Big Jim Posted December 14, 2023 Share #1  Posted December 14, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi I’ve been offered this lens for a cheap price because of the marking seen with a spotlight test. Does this look like fungus or just cleaning marks ? Apparently the marks are on the rear lens. Is there any chance at all that this could be usable, possible to be repaired or should I just walk away no matter how cheap ?  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/385892-leica-summicron-50mm-f2-dual-range-ridgid-fungus-or-scratches/?do=findComment&comment=4942805'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 14, 2023 Posted December 14, 2023 Hi Big Jim, Take a look here Leica Summicron 50mm F/2 Dual Range Ridgid fungus or scratches. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pippy Posted December 15, 2023 Share #2 Â Posted December 15, 2023 (edited) "Is there any chance at all that this could be usable?"... Are you being serious? I've never seen a lens in such a pitiful state. Were you to buy it everything you shoot will look like it's been snapped through a '+3' soft-focus filter and the film you used was 25 years past its 'Use By' date into the bargain. Looking for the upsides? It would make a wonderfully inexpensive alternative to a Thambar... Philip. Edited December 15, 2023 by pippy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danner Posted December 15, 2023 Share #3 Â Posted December 15, 2023 LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtai Posted December 15, 2023 Share #4 Â Posted December 15, 2023 Hard pass! DR with near perfect glass is common. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitroplait Posted December 15, 2023 Share #5 Â Posted December 15, 2023 Coating marks and micro-scratches from over cleaning is common on the collapsible a the two rigid Sumicrons - glass and coating was very soft. It will cause some degree of contrast drop depending on lighting conditions. These defects can never be remedied economically. If you buy such a lens you should think of it as permanent. The lens you show however seems to have something more servere going on. It looks 3 dimensional to my eye which would indicate something more problematic. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
espelt Posted December 15, 2023 Share #6  Posted December 15, 2023 There was a Summarit in a very similar condition hanging on an M2 that I bought. Of course I tried it out anyway. And was surprised that it still worked. With the aperture open, the subjects were very blurred, and stopped down they were even quite usable. I sold it later. The buyer was looking for something exactly like this... 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 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/385892-leica-summicron-50mm-f2-dual-range-ridgid-fungus-or-scratches/?do=findComment&comment=4943023'>More sharing options...
overexposed Posted December 15, 2023 Share #7 Â Posted December 15, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) sure, people overestimate the influence of scratches on the image quality. but this is hardcore, also a hard pass for me 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted December 15, 2023 Share #8 Â Posted December 15, 2023 When it is this bad on the rear lens, it is definitely a pass unless I want a really soft image. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted December 15, 2023 Share #9 Â Posted December 15, 2023 6 hours ago, espelt said: There was a Summarit in a very similar condition hanging on an M2 that I bought. Of course I tried it out anyway. And was surprised that it still worked. With the aperture open, the subjects were very blurred, and stopped down they were even quite usable... I actually rather like the images you posted, Oliver, and certainly for scenes such as these the lens definitely added something...erm...interesting. I have a similarly 'destroyed' 50mm Summar (it effectively came free bundled with a Nicca III 'Barnack' clone) and it produces photographs with much the same 'look'. The only difference is that mine produces images slightly sharper at f2.0 and the images soften-up as the lens is stopped down. Quite nice for some situations but completely useless for everyday snapping. Philip. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
espelt Posted December 15, 2023 Share #10 Â Posted December 15, 2023 vor 18 Minuten schrieb pippy: Quite nice for some situations but completely useless for everyday snapping. Yes, completely agree with you. You can use a lens like this from time to time for certain situations. Or smear grease on a filter. I wouldn't buy a lens like this individually. But you can definitely try it out as a bycatch. