(70's Wetzlar version) I could clearly see the surfaces on each side of the aperture blades were contaminated with dust and a slight haze -it flared quite a bit into the light. Also there was a bit of play in the cam ring and the aperture was a bit sticky - I was also curious!! It all came apart quite easily and I was pleasantly suprised at how everything was located with tiny set screws so as to make reasembly quite straightforward.I first tackled the lens and aperture 'half'; I cleaned the inner lens surfaces with 'Opticlean' (paint on and peel off) as I had it on good authority that the coating is delicate and any rubbing would destroy it. Next I dismantled the aperture ring linkage and after cleaning it I regreased it and set it back together with the front and rear element groups. I then dismantled the focusing section and seperated the multi-start thread and cam follower. Another clean and regrease - especialy the cam follower which was very dry and I was ready for reasembly. Marking the threads would have been helpfull! but in the end the orientation is governed by several items which have to line up in order to work and after a bit of trial and error it went together. It feels like a new lens now (looks like a dog though - which I like). Focus is smooth without backlash (a bit stiffer than before), the aperture ring is smooth with no stickiness and the cam follower is without play. On the camera the focusing is the same as before (spot on) with film tests at F2 at 1,3,5,10m and infinity but most rewarding were the shots into the sun - no flare!! Conclusion - learnt how it works and saved a packet! - anyone else attempted any DIY?

-- Johann Fuller (johannfuller@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

That's great Johann! I always wanted to try it but never had the "pods". I have two 'crons and a Summitar that need it.

-- Ben Hughes (ben@hughesbros.com), May 07, 2002.

I've had some ups and downs as a camera tinkerer. I cleaned the hazy lenses (taking and viewing) on my Rolleicord and got eveything back together and working with a noticeable increase in contrast. I ruined the eyes on a 35mm f3.5 Summaron--couldn't get them calibrated after disassembly for the life of me, and ended up stripping out some tiny screw wholes from taking it apart and putting it together so many times. (found out later even the name brand pros don't like doing that job). I was a lot more careful on my replacement 2.8 Summaron, and got the eyes 90% cleaned and working correctly again. (I learned one section was cemented and left that portion alone)

Tried to clean an old Zeiss 50 Sonnar in LTM but the retaining ring must have corroded shut as my spanner just couldn't budge it. Took apart another Zeiss lens for a Contax IIIa, but whatever was making the haze wasn't cleanable-must have been in the coatings.

Consider yourself either lucky or gifted--most amateurs do not fare that well at taking apart and putting back together camera equipment. Sherry Krauter told me she get boxes of cameras / lenses in pieces shipped to her on a consistant basis, many from otherwise very handy people who get in over their heads.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), May 07, 2002.

I was given a box of R4sP parts. The main casting broke at the tripod mount when the 'pod capsized. I bought a replacement main casting & replaced broken with good, then sent the camera to Leica USA for an ordinary CLA. 7 years later the camera still works fine.

-- Douglas Herr (telyt@earthlink.net), May 07, 2002.

Looks like I should try and bring my old summar in working order - it looks to bad to justify the payment for a regular CLA, but a DIY may be an experience here. I already cleaned my two russian lenses, a 50/2 and a 50/2.8 as well as some 70s rangefinders, but there is not much to loose here.

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), May 08, 2002.