50DR CLA or not to CLA

[richard_pina]

I would appreciate any help I can get from forum readers on my 50DR. It is a

late example Ser#23573XX Cat#11918. Body mint, glass shows very slight fog

only visable with penlight test. I use this lens primarily for B&W work as I

like its signature. My question is if anyone has had personal experience with

getting this lens CLA'd and the resulting changes if any in the outcome of the

images it provided. I have talked to "Golden Touch" Krauter on this matter but

I would like to hear from forum readers. Thanks in advance.

[ronald_moravec1]

Any fog at all destroys the Leica look. Sharpness will not change if fog is slight, but tonal representation will. You will pick up contrast.

 

Send to DAG.

[mike dixon]

Depends on what you mean by "fog." These lenses have 50-year-old coatings, so even if they're in perfect, as-clean-as-they-can-possibly-be condition, they're not going to be crystal clear when you shine a flashlight through them.

 

DR-Summicrons are known for having very high resolution but relatively low (by modern standards) contrast. I have one that fits this description perfectly.

[tom_murray2]

Had one on my M3, did the flashlight thing and found some clouding inside (no fungus spiders though), sent it to a place somewhere in upstate NY who came highly reccomended. Came back crystal clear but that was because the coating on the inner glasses had been taken off along with the clouding. Upshot, the lens had less contrast and more flare than before I had it done. After that I traded it on later model lens that I still have. The store sold the old one to some guy who probably thinks he's got a rare one with mint glass!

[feli]

I had my DR cleaned by Leica, New Jersey.

 

There was slight haze that was visible with the penlight test, which gave an beautiful glow

to specular highlights. The only problem was that occasionally it would flare the frame if

you shot straight into the sun.

 

In any case, when I got the lens back some of the glow was gone, contrast was way up and

as a result the lens produced much crisper images. There difference was quite startling to

be honest. Also no more flare problems when shooting into the sun.

 

Was it worth it? Yes and no.

 

I miss the glow / veiling flare that the haze produced, but it was becoming a problem with

very bright light sources. It still is a medium contrast lens, but there is less of the

blooming around specular highlights.

 

The haze is a result of organic lubricants and I believe in part oxidation from the lead in

the glass elements.

[Troll]

I loved the look of the DR when it was new -- the perfect combination of Leica's famous "sharp and soft." Bringing it back as nearly as possible to that condition would be a prime consideration (if I hadn't foolishly given it away to my best friend at the time).

[larry_kincaid1]

Can anyone recoat these lenses with modern coating?

[adrian bastin]

I don't know how lens elements are normally cleaned but if you send it to a Leica specialist such as DAG or Golden Touch or CRR Luton (UK) the surfaces will be chemically cleaned and not touched at all, so the delicate coatings will not be damaged.

[john_newell2]

I did with my DR as Feli did, a few years ago. The haze returned eventually. I'm not sure why - the lens was relubed with the same lubes that other modern Leica lenses are lubed with, and they don't fog. They're all stored under the same conditions...the others don't fog...it's odd.

[Rob F.]

I can also recommend John Van Stelten in Colorado. He has restored a DRS for me with superb results.

[feli]

Getting it coated isn't cheap and you'll destroy the character of the lens. You're better off finding a more current version of the Cron.

 

 

By the way, the cost for the CLA at Leica was quite reasonable. I think it ran $125-150 and they did a superb job with a 4 week turnaround. If it wasn't for the scratches on the body, the lens is as new again.

 

The haze seems to return after a few years (much weaker of course). I believe this may be due to the lead used in some of the elements. When lead oxidises it leaves behind a white powder.

[tom_murray2]

"I don't know how lens elements are normally cleaned but if you send it to a Leica specialist such as DAG or Golden Touch or CRR Luton (UK) the surfaces will be chemically cleaned and not touched at all, so the delicate coatings will not be damaged."

 

Golden Touch, that's the place in upstate NY I sent my lens and they cleaned off all the inside coatings along with the fog.

[adrian bastin]

OK, I will confine my reccomendation to CRR Luton - Peter will tell you if there is any risk of damage and advise you accordingly.

 

I have only ever heard good reports about those US technicians so included them, though I have no experience of their work.

[peter_n1664876959]

Larry they can be recoated, DAG uses ARAX and thinks very highly of their work.   If there is worry about recoating changing the character of the lens there are threads over on the RFF forum about that, and also about ARAX.   As I recall the lens has more contrast after the recoat that's all.   DAG removed haze from my rigid and gave it a complete CLA for $125.   It came back like a new lens.   Beautiful.