Professional enlarger lens cleaning

[patrickjames]

I have a very valuable enlarging lens and It has developed some fog. I need to get it completely disassembled and cleaned. I want to send it to the best person possible. It is a Zeiss lens if that really matters. Any suggestions?

 

[Peter Schrager]

lens

Try contacting Schneider. They have a very good lens dept. and they might do the work for you...
Best, Peter

 

[Claire Senft]

Send it to Zeiss. Go to their website, Carlzeiss.de and go to the service and maintenance area. Zeiss does a fine job of handling email.

 

[patrickjames]

Thanks Claire- but the link is no good. I sent ziess US an email yesterday but they have not responded. Any other links?

 

[pelerin]

I have a very valuable enlarging lens and It has developed some fog. I need to get it completely disassembled and cleaned. I want to send it to the best person possible. It is a Zeiss lens if that really matters. Any suggestions?

Hi,
Try http://www.henrypaine.com/ . He is a nice fellow, does good work, and is decidedly analog. (5x7 shooter) I have had him clean optics and repair compur shutters.
Celac.

 

[edz]

I have a very valuable enlarging lens and It has developed some fog. I need to get it completely disassembled and cleaned. I want to send it to the best person possible. It is a Zeiss lens if that really matters. Any suggestions?

First of all one should confirm that its really "valuable" and worth dealing with. Not all Zeiss is valuable. The most prized ones are the Zeiss S-Orthoplanar and S-Biogon. They are both "valuable" to collectors. The Zeiss Jena Tessars, by contrast, are good but very common and trade for less than paperweights.

If its a Zeiss S-Orthoplanar or S-Biogon then you should send it to Carl Zeiss for service-- although I'm not sure service would increase their value as most collectors that dig deep into their pockets don't really ever use them (the lure of hype).

 

[patrickjames]

Yep- It is an orthoplanar and I really don't care about the collectability of it because I use it. It really is a fantastic lens. All the hype really isn't hype.
I would love to send it to Zeiss but they haven't answered my emails yet. Anyone know who I should contact there?

Afterword-
I found the German Zeiss repair contact and emailed them. Keeping my fingers crossed..........

 

[patrickjames]

Well its official. Zeiss emailed me back saying that they couldn't help me. I was quite shocked because this only invloves removing a retaining ring. Anyone have any other advice? I am looking for the best of the best please. I don't want any hack screwing up this lens. It is just too valuable and too hard to replace. I appreciate your help.

 

[Jerevan]

I believe John at http://www.focalpointlens.com/ may be able to help you out.

 

[dancqu]

Have you considered DIY?
I've a 127mm RZ lens needing cleaning
and am considering DIM. Dan

 

[Roger Hicks]

Optical Instruments (Balham), misleadingly now in Croydon just outside London, do a lot of work for the Ministry of Defence and are as good as anyone can be. They cleaned my 50/1.2 Canon, transforming its performance , and they have done a lot of work for other people I know too: I have never heard a word against them. I visited the workshop for an article I did for the BJP a few years back and was well impressed. As soon as I get around to it I shall send my 35/2.8 PC-Nikkor and 90/2.5 Vivitar Series 1 Macro to them. They really are very good indeed.

Cheers,

Roger (www.rogerandfrances.com)

 

[BrianShaw]

I know it has been said before, but have you contacted Schneider. Their repair folks are Century Optics in Van Nuys CA. John Sioringas (probably horribly mis-spelled) is the service manager. He's a great guy, although a bit difficult to get on the phone, but seems quite willing to be of help. Give him a call!

 

[mgb74]

Assume it's a "normal" clean and not a fungus issue, why not the same people we would trust to do a CLA on a quality view lens (i.e. Paul Ebel, Flutot's, etc)?

 

[John Koehrer]

patrickjames,
I agree with mgb74. There's nothing mystical about servicing an enlarger lens at all.
Some people seem to think paying more for the work buys you better quality.
Horse puckey! Any responsible tech can do the job.
Both Ebel and Carol have great reps & I'm sure that both would do a great job on the lens.

 

[resummerfield]

....and don't forget S.K.Grimes. I talked to Adam last week about the same thing...

 

[dancqu]

There's nothing mystical about servicing an enlarger
lens at all. Any responsible tech can do the job.

I've nothing against a person profiting from some
special skill such as lens cleaning and repair. There's
bench space available and little excuse not to DIM.
Like they say "If you want it done right ... " Well,
if you've lived long enough you know there is
something to it. On the other hand one
could botch the job.

So far only Me for DIY? Dan

 

[patrickjames]

I am all for do it yourself guys and have repaired many a camera and lens. My latest was a Leica M3 and a cloudy Summicron, but this lens is almost irreplaceable and the rear retaining ring seems to be stuck on it. I do not want to screw up the lens trying to get it off. So far Optical Instruments and Focal Point lens seem to be the top contenders. Thanks for all the help. I still need to contact them to see what they are willing to do.