Angenieux 35-70mm Repair

Univer · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 282

Hi All

…and a very happy holiday season!

I wonder if I can impose on you for a lens repairperson recommendation. I find myself with a copy of the Angenieux 35-70 zoom (Leica R mount) whose aperture is stuck at f22. The lens is seemingly in decent shape otherwise. If it were stuck wide open, I would just use it that way, but I can't do much with a full-time f22 lens.

I've heard the urban legends about this lens – how its polycarbonate construction makes it fearfully difficult (borderline impossible) to repair. But as with most urban legends, I don't know how much truth there is in the tale.

I have a local fellow who's excellent for the routine stuff, but this is above his pay grade. I've also used one of the top-tier U.S. lens people for a few selected projects. He would be willing to tackle the Angenieux, but he hasn't worked on that model before, and he made a point of saying that he couldn't guarantee success. Another consideration: his fee would be equal to roughly half the lens's retail value. That's a lot to spend when there's no assurance of a positive outcome.

So I'm hoping someone can suggest a technician who has some familiarity with this lens (or with Angenieux lenses of that era generally). I would even be satisfied to find out that the problem is incurable – at least that way I wouldn't be investing heavily in a hopeless undertaking.

I'm located in the USA, but I would gladly send the lens anywhere for service.

Thanks very much for your help!

Cheers,

Jon

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 6224 Location: Hong Kong

Those lenses can last pretty long if you take good care of them. My copy in Nikon mount works flawless before and after I sold it to my friend.

Univer · Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Posts: 282

Hi Calvin,

Thanks for the reply! Did you have any thoughts on a possible repair resource for this lens?

Cheers,

Jon

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 6224 Location: Hong Kong

No idea. I am not lived in the US.

nightscrawler · Joined: 07 Sep 2016 Posts: 1

I hope you have solved that problem. I also learnt that the polycarbonate material are easy to crack when the technicians try to open the lens, causing you note some of these lens having cracks on its barrel.