Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/05/29

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Subject: [Leica] Re: Grinding and recoating lenses
From: Cummer Family <cummer@asiaonline.net>
Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 07:01:01 +0800

Douglas, 
I had JVS polish and recoat a 1950s Summarit which had serious cleaning
scratches bought for a song from Camera Exchange in Minneaoplis . It now
works and focusses just fine and produces beautiful bokeh wide open. My
favorite 50mm for portraits! Also I had JVS polish and coat the taking lens
(55 Distagon) on my Rolleiwide (which I had stupidly scratched after the
lens had been pristene for 30 years!) and again it takes very sharp photos.
By my experience, lenses polished and recoated by JVS are as good (or
better) than new and they focus accurately.
My 2  cents
Howard.


>Date: Mon, 28 May 2001 14:21:28 EDT
>In a message dated 5/27/01 10:50:59 PM, douglas@dysmedia.com writes:
>>Some reputable experts suggest that if you have a lens recoated at Focal
>>Point, it will be better than new (or at least as good).  Ken Ruth (another
>>legendary repairman) told me that it's impossible to grind and recoat a
>>lens
>>without doing damage.
>>I am, in short, confused.  Anyone have hard facts regarding this?
>Douglas,
>I am not an expert, and I have no hard facts, but....  I have a DR Summicron 
>that I bought cheap that had cleaning marks and or scratches on the front 
>element.  I sent it to John VanStelton at the Focal Point to be polished and 
>recoated.  Before he worked on it the lens was virtually unusable because of 
>flare.  When I got it back it looked like new and performs wonderfully.  The 
>difference is nothing short of amazing-flare is almost nonexistent.  
>Richard Wasserman