Is There A Leica Tele-Elmarit-M F/2.8 Lens Modification For Flare?

[Certain Exposures]

I've read a few comments online that suggest the Leica Tele-Elmarit-M F/2.8 lens has its awful flare problem due to internal reflections. Has anyone ever offered a service to modify the lens and correct this?

I have tried a lens hood (IUFOO). However, the hood was not effective. This lens is so sensitive to bright light anywhere near it. I cannot see through the lens while using a rangefinder so it is a challenge to provide the right amount of shade with my stretched palm.

Please share if you have a 'trick' for judging just the right angle to cover the lens besides common sense!

I do use a B+W UV filter with it. I wonder if that makes the problem much worse?

 

[MFstooges]

I can only assume such modification will cost the same as the new lens.

 

[koraks]

Has anyone ever offered a service to modify the lens and correct this?

If there were, surely Leica would have designed it properly to begin with.

Such flare problems are usually not a matter of "dab a little black paint there and there and it'll be better." This involves all lens surfaces inside the assembly and their coatings, as well as lens geometry. Fixing this issue would involve redesigning and rebuilding the lens from the ground up.

I.e., there is actually a fix: buy a different lens that doesn't have this problem.

I do use a B+W UV filter with it. I wonder if that makes the problem much worse?

It will surely not help.

 

[loccdor]

Looks like it's part of the character of that lens.

There are situations where it can contribute to a picture but it's hard to predict in advance when using a rangefinder.



I like these. I think it's going to work better for portraiture or subject photography than landscape.

The 4 elements in 4 groups with a single coating makes it sound similar to my Jupiter-11 135mm f/4 which has those same characteristics and also is prone to flare.

I took this picture with that one: you can see some flare in it.

I think you should either try to work within its limitations and use it for what its best for, or decide the lens isn't for you and get something else.