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted December 15, 2023 Share #11 Â Posted December 15, 2023 (edited) 8 hours ago, espelt said: Yes, completely agree with you. You can use a lens like this from time to time for certain situations. Or smear grease on a filter... Not wishing to go too far off-tangent - although I'm not sure we could go much further with the OP anyhow - to put some context and throw some reasoning behind my previous post (#9) regarding the knackered Summar... When first tried the lens was used outdoors on a sunny summer's day. The aperture used would have been down in the f8.0 / f11.0 area. Results were 'interesting' in that although percieved details were actually very sharp the whole of the image suffered from a pronounced 'glow' which made the photograph appear soft all over; hence my reference to the "poor man's Thambar" back in the start of the thread. Then something unexpected happened. At a later date the lens was used in a low-light situation at f2.0 and the image's details were still sharp (for a mid 1930's 'fast' lens) but even although the lens was now wide-open there was considerably less glow than had been seen previously. The only real area of damage to the optics is to the central-circle area of the front element; the outer-edges of this glass seems to be relatively undamaged. It is my theory (and it really is no more than that) is that when the lens is used at f11.0 the more-damaged area of the lens has, proportionally speaking, a greater influence over the captured image than when the aperture is at f2.0 where, perhaps, the less-damaged parts of the element have a greater say in how the image is rendered. Absolutely no idea as to how this theory might be put to the test! Philip. Edited December 16, 2023 by pippy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted December 16, 2023 Share #12 Â Posted December 16, 2023 I had a 90mm Elmarit-M with significant coating damage. Despite this it was still very 'sharp' but unfortunately had distinct 'glow' (highlight bleed) at all apertures. This seems to be the effect of myriad small scratches and/or coating damage which displace highlights into any adjacent hard shadow areas producing 'glow'. I have other lenses with element damage and they can exhibit similar effects depending on the lighting and aperture, etc. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 16, 2023 Share #13 Â Posted December 16, 2023 Actually I think it has fungus along the edges as well. A definite no-no. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jim Posted January 11 Author Share #14  Posted January 11 I’m still hoping to pick up a DR and have been offered one which has near perfect glass except for a quite difficult to see circle of points on the outer edge inner side of the front lens. Could this be separation ? A deal breaker ? 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/385892-leica-summicron-50mm-f2-dual-range-ridgid-fungus-or-scratches/?do=findComment&comment=5737820'>More sharing options...
Kl@usW. Posted January 12 Share #15  Posted January 12 Am 11.1.2025 um 19:49 schrieb Big Jim: I’m still hoping to pick up a DR and have been offered one which has near perfect glass except for a quite difficult to see circle of points on the outer edge inner side of the front lens. Could this be separation ? A deal breaker ? 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!   Jim, there are spots visible in the upper left of the image… but this photo isn’t really suitable for an assessment. However: separation, by definition, occurs between two lens elements. If it’s clearly visible that the spots are on the back of the front lens element, then it can’t be separation. There’s also ‘Schneideritis’—but that also occurs between lens elements. Fungus looks different, so that really just leaves dust or particles caused by abrasion of aperture blades. I think it’s acceptable. Perfect, flawless DRs are something you won’t find anymore anyway. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jim Posted January 14 Author Share #16  Posted January 14 On 1/12/2025 at 11:37 PM, Kl@usW. said: Jim, there are spots visible in the upper left of the image… but this photo isn’t really suitable for an assessment. However: separation, by definition, occurs between two lens elements. If it’s clearly visible that the spots are on the back of the front lens element, then it can’t be separation. There’s also ‘Schneideritis’—but that also occurs between lens elements. Fungus looks different, so that really just leaves dust or particles caused by abrasion of aperture blades. I think it’s acceptable. Perfect, flawless DRs are something you won’t find anymore anyway. Thanks ! Here is another shot showing the spots 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/385892-leica-summicron-50mm-f2-dual-range-ridgid-fungus-or-scratches/?do=findComment&comment=5739685'>More sharing options...
Kl@usW. Posted January 15 Share #17  Posted January 15 vor 11 Stunden schrieb Big Jim: Thanks ! Here is another shot showing the spots 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! Thanks for the new photo—however, since it’s not three-dimensional, I can’t determine whether the spots really are on the rear surface of the front lens element. My opinion: if you’re buying the lens as a collector, I’d say no; as a user, yes. You can expect some impact on contrast in backlight, but that’s normal for lenses of this age anyway. Use a lens hood and enjoy the flare—it’s a feature! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted January 15 Share #18  Posted January 15 On 1/11/2025 at 7:49 PM, Big Jim said: I’m still hoping to pick up a DR and have been offered one which has near perfect glass except for a quite difficult to see circle of points on the outer edge inner side of the front lens. Could this be separation ? [...] Honestly i don't know but DR copies in good condition are not that hard to find. I got one (w/o goggles) for about 800 EUR recently. I would pass on this DR copy unless a repair is affordable but it is not the buyer to take the risk IMHO. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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