johnloumiles Posted June 19, 2021 Share #1 Posted June 19, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) This happened during a while ago but wanted to see if anyone else can recognize what happened. I’m leaning towards the coating being wiped up but never seen it happen before. I remember wiping the lens with a lens cloth in really humid conditions and it just came off. Probably some kind of containment on the cloth. 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! Quote 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/321957-coating-wiped-off-24mm-elmarit/?do=findComment&comment=4222545'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 19, 2021 Posted June 19, 2021 Hi johnloumiles, Take a look here Coating Wiped Off - 24mm Elmarit. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted June 19, 2021 Share #2 Posted June 19, 2021 Acid will remove coating, maybe the cloth was contaminated with vinegar? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted June 19, 2021 Share #3 Posted June 19, 2021 The front element can be re-coated, can't it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted June 19, 2021 Share #4 Posted June 19, 2021 15 minutes ago, Herr Barnack said: The front element can be re-coated, can't it? In different ways. Where is quick coating available for reading glasses. Very easy to apply and to wipe off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ko.Fe. Posted June 19, 2021 Share #5 Posted June 19, 2021 22 minutes ago, johnloumiles said: This happened during a while ago but wanted to see if anyone else can recognize what happened. I’m leaning towards the coating being wiped up but never seen it happen before. I remember wiping the lens with a lens cloth in really humid conditions and it just came off. Probably some kind of containment on the cloth. 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! "Containment on the cloth"? You'll need strong acid for it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnloumiles Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share #6 Posted June 19, 2021 Could be computer screen cleaner as that’s the only cleaner I would use on those lens clothes (usually separate screen and lens but could be a mixup). Possibly windex at some point if I got lazy with the computer cleaner. It’s really weird since I’ve been a lot more brutal to old, cheap non-leica lenses and have never seen coating come off. Maybe it’s scratches but can’t see having something that gritty hanging on my clothes. Not sure I’d trust myself to redcoat a lens but wonder if Leica can do it. thanks for feedback Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrFriendly Posted June 19, 2021 Share #7 Posted June 19, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) 2 hours ago, johnloumiles said: Could be computer screen cleaner as that’s the only cleaner I would use on those lens clothes (usually separate screen and lens but could be a mixup). Possibly windex at some point if I got lazy with the computer cleaner. It’s really weird since I’ve been a lot more brutal to old, cheap non-leica lenses and have never seen coating come off. Maybe it’s scratches but can’t see having something that gritty hanging on my clothes. Not sure I’d trust myself to redcoat a lens but wonder if Leica can do it. thanks for feedback The Tips On Lens Care section of the instruction booklet of one of my Leica lenses reads: Do not use the type of cloths used especially for cleaning eyeglasses since these are impregnated with chemicals which can damage the glass used for high performance lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreasG Posted June 19, 2021 Share #8 Posted June 19, 2021 Lens "cloth" often is paper or a non woven fabric, they feel soft, especially when wetted with alcohol, but actually they are abrasive like a fine polishing cloth. The damage shown above seems to be a mechanical damage and not caused by chemicals. Alcohol in lens cloth usually is Ethanol and/or Isopropanol, both are not able to dissolve an inorganic lens coating. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 19, 2021 Share #9 Posted June 19, 2021 6 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said: "Containment on the cloth"? You'll need strong acid for it. Not really. The repair persoin I know uses household vinegar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 19, 2021 Share #10 Posted June 19, 2021 6 hours ago, johnloumiles said: Could be computer screen cleaner as that’s the only cleaner I would use on those lens clothes (usually separate screen and lens but could be a mixup). Possibly windex at some point if I got lazy with the computer cleaner. It’s really weird since I’ve been a lot more brutal to old, cheap non-leica lenses and have never seen coating come off. Maybe it’s scratches but can’t see having something that gritty hanging on my clothes. Not sure I’d trust myself to redcoat a lens but wonder if Leica can do it. thanks for feedback I am convinced that Leica would only replace the front element if still available. There used to be a few recoating services but I am not sure whether there are any left. Have you tried to use the lens? It may be that the results are not much impaired. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted June 19, 2021 Share #11 Posted June 19, 2021 Just be sure it's not contamination left behind from the lens cloth rather than coating that has been removed. Try cleaning it again with IPA. