Where can I get my 'flex 2.8C lens recoated.

My Rolleiflex 2.8C is now starting to show quite a bit of deterioration in the taking lens. The coating is almost non existant and it looks like there may be a bit of separation starting. Outside it is quite difficult to use in brighter conditions with very low contrast and very prone to flare.
In addition I would also like to get a CLA on it as I think the sutter speeds are a bit slow.
Is very any facility in the UK for recoating/repairing the lens and is it cost effective? I really do love this camera and would like to get it fixed up.

leeturner said:

My Rolleiflex 2.8C is now starting to show quite a bit of deterioration in the taking lens. The coating is almost non existant and it looks like there may be a bit of separation starting. Outside it is quite difficult to use in brighter conditions with very low contrast and very prone to flare.
In addition I would also like to get a CLA on it as I think the sutter speeds are a bit slow.
Is very any facility in the UK for recoating/repairing the lens and is it cost effective? I really do love this camera and would like to get it fixed up.

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I don't know any in the UK, but I have heard from members here that ARAX in Kiev will do recoating of lenses for reasonable prices. One Croatian guy was happy with the results, but it does take some courage to send your rollei lens to him (disassembled). All in all: have you considered contacting Rollei to see if they still have replacement front elements for your lens?, as that may be cheaper than recoating it by a specialist company other than ARAX.
A good CLA could be done by any other Rollei repair company, which I'm sure you must have in the UK.
Good luck, it's a nice camera you have and I can understand you want to take good care of it.
Norm

leeturner said:

My Rolleiflex 2.8C is now starting to show quite a bit of deterioration in the taking lens. The coating is almost non existant and it looks like there may be a bit of separation starting. Outside it is quite difficult to use in brighter conditions with very low contrast and very prone to flare.
In addition I would also like to get a CLA on it as I think the sutter speeds are a bit slow.
Is very any facility in the UK for recoating/repairing the lens and is it cost effective? I really do love this camera and would like to get it fixed up.

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A re-coating of a cemented doublet can be very cost inefficient and potentially giving bad results (you see, they have to remove the old coating, take away the old cement, coat all four surfaces, and re-center & re-cement the doublet). The risc of lens breakage during the heating needed in coating process is also high. But if your Rollei has a Planar-like lens, the front element should be a single lens - maybe you observe the separation in middle elements? That sounds worse... maybe it's easier to find a new lens for your camera? I understand that it's not easy and cheap, but it definitely can be much cheaper compared to re-coating task.

I got a fine LF lens - Fujinon-W 5.6/210, whose coating on a front lens was very very badly ruined, but it was OK on all other elements. I polished the front surface with some optical ultra-fine abrasive paste, the most of the coating was gone - and I see now no flare or contrast issues with this lens. Looks like the front cell coating is not all this important

Hi Lee,

In the USA near Boulder, Colorado there is a company called Focal Point. I used to live near there several years ago. I have never used them, but they have been around a long time. They also repair Rolleiflex cameras. I'm a fellow Rolleiflex user. Mine was in use about two weeks ago in the southeast of England. Try visiting their website - www.focalpointlens.com

Mark Schumann

I've just found these guysDead Link Removed . Has anyone either heard of tehm or used them?

Check this place out... http://www.thinfilmcoating.com/

leeturner said:

I've just found these guysDead Link Removed . Has anyone either heard of tehm or used them?

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Yes, I have used them, their work is excellent, but the cost (very rough guess) may be £125 or more, and the company seems to save up a few jobs before carrying out, for example, recoating, which means they do not turn work around fast. As others have said, recoating is only cost-effective for lenses which have unique irreplaceable qualities - as you might have to spend £500 or so to get another Rollei with a 2.8 Planar, which might then need some work, recoating could be a viable option for you.

Thanks guys. I'll contact optil and see what sort of price they quote me. I was figuring £100 - £150 so for the cost of a cheap secondhand zoom I can get the old girl back into good working condition.