Suggestions on cracked summicron 35 f/2

[Forefuego]

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Hello Leica lovers,

I regret to say i have discovered a crack on my lens. I haven’t had a chance to develop any film to see how bad it shows up, but I will be shocked and pleased if it doesn’t. I’m wondering if anyone on here has any recommendations?
 

Maybe someone reading this has a ”for parts” copy with a good front element they will want to sell (fingers crossed).

 

 Thank you

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[jaapv]

To begin with it won’t show up. Secondly Leica does match lens elements, so there is no guarantee that a front element from another lens would give a good result. To summarize:leave well enough alone and use the lens as it is. 

[250swb]

A crack is very unusual, can some corrosion be seen in the retaining ring (second photo) that is putting pressure on the front element? If so it should be removed and cleaned. But as Jaap says it won't show up in photos.

[LocalHero1953]

Leica replaced the front element of my Apo-Summicron-M 90 asph after it acquired a central scratch (I'm too embarrassed to explain how). It had no effect on image quality - I used the lens for years - but I was thinking of selling it, and the likely price reduction was greater than the cost of repair. I'm not convinced by this element matching notion, but your lens may be much older than mine and Leica may not have the right element available. 

[darylgo]

Not a 35mm Summicron, rather a 180mm Elmarit R of mine has a nasty scratch (gouge), more central. I had read that a black marker will reduce glare on the roughened glass, so with nothing to lose I tried it. The lens performs without any issues that I can determine.  
 

I am curious as to the cause and what Leica could do for this. Keep us informed. 

[Pyrogallol]

It should not affect your pictures unless it catches the sun and produces a bit of flare occasionally or spreads like a crack in a car windscreen.

If you want to see a real crack look at this one on a Canon lens I have

 

Edited November 21, 2021 by Pyrogallol

[Pyrogallol]

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I also have a 35mm Summicron that I call a Spotticron. My Leica repair man said that the spots will not clean off and look as if someone sneezed on the lens before putting it away. I have not seen any affect on pictures so far.

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Edited November 21, 2021 by Pyrogallol

[egrossman]

6 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

Leica replaced the front element of my Apo-Summicron-M 90 asph after it acquired a central scratch (I'm too embarrassed to explain how). It had no effect on image quality - I used the lens for years - but I was thinking of selling it, and the likely price reduction was greater than the cost of repair. I'm not convinced by this element matching notion, but your lens may be much older than mine and Leica may not have the right element available. 

@LocalHero1953How much did it cost to repair? I stupidly scratched the front element of my 50mm APO while cleaning it. It is insured however. 

[KFo]

1 hour ago, egrossman said:

@LocalHero1953How much did it cost to repair? I stupidly scratched the front element of my 50mm APO while cleaning it. It is insured however. 

Wait.  Your lens is insured against.....what?

[KFo]

17 hours ago, Forefuego said:

Hello Leica lovers,

I regret to say i have discovered a crack on my lens. I haven’t had a chance to develop any film to see how bad it shows up, but I will be shocked and pleased if it doesn’t. I’m wondering if anyone on here has any recommendations?
 

Maybe someone reading this has a ”for parts” copy with a good front element they will want to sell (fingers crossed).

 

 Thank you

 

 

Dude, I would be so "all in" about this crack.  I'd show it to everyone and use the lens for every photo I'd make for a year.  I would even name the lens "Crackcron"or something like that.  Every post with a picture from that lens would get the crackcron moniker.  I'd show it to every camera store in town.  You get the idea, own and have fun with.

I other words, I'd never fix it.  It's like my Summaron with the upside down trim ring lettering. Run whatcha brung.

[plaidshirts]

6 hours ago, Pyrogallol said:

I also have a 35mm Summicron that I call a Spotticron. My Leica repair man said that the spots will not clean off and look as if someone sneezed on the lens before putting it away. I have not seen any affect on pictures so far.

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Must have been some sneeze

[Forefuego]

9 hours ago, 250swb said:

A crack is very unusual, can some corrosion be seen in the retaining ring (second photo) that is putting pressure on the front element? If so it should be removed and cleaned. But as Jaap says it won't show up in photos.

If corrosion is the issue (which to me makes the most sense), it's very unnoticeable. I have no idea how this happened. its been new to me since April and usually with a filter of some sort on the front of it. I did inspect it thoroughly when I received it, so this has happened with it in my possession.

[Forefuego]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone, I've been stressed over it for the past week since it's the most I've ever paid for a lens. I baby this thing more than any piece of equipment I've ever had, so the mystery of it kills me. I've kept a filter on it since day one, but recently started to use it without since so many say it's a sin to do so on a Leica. curious anyone thought on this while we're at it.

[LocalHero1953]

2 hours ago, egrossman said:

@LocalHero1953How much did it cost to repair? I stupidly scratched the front element of my 50mm APO while cleaning it. It is insured however. 

Sorry it was several years ago. I sold the lens and, as is my practice, threw away all the documentation!

[Forefuego]

I am planning to have my M6 CLA'd and viewfinder swapped for the MP viewfinder. so I will likely send the lens along with it to be inspected while I'm at it. 

[Kl@usW.]

About 5 years ago I had the rear lens of a Summicron-R 2/35 replaced before selling because there was a scratch which showed on the picture if the lens was stopped down.  It was about 350 € including complete CLA in Wetzlar. Anyway I called them before sending the lens and they checked if they still had spare lenses; they also asked for the SN because there seemed to be a change of the optics along the production time.  

K. 

[jaapv]

39 minutes ago, Forefuego said:

so many say it's a sin to do so on a Leica.

So many talk absolute bollocks...🙄

[jaapv]

10 hours ago, LocalHero1953 said:

I'm not convinced by this element matching notion

Erwin Puts Leica Lens Compendium, page 44

[pippy]

1 hour ago, Forefuego said:

...I've kept a filter on it since day one, but recently started to use it without since so many say it's a sin to do so on a Leica...

A "Sin"? Good Grief.

I have always used a filter for protecting the front element against accidental damage. In over 40 years of shooting with Leica M not one of my front elements has ever experienced accidental damage. IMO leaving a filter off a lens (as a general rule) is merely asking for trouble. If I ever do encounter a situation where a filter might be causing flare-issues then I simply remove it and replace it once the snap is in the bag.

As has been said the mark will have no effect whatsoever other than a very slight possibility to have a tiny bit of flare but only under very specific circumstances. Ignore it as you will never know it is there.

Philip.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Forefuego]

18 minutes ago, pippy said:

I have always used a filter for protecting the front element against accidental damage. In over 40 years of shooting with Leica M not one of my front elements has ever experienced accidental damage. IMO leaving a filter off a lens (as a general rule) is merely asking for trouble. If I ever do encounter a situation where a filter might be causing flare-issues then I simply remove it and replace it once the snap is in the bag.

As has been said the mark will have no effect whatsoever other than a very slight possibility to have a tiny bit of flare but only under very specific circumstances. Ignore it as you will never know it is there.

Philip.

I'm happy to hear this. Once I discovered the crack I immediately decided I'd keep my Leica UV on it, I also just purchased a snap on hood for good measure. thanks for the input.