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted June 19, 2021 Share #12 Posted June 19, 2021 4 hours ago, MrFriendly said: The Tips On Lens Care section of the instruction booklet of one of my Leica lenses reads: Do not use the type of cloths used especially for cleaning eyeglasses since these are impregnated with chemicals which can damage the glass used for high performance lenses. But that would also go for eyeglasses with coated lenses wouldn't it? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 19, 2021 Share #13 Posted June 19, 2021 If that is the same type of coating, which I doubt. Glass spectacle lens coatings can be removed with Isopropyl Alcohol, which does not damage photographic lens coatings. The coatings on plastic lenses are etched to the surface. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted June 19, 2021 Share #14 Posted June 19, 2021 8 hours ago, johnloumiles said: This happened during a while ago but wanted to see if anyone else can recognize what happened. I’m leaning towards the coating being wiped up but never seen it happen before. I remember wiping the lens with a lens cloth in really humid conditions and it just came off. Probably some kind of containment on the cloth. Interesting! I have a 90mm Elmarit-M with similar damage (I bought it cheap) and the serial number is not that far off yours. I just wonder if there was a batch coating problem? 7 hours ago, Herr Barnack said: The front element can be re-coated, can't it? Not very economically - Leica will replace the front element I expect, if asked, at a price. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
crony Posted June 19, 2021 Share #15 Posted June 19, 2021 Hi, this is what I would do. - (I have the 24 Elmarit asph., too, and I like using it.) Buy a Leica 55mm UV filter. It finds under the original hood. This is a low-cost solution. 🙂 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted June 19, 2021 Share #16 Posted June 19, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, jaapv said: I am convinced that Leica would only replace the front element if still available. There used to be a few recoating services but I am not sure whether there are any left. Have you tried to use the lens? It may be that the results are not much impaired. When I asked Leica, they said that they had spare front elements for my lens and this was their only repair solution. There are still specialists who can recoat but given that the lens has to be stripped down and the element removed, the old coating removed and then recoated, it may well be an expensive repair. Also if the front element is not a single element (both the 90mm Elmarit-M and 24/2.8 are) then there can apparently be complications, or so I have been told. I may look into getting mine recoated but the business doing this only accepts batches from the lens firm who offers the repair (they sub-contract the reciting) so I have to wait unitl a sufficient number of lenses require reciting in a batch. I'm still baffled as to why the coating stripped away so obviously and would query whether there was a problem with the coating application oiginally because it is, obviously, usually strongly bonded to the glass, via vapour deposition I believe. Its too late to really blame anyone at this stage but it would be interesting to know if more lenses from the period had similar issues (or any others come to that). Edited June 19, 2021 by pgk 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Jefferson Posted June 19, 2021 Share #17 Posted June 19, 2021 Sunscreen? https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61295550 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted June 19, 2021 Share #18 Posted June 19, 2021 4 minutes ago, Casey Jefferson said: Sunscreen? https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/61295550 Plausible. I will keep this in mind. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnloumiles Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share #19 Posted June 20, 2021 (edited) 23 hours ago, MrFriendly said: The Tips On Lens Care section of the instruction booklet of one of my Leica lenses reads: Do not use the type of cloths used especially for cleaning eyeglasses since these are impregnated with chemicals which can damage the glass used for high performance lenses. I meant lens cloth as in camera lens, not eyeglass but good recommendation. 20 hours ago, jaapv said: I am convinced that Leica would only replace the front element if still available. There used to be a few recoating services but I am not sure whether there are any left. Have you tried to use the lens? It may be that the results are not much impaired. Yeah I use it. Seems a little flare-y, like that chlorine in the eye effect you get with some old Russian lenses. Not terrible but not super sharp like it use to be. Edited June 20, 2021 by johnloumiles Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01maciel Posted June 20, 2021 Share #20 Posted June 20, 2021 I had similar issues with a Voigtlander lens here (incl. solution). I couldn't believe it but it turned out to be persistent smear. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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