Replace front element of Schneider Super Angulon 8/120

Edward McCullough · Feb 23, 2022

The center of the front element of a Schneider Super-Angulon 8/120 has as wear mark from something rubbing on it. A repairman in Houston says he can replace the present front element with a new one, if I can buy a new one. I want toi bring the lens back to perfection, then sell it. Do you think the fronot element can be successfully replaced? Where can I buy one, and what will be the price?

Dan Fromm · Feb 24, 2022

That lens has been out of production for a while. Have you asked Schneider whether they'll sell you a replacement element?

beemermark · Feb 24, 2022

Used format lenses are not very expensive, so is for 4x5 or larger?

ic-racer · Feb 24, 2022

Check ebay. Some people remove the front and rear elements of large format lenses from the shutter and sell them individually.

Edward McCullough · Feb 27, 2022

I sent two emails to Schneider in Germany, but they have not replied.
The repairman Bill Ritter wrote to me the following message:

As I said before it is better to find a replacement lens.
Schiender has stopped making this lens. The lens elements were never available from Schiender. If you wanted this done to a lens the lens would have to go back to Germany to be repaired and it would take about 7 months and cost almost as much as buying a new lens.
This is not just unscrewing the retaining ring and pulling the old glass out and putting a new one in. The lens could end up being a 123 mm lens or a 118 mm lens and does not focus right. then again one side could be 122mm and the other side could end up being 118 mm.

BrianShaw · Feb 27, 2022

At one time, this was the US Schneider optics repair facility; not sure if that is still true.

https://schneiderkreuznach.com/en/servo-hydraulics/distribution/america

https://www.yellowpages.com/van-nuys-ca/mip/schneider-optics-471877853

Neil Poulsen · Mar 18, 2022

I have a 121mm f8 SA that I like. I would purchase another. Keep the rear as a spare.

bdial · Mar 18, 2022

Check with @Nodda Duma, it may be repairable.

MarkS · Mar 20, 2022

The price of a replacement lens may well be less than a repair (if you can find anyone to tackle the job). I've seen examples for sale recently around $400... much less than they were some years back. One of my favorite lenses is a 1957 121/8 Super-Angulon, and I paid $600 for it in the early '90s, when a new multicoated 120/8 SA was priced at over $1k. Best of luck in your search!

Replace front element of Schneider Super Angulon 8/120

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