve in 3 test shots for each (EVF) Not exahustive test (more colors would be appreciable to evaluate contrast) but a clear difference imho  4 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! the second one (a bit older) was professionally cleaned-repolished ; see herunder quick takings just made :  jpg out of camera (M240), cropped and resized for publish : f8 on bot, best focus I could achieve in 3 test shots for each (EVF) Not exahustive test (more colors would be appreciable to evaluate contrast) but a clear difference imho  ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302900-summicron-5cm-collapsable-with-haze/?do=findComment&comment=3843827'>More sharing options...
sboyle92 Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share #5  Posted October 28, 2019 Thank you everyone for thoughtful info and special thanks to you @luigi bertolotti, those demo pictures of yours shows a clear and remarkable difference. Under controlled lighting, the haze is not too bad in my lens; it's just when there is strong back or side lighting that the lens flares out a bit. And @sinjun, I agree with you, the newer lenses are technically better in terms of image quality - but less characterful. There's something really special about the bokeh this lens has and to me, this lens has a more "film" quality to it than the technically correct modern lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sboyle92 Posted December 23, 2019 Author Share #6  Posted December 23, 2019 Update. Back in early November, I sent my 5cm collapsable 'cron to DAG for a full CLA. It came back yesterday and I've never seen a lens cleaned to this level of perfection. I knew the elements did not have any scratches, cleaning marks, dings etc - even though the front element is said to be very soft glass. The aperture blades are clean, all the internal haze is gone - I was expecting to see maybe a little. OMG, the elements are so beautifully clear. And both the aperture and focus ring have a very nice feel to them. Testing the lens on my M240 reveals the real magic of this lens. Is it super contrasty like a new lens? No, but it does have that beautiful film quality to the shots. I really cannot be any happier I went with the cleaning. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lelmer Posted December 24, 2019 Share #7  Posted December 24, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Great. Enjoy, and don't hesitate to show nice results Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 24, 2019 Share #8  Posted December 24, 2019 On 10/28/2019 at 11:05 PM, luigi bertolotti said: I have 2 Summicron collapsible (both SM) : first one shows haze, and it was never CLAed : see hereunder 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! the second one (a bit older) was professionally cleaned-repolished ; see herunder quick takings just made :  jpg out of camera (M240), cropped and resized for publish : f8 on bot, best focus I could achieve in 3 test shots for each (EVF) Not exahustive test (more colors would be appreciable to evaluate contrast) but a clear difference imho  Totally OT: Luigi, I thought these tins were blue? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted December 24, 2019 Share #9  Posted December 24, 2019 19 minutes ago, jaapv said: Totally OT: Luigi, I thought these tins were blue? Ah... do you like that tobacco, Jaap ? (isn't easy to find in my town... but i liked it and kept the tin to remember to buy again if I find) And... 😎 you're right, real color is blue... but the above pics were quickly taken in warm home light, didn't perform any white balancing, and, given that the tin almost filled the frame (I used an extension ring, with EVF) the color balancing was completely fooled... and I quickly cut and resized the jpgs with no process... to amend, here's one taken just now in sunlight... 😉 (same camera, but another Summicron 50... 😊) 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! 1 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/302900-summicron-5cm-collapsable-with-haze/?do=findComment&comment=3878731'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 24, 2019 Share #10 Â Posted December 24, 2019 You'll have to order it from Denmark... Â https://www.danishpipeshop.com/l/Tobacco/Samuel-Gawith- 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted December 24, 2019 Share #11  Posted December 24, 2019 57 minutes ago, jaapv said: Totally OT: Luigi, I thought these tins were blue? You cannot get away with any falsehoods on this site! A lovely pre-Christmas exchange, reminding me of my fathers pipe and 'aromatic' tobacco of another brand.😊 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted December 24, 2019 Share #12  Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 44 minutes ago, jaapv said: You'll have to order it from Denmark...  https://www.danishpipeshop.com/l/Tobacco/Samuel-Gawith- I fear in Italy is forbidden by law to import tobacco, even privately... it's a state monopoly... they must bear this sticker (I think they'd stop it at duty... and you can be prosecuted 😯) (btw... my tin costed 22 Euros ... 18,5 delivered, on Danish site...) 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! OT... lot of SNOW in Badia and surroundings... 😉 Edited December 24, 2019 by luigi bertolotti 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! OT... lot of SNOW in Badia and surroundings... 😉 ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302900-summicron-5cm-collapsable-with-haze/?do=findComment&comment=3878752'>More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted December 24, 2019 Share #13  Posted December 24, 2019 The thread prompted me to test the difference in contrast between my 50mm Summilux-ASPH & the 5cm Summicron Collapsible LTM I bought from Leica Shop Vienna seven years ago.  Used my M240 and imported the .dng into LR then exported as 950px .jpg.  The framed picture is lit by weak daylight from the right.  No prizes for identifying which is which. 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! I bought the Summicron for use with the IIIg I had at the time but nowadays it only finds very occasional use on my M7.  Given that low contrast negs are easier to scan, perhaps I should relegate to the shelf the 50mm C-Sonnar f1.5 that usually occupies the M7. Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! I bought the Summicron for use with the IIIg I had at the time but nowadays it only finds very occasional use on my M7.  Given that low contrast negs are easier to scan, perhaps I should relegate to the shelf the 50mm C-Sonnar f1.5 that usually occupies the M7. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/302900-summicron-5cm-collapsable-with-haze/?do=findComment&comment=3878845'>More sharing options...
Reini Posted December 24, 2019 Share #14  Posted December 24, 2019 Am 28.10.2019 um 15:44 schrieb sboyle92: The question I have is, would a thorough CLA remove the haze and help improve the contrast? After pouring through this forum, I was thinking of sending to to DAG for service. His price seems reasonable but I was curious to know from readers here if it would be worth it. I'd rather sell the lens and apply the CLA fee for a newer Summicron if there won't be much of a return on the CLA. How much does a CLA cost there !? A nice Summicron is not cheap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted December 24, 2019 Share #15  Posted December 24, 2019 Uh... asph for the top picture ? 🙄 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sboyle92 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share #16  Posted January 6, 2020 @Reini The cost for a full CLA is $135. What made me consider this was the condition of the lens. There were no scratches, no dings, no swirls, no cleaning marks. So, the glass itself was in terrific shape. It was just the haze from the lubricants that dried out - and this also affected the smoothness of the aperture; it was hard to close it down smoothly. I know the front element on this is said to be as soft as chalk so, the moment this lens came back from DAG, I put a B+W filter over the front. For those wanting to see results, here's a test image I did with my M240. ISO-200, f/2.8, 1/2000, shot in DNG, straight out the the camera, into Lightroom, and exported as a JPG, no edits. And reduced in size ( 307kb ) to be accepted in this post.  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! 3 1 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/302900-summicron-5cm-collapsable-with-haze/?do=findComment&comment=3886133'>More sharing options...
sboyle92 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share #17 Â Posted January 6, 2020 @Keith (M)Â I'm thinking, looking at the contrast and tonal range, the top image would be the ASPH. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted January 6, 2020 Share #18  Posted January 6, 2020 ^^^ Correct - a difficult choice wasn't it...   😎 😋 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sboyle92 Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share #19  Posted January 6, 2020 1 hour ago, Keith (M) said: ^^^ Correct - a difficult choice wasn't it...   😎 😋 It was a difficult choice - until I saw how thorough the cleaning was and the results I'm getting from this lens. And it does look AWESOME on the camera. 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/302900-summicron-5cm-collapsable-with-haze/?do=findComment&comment=3886269'>More sharing options...
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