Leica Are There Skilled Hobby Repair Persons Here?

[radi(c)al_cam]

I'm not sure whether this is probably to an extent a «WTB» question, nevertheless I guess I'm not the only one having that problem:

There are too many half-defective photographic items at home — say 1. some were inherited but have been poorly stored over decades, say 2. some were bought in good shape but afterwords they've been falling in one's childrens' hands, etc. etc., —, but one is not really willing to pay one of the renowned repair shops (see reason #2), but aditionally one doesn't have the the spare time (see reason #2, again) and/or the skills to repair them «DIY»?

Whom can one ask, whether s/he's actually enjoying such repairs (as a hobby, or so), and eventually the whole thing doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

(In my case, due to the massively increased postage costs recently, someone in the EU, perhaps?)

 

[Brian]

I "most likely" fall into that category: have my specialties, the Jupiter-3, Jupiter-8, and Sonnars.

I don't mind trying new things for myself, as a Hobbyist- don't like to try new things for others. Some things are easy enough to "Give my best stupid look". I took apart 4 or so lenses in the last week, stuck inside with the Flu for the weekend.

Now- best advice is, this stuff is not THAT hard and you can generally find on-line tutorials for taking something apart and trying it yourself. For example: Richard Haw's site for Nikon repair is 1st rate, has saved me a bunch of time.

Richard Haw's Classic Nikkor Maintenance Site

My Jupiter-3 and Sonnar conversion tutorials here,

50mm Jupiter 3 f/1.5 Information - Aperture Priority

Have useful links for hobbyist repairs, good thread to post them.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

My Jupiter-3 and Sonnar conversion tutorials here,

50mm Jupiter 3 f/1.5 Information - Aperture Priority

I see the «focus checker» we were talking about

Have useful links for hobbyist repairs, good thread to post them.

Hm, I just know Mr Keinath's link collection:

Markus Keinath's Photohomepage - Camera And Lens DIY, Repair, Modification

 

[Brian]

The five Industar-26m lenses arrived this weekend, all bought for "parts/need repair"- fine with me.

Two of them have very clean glass, a third one coming along made from best optics of two lenses. One has a sheered screw in the lens mount, I need to drill it.

The 5 are all I-26m, but different construction. The lenses were from the type made in the late 1950s. My keeper is from 1957.

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

About 2 Hours per lens. Disassemble, old grease out, pop the glass, clean, re-assemble, set for Leica.

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Industar-26m, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

The I-26m mounts are the simpler double-helical used in the earlier J-8's with non-rotating filter ring. Same basic idea as the I-61 and I-61L/D. BUT- the construction of these lenses is much better, the focus is smooth after a proper cleaning.

Heavy overcast day, so this is just a focus check.

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Also compared with the I-61: more aperture blades, properly blackened to reduce flare. Construction of the I-26m changed throughout production, these are the earlier Tabbed versions. They are the best version, also true of the J-8 focus mount: tabbed is better build quality.

$9 lens+ 2 hours work. Wide-Open on the M9.

 

[Brian]

Lens #3 checks out now, added a 0.25mm shim from a J-8. Will check out tomorrow. The focus action on these lenses is very good. I will be putting two of the good-glass lenses up in the classifieds over the next week, after testing #3.

I just noticed: none of these lenses have the rear light baffle that is used in the I-61L/D. I had two baffles, just put them into the I-26M. I've read online that some people complain about flare on this lens, I wonder if the light baffle was added to the I-61 to reduce flare. This made a big difference on a Pentax 50/1.4 conversion that I did.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

I just noticed: none of these lenses have the rear light baffle that is used in the I-61L/D. I had two baffles, just put them into the I-26M. I've read online that some people complain about flare on this lens, I wonder if the light baffle was added to the I-61 to reduce flare. This made a big difference on a Pentax 50/1.4 conversion that I did.

I've discovered something very similar in an odd adapter that I bought some years ago together with matching lenses; it's a heavy brass adapter for the quite scarce and not very pricey but IMHO very good Voigtländer «Vitessa T» lenses to M42; the lenses got an additional fine thread, while the original bayonet remained unscarred. The rear of the adapter is just a glued-in piece of black cardboard where the lenses' rear element pokes through.

 

[Brian]

Well everything I read on the Internet about the I-26m states that it is very soft and that it flares badly.

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I-26m Flare Test, F8 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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I-26m Test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Maybe I broke mine...

I have the rear baffle in this one snug and tight, had to bend the prongs for this early I-26M. I have another with no baffle, so I will try it out probably next weekend. I have another with a baffle which was tighter fitting as it went in, is slightly different construction. The older lens that i;m keeping has a retaining ring to hold the loose rear group in place. Later lenses use a rear fixture for the group- better design, shows tweeks made during production.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

Well everything I read on the Internet about the I-26m states that it is very soft and that it flares badly.

As so often, particularly regarding FSU products, one can guess that the complainants compare apples and oranges. Very soft? Bad flare? Hm, perhaps compared to a EUR 300 Carl Zeiss for Contax RTS 45/2.8 T* Tessar, I suppose

 

[M. Valdemar]

I have many talents but repairing lenses is not one of them. If I attempt to fix something I inevitably make it worse or completely ruin it forever.

I'll leave these things to those with the inate skills.

(Brian has graciously done brilliant work on some of my lenses. I have a very early ZK Sonnar he adjusted for me that is one of my favorite lenses, and it is as sharp as a razor. In my opinion it beats the brand new Jupiter 3+ I purchased last summer.)