M lenses: How often do they need a CLA or overhaul?

[Herr Barnack]

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M lenses:  How often do they need a CLA or overhaul?

 

I Google searched that question and could find no definitive answer.  I have searched this forum and found no answer, definitive or otherwise.

Some M users say an M camera should be overhauled once for every ten years of average use (however you define average use) - more often for rampant shooters like photojournalists who may make 100,000 or more images in a year (yes, I know that precious few photojournalists work with M cameras these days).

In thinking about this, it occurred to me that M cameras have significantly more moving parts and more total parts that can malfunction/break/wear out than M lenses do.  So does the ten year suggestion apply to lenses, too?  Or is "if it's not broken, don't try to fix it" the principle to apply to CLAs or overhauls for lenses?

Edited January 19, 2022 by Herr Barnack

[Guest]

I had 3 minolta lenses , 58mm f1.4 mc....85mm f1.8 mc and 300mm f4 md for 37 years without any issue at all,,,,,i also have 4 older leica lenses that work perfectly ,28mm elmarit version 2 and 4 ,90mm tele-elmarit and the relatively new leica 50mm summicrom v 5 from 2001 [ silver] which all work totally fine.

Get your kids to service them after you pass if they want or just let them sell them.

Ten years!! more like 40 years i reckon or more.

[shirubadanieru]

one of the best leica repairmen in Japan wrote a blog post about that (japanese only) but his recommendation was to change the grease (not full CLA) : 

- for ltm elmar lenses : every 3 years (due to the helicoid being exposed it’s easy for the grease to dry out)

- for others : 5~10y 

A full cla would only be needed if the lens is  hazy (can’t always be removed), has fungus (sometimes a lost hope), has a lot of dust or a loose aperture ring (easy fix). 
 

so the best you can do is keep them in a dry (but not too dry) box with enough light and use them as much as possible. If you do this you’ll be fine and will only have to change grease once every while  

Edited January 19, 2022 by shirubadanieru

[spydrxx]

In my experience, never unless or until they develop a problem. I found with my 35 Summaron that was about 20 years, focusing became stiff. Never had to do it with any of my Summiluxes and only once with a Summicron...which was damaged when it fell onto frozen asphalt pavement and wouldn't properly focus. DAG fixed everything just fine.

[Jeff S]

11 hours ago, shirubadanieru said:

one of the best leica repairmen in Japan wrote a blog post about that (japanese only) but his recommendation was to change the grease (not full CLA) : 

- for ltm elmar lenses : every 3 years (due to the helicoid being exposed it’s easy for the grease to dry out)

- for others : 5~10y 

A full cla would only be needed if the lens is  hazy (can’t always be removed), has fungus (sometimes a lost hope), has a lot of dust or a loose aperture ring (easy fix). 
 

so the best you can do is keep them in a dry (but not too dry) box with enough light and use them as much as possible. If you do this you’ll be fine and will only have to change grease once every while  

He gets paid for repairs. If it ain’t broke….

Jeff

[Masukami]

16 hours ago, shirubadanieru said:

so the best you can do is keep them in a dry (but not too dry) box

I’ve thought about this point a few times.

I keep my lenses in a sealed box with silica gel. 

Are you suggesting this is bad for them?

[Gobert]

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I would prefer a safe.

[Jean-Michel]

Almost never. Had my lenses checked by Leica when I went digital – a 1968 'Rigid' 50, 135 Elmarit, and a 1962 35 Summicron 'googled' adjusted by DAG as Leica did not serviced those.None are stored in any sort of protective environment and are simply in use. Never had any issues with these, or my new lenses.

[shirubadanieru]

1 hour ago, Masukami said:

I’ve thought about this point a few times.

I keep my lenses in a sealed box with silica gel. 

Are you suggesting this is bad for them?

No, that should be ok, but fungus love humid and dark places, so just make sure that that box is not hidden in a dark corner of the house Also, with silica gel it’s hard to know how dry it is…and depending on where you live that may or may not be an issue. If you live in Asia or in a place that is very humid during certain seasons, I highly recommend you get an electric safe, in which you set the desired humidity and the safe keeps it like that (for Leica lenses it’s anywhere between 43~45% humidity it seems). But again, the most important thing is that you use the gear, since UV from sunlight does not let fungus grow and constant use keeps your gear healthy : p 

Edited January 19, 2022 by shirubadanieru

[Masukami]

Thank you  for the advice - much appreciated.