Kodak Ektar Lens coating

Greg Heath · Aug 29, 2016

I bought a old 1945 Graflex lens and shutter to practice rebuilding on and wondered how to get the lens recoated and what does something like that cost ?

Greg

Dan Fromm · Aug 29, 2016

In the US, John Van Stelten at Focal Point http://www.focalpointlens.com/

Short answer, playing with the lens you have to learn how to overhaul its shutter is a good idea. Having the lens coated -- shouldn't be coated if it was made in 1945, Kodak started coating in late '46 -- is so expensive that buying a newer coated lens is preferable.

Greg Heath · Aug 29, 2016

Thanks for the link. The lens I purchased may need just a good cleaning. The listing said it had something going on with the front coating. I won't have the lens until the weekend. The Kodak Ektar is an ER lens so it was built sometime in 45. Like you mentioned coatings didn't happen till after 45. I just bought it to practice on. I have done other Medium Format Shutters and having the tools to do it right, and I have a lovely parts cleaner and the shutter manual. I do think this shutter is actually for a graflex miniature. But they are all pretty the same. Worse case scenario I can use some of the springs if I need them for the speed graphic that's also on the way here.

Fixcinater · Aug 29, 2016

If it has 'bloom' due to being an Uncoated lens, don't polish that away unless you can't get it cleaned up any other way. I had/sold a Zeiss folder that had a fair amount of bloom on the front element and it had very good contrast so I believe the claims of it being advantageous to leave it be.

I've "saved" some lenses that were otherwise too low contrast to be of much use with different grades of chrome polish and lots of elbow grease.

Greg Heath · Aug 29, 2016

Cool. I can't wait to get it. I have fixed fungus on lenses before. This is probably some kind of grunge.

guangong · Aug 30, 2016

Early Ektar lenses on some Kodak cameras were coated in the mid '40s, but only the internal surfaces since their coating procedure was too delicate for lens surfaces that would be exposed to the elements. The coating of all surfaces began, I believe, in 1946. This probably because of the acquisition of Zeiss technology with the surrender of Germany at the end of WWII.

John Koehrer · Aug 30, 2016

Regarding cost. Not too bad if you have a kidney to sell.
OK, not that much but......

RSalles · Aug 30, 2016

Araxphoto also, but you have to send the elements only to them, 100/150 USD last time I checked,

Cheers,

Renato

mshchem · Aug 30, 2016

Try Windex and a clean t shirt. Just don't scrub it and scratch it .dab at it. I wouldn't spend a dollar on repairing that nice old lens. Use it the way it is or buy a modern lens from KEH or ebay.
Best Regards Mike

Dan Fromm · Aug 31, 2016

RSalles said:
Araxphoto also, but you have to send the elements only to them, 100/150 USD last time I checked,

Cheers,

Renato

I thought that Arax discontinued that service years ago. I just checked their site, there's no mention of it. Pity, when they did it their prices were lower than John's.

Greg Heath · Sep 2, 2016

John Koehrer said:
Regarding cost. Not too bad if you have a kidney to sell.
OK, not that much but......

The Lens was $19.50 USD. I couldn't pass it up.

Greg

Kodak Ektar Lens coating

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