Who would be good to clean/lube stiff focus on manual focus lens

[rknewcomb]

Hi,
I recently got a vintage 180mm f2.8 Zeiss Sonnar lens made for a 35mm camera. The focus and aperture turn ok and smoothly enough but they were either meant to be very well dampened or this one is stiff. This lens has a long focus throw and combined with the stiff focus you're certainly not going to change far-close focus very quickly. On the other hand when you get close to your focus the slower movement makes it easier to nail the focus.
I really want to make sure work is done by someone who know their stuff.
So clean and lube a German manual focus lens, who to send it to?

thanks for the help.
Robert

 

[BrianShaw]

That’s a routine camera repair issue. Any competent repai shop should be able to handle it.

 

[AgX]

If you would like to safe on shipping costs and custom hassle concerning such requests, adding your location to your profile would be benefitial...

 

[rknewcomb]

AgX,
You are very correct. I'll see if I can add that.
I'm in Athens, Ga. in the USA

 

[BrianShaw]

KEH seems a natural option, then.

https://www.keh.com/shop/repair

I’m sure there are other repair shops in a city as big as Atlanta... maybe even closer.

https://m.yelp.com/biz_redir?link_s...//vphotoatlanta.com&website_link_type=website

 

[rknewcomb]

I appreciate suggestions.
When I read some of the awful camera repair stories on APUG I get a little nervous about sending this lens in for service. There are other stories on APUG today taking about trouble getting service or the service itself.
This lens was made by Zeiss for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Not that that means much but it is really pretty, I really wanted it and I'm just trying to make a wise decision. Been thinking about the Vermont Camera Works because they are a smaller shop who might take an interest and they like vintage equipment manual focus equipment.
Thanks for help.
Robert

 

[bdial]

Zack's Camera in Providence RI does good work, they are also an APUG sponsor.

 

[AgX]

Have you considered re-lubricating it yourself? By this you could fine tune the damping to your requirements. For such you only would need the split the lens in two. No need for lens-element disassembly. (But you also refer to cleaning.)

 

[rknewcomb]

By cleaning I meant that isn't it best to clean out old grease before putting in new?

Robert

 

[AgX]

Yes, the old grease should be taken off before applying the new one.