Back from Greece with a bruise on my Summiron 35mm.

ToddB · Jul 4, 2015

Hey guys,

Made it back from Greece last night. What an awesome trip. I'm excited to get started on developing my film this weekend. However my Summiron 35mm lens has a bruise.. When I was shooting the the Acropolis, I had my Leica slung on my shoulder while I was shooting an image with my Rollei with a low angle shot. My Leica swung around and knocked a rock. It was like cutting off a finger. I quickly evaluated my lens and noticed the U notch on mounting flange had a knock out. So lens didn't snap in. I was sooooo pissed! Later in the week, I hit DAG camera with my problem. He said that it can be repaired. That lens was perfect, in a split second I'm going have to pay a (imagine ) nice repair bill. I noticed on line that it looks like the this lens can be completely taken apart. So I think the the mounting flange will have to be replaced?

Todd

darkosaric · Jul 4, 2015

Test it with the negative - if you get good results - don't repair it, just use it. Many of my lenses are with scratches and bruises and working just fine.

ToddB · Jul 4, 2015

That's what I was going to do, however the lens doesn't lock on. It will fall off.

Sirius Glass · Jul 4, 2015

ToddB said:
That's what I was going to do, however the lens doesn't lock on. It will fall off.

Not a good idea, falling lenses, isn't it.

250swb · Jul 5, 2015

It is a bit baffling how the mounting flange can take a knock while still mounted on the camera?

Anyway, if it is just your mounting flange buy a new one on Ebay. They are sold for people needing a coded mount on lenses that haven't got one, and it is just a simple unscrew the original and screw on the new type job. They cost fractions of what a techie or Leica would charge and are perfectly serviceable even though you'll hear the 'it can't be good it's made in China' whine at some point. So you need a 35mm mount with the correct hole spacing for your model Summicron, and a small screwdriver crosshead #00. Set down your lens on a flat surface and take off the original flange and place the new one in the same orientation, tighten the screws very slowly a bit at a time, opposite to opposite, this centres the flange and stops it causing lumpy notchy focusing. And that's it.

The alternative is to remove the flange and file any burr on the 'U' notch. So long as you don't pick the lens up or turn the focus ring with the flange removed it really is just a lift off and screw back on operation.

Steve

ToddB · Jul 5, 2015

Thanks Steve for the advice. If I were going to have a mishap I had a perfect one.. Meaning the camera body didn't receive a scratch.. It was luck the the body didn't come in contact with that rock. It would of crushed the side of of the body and probably would of totaled out my kit. When the camera swung around off my shoulder, the goggled part of lens make contact pushed the lens slightly to the right chipping the lens flange on the left side of the "U". So the retaining pin of camera doesn't have enough material on the flange to stay on. I saw thos coded flanges, and it sounds very doable, how ever I'd rather not mess with this myself. The best part, is I started processing my pictures and that are tack sharp. I still have my DR lens that works perfectly.

Todd

Richard S. (rich815) · Jul 5, 2015

Another reason to keep it simple.

I learned the hard way years ago with a similar mishap when using one camera and carrying another on a strap over my shoulder. It similarly whipped around unexpectedly when I leaned over. This time though instead of damaging the camera it smacked my kid in the head! One camera at a time ever since, and sometimes even NO camera.

ToddB · Jul 6, 2015

I'm usually very careful and never had issue stringing two cameras. I just got over excited about an image and subsequently paid for it for lack of attention. Just sent of lens to DAG camera this morning.

Todd

ToddB · Jul 6, 2015

This image was taken 4 days after mishap. Still tack sharp. The original scan is unbelievable.

ToddB · Jul 6, 2015

Image after mishap.. still tack sharp.

This image was taken 4 days after mishap. Still tack sharp. The original scan is unbelievable.

250swb · Jul 7, 2015

If you have any camera over your shoulder it should have the lens facing inwards towards your body so the more robust camera body can take an accidental knock if swinging out, not facing outwards in tourist fashion to make the lens the sacrificial offering.

As regards not spending a few dollars on a replacement mount against a few hundred on a full service that is a question of confidence.

Steve

Sirius Glass · Jul 7, 2015

250swb said:
If you have any camera over your shoulder it should have the lens facing inwards towards your body so the more robust camera body can take an accidental knock if swinging out, not facing outwards in tourist fashion to make the lens the sacrificial offering.

Good advice!

Back from Greece with a bruise on my Summiron 35mm.

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