Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 HFT (QBM)

[GeorgeSalt]

I've picked up a Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.4 HFT (with the Rollei QBM fitting) to use with my 40D. The seller failed to mention in the description the fairly extensive fungal growth on at least two of the elements in the front group.

Whilst I'm discussing this with the seller, what are the options should I keep it?
- likely cost of professional clean?
- ease of cleaning it myself?

The price of the lens was good enough to make me consider keeping it if cleaning is relatively straightforward or inexpensive.

I've found this thread, and whilst the name ring will unscrew the front element is very firmly attached, and the thread didn't expand any further and no one suggested how the next two elements could be accessed. Can anyone help?

[Himself]

I'd return it.
The fungus could've etched the glass and that is beyond recovery.

[GeorgeSalt]

I think you're right. I got a quote from Miles Whitehead for cleaning the lens (I was getting quotes for servicing a F50 and Yash D anyway), and whilst his estimate was reasonable the risk that the glass has etched is always there.

Shame, I was looking forward to using a Zeiss fast-fifty.

The seller has been very quick to respond and will refund in full when I return it.

[fermy]

Well, you have the lens, so you should know whether you want to keep it or not or how much of an adjustment would it take for you to keep it. Personally, I always renegotiate when the article is not as described because those fungussed lenses that I've bought always had a decent IQ.

[GeorgeSalt]

The temptation to renegotiate and keep is a little reduced, the QBM-EOS adapter hasn't arrived yet so I can't test the image quality and become so enamoured I do something silly like negotiate a reduction and get MW to clean it.

Doubt I'll find another one this price though (£150) - the QBM version seems to be harder to find but less desirable than the C/Y.

[SXR_Mark]

My preference in these circumstances with a relatively high value lens like this is always to return for a refund. Even if the fungus and any residual damage to the coatings does not noticeably affect image quality, resale value when honestly described will be severely reduced. Expect no more than 50% of the value of the lens in excellent condition, and probably less. So, unless you only paid peanuts, send it back.

Mark

[Pancolart]

Anyone knows how to open F1.4 lens from front? Just unscrewing counter-clockwise like described with F1.8 version here:
http://oldlenses.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-adjust-infinity-focus-on-rollei.html

Force doesn't help, thus i am stuck and before applying some weird solution i rather ask.

[Pancolart]

I felt strong and give it all i could. Get a blister or two but made it. Unscrews normally. Sadly rear system element are reachable only through glued ring. This one will be a tough cracker.

[Srdjan]

Some fungus you can easy clean. If it not too much keep the lens. I never had 50 1.4 qbm but I guess it is similar to other QBM lens
http://forum.mflenses.com/carl-zeiss-planar-or-voigtlander-color-ultron-50-1-8-repair-t49749.html

[Pancolart]

Hvala Srdjan. The problem was reaching inner glass elements of rear system. Ring was glued. Some cutting was required due to heavy fungus.

[duckrider]

Zeiss will never accept fungus lenses for cleaning or repair - never!

Guess why?

Fungus might contamine Your other lenses...

I#d give it back!

[aislingean]

Apologies for hijacking if that is what I have done but I have been searching the net for info on equipment because I have been clearing out all my vast collection of photographic gear collected by both my father and myself over many years.

I have a black SL35 Rollei [Singapore] from around 1974 that sports a very good and clean Zeiss Planar 1.4/50 made in West Germany lens
The body works and the seals etc are good the battery was removed years ago for storage but is there any call for the old single pin bodies ?
I know the lenses are very highly rated but I have given up real photography in my retirement so ......
Where is the best place to sell?
Should I offer the lens with the body and case or on its own?
What would be a reasonable price range? [Fleabay seems to vary from pence to hundreds of pounds!]
cheers
Dave

[RSalles]

I had last week a Rollei QBM Planar 1.8 with name plate ring GLUED. Had to perforate two tiny holes in the name plate to fit the spanner wrench to permit me to un-screw it. After CLAD'ing this lens, probably I'll put some glue only in the holes, a drop of Enemel black paint and it's done.
Question: why in the hell would one glue a ring - with glue enough to cover all the perimeter - against a thread conceived to be unscrewed for cleaning the lens?

[Attila]

Shoot with lens first, if okay , store it well, fungus will not harm, not grow.
Clean is never surely successful and don't need either always.

[GeorgeSalt]

[aislingean]

I suspected that would be the answer apart from the value which I had thought would be less than £100.
The Planar I could describe as 'Pristine' so I will live in hope.
I bought The Rollei SLR on a whim in Canada some time ago and have never given it any use.
As to other gear there is very little of real interest left that is worth advertising separately.
The Canons, Pentax, Minoltas, etc together with the filters, close up supps. flash units, meters, tripods, monos, lighting kit, studio flash and the bags cases etc all will go to our local auction in 3 or 4 large apple boxes although the 9.5mm cine kit I may keep out of nostalgia!
My Brother in law has/had the Grey Baby Rollei TLR that was my fathers favourite and it is probably stored somewhere on their farm
It is a wonderful thing and should be used but that is not under my control unfortunately.
Thanks for the prompt and useful reply
Cheers
Dave

[GeorgeSalt]

Dave, get yourself any of the Fuji X-series CSC bodies (a secondhand X-E1 would be ideal - you can pickone up around £150-£180) and use the Planer with a QBM-FX adapter. My CZ Planar 50/1.4 HF is one of the two lenses I used most on my X-Pro1 (the other is the Fuji 23mm).

[GeorgeSalt]

A quick update, the CZ Planer 50/1.4 HFT has become a firm favourite - how could it not be when it produces details as crisp as this?

[RSalles]

[y]

Here is my guide to correct infinity setting of this lens.

Unlike well-described QBM Planar 50/1.8 or C/Y Planar 50/1.4, the QBM 50/1.4 does not feature infinity adjustment screws hidden behind its nameplate. I guess, it's because the lens barrel was already pretty wide so there was not enough space for them.

This lens' focusing ring has got four fine set screws. Three of them (marked red on the picture) are placed symmetrically in the same distance from each other and also from the ending of rubberized grip. The fourth one (marked blue) is placed near the grip ending.

In order to set the infinity you have to loosen the focusing ring by completely unscrewing the screw #4 and loosening the rest of them. Now you can rotate the focusing ring without actually focusing. This allows you to set a correct position of the ring to gain infinity focus of the lens.

After you are done with finding the correct position, you simply tighten the screws #1,#2 and #3. However, the screw #4 is a longer one and can't be fully screwed back in! This is because it acts as an arrest screw which protrudes into the lens barrel itself. When you inspect the inner lens barrel, you can see there is a hole drilled in it right at the position of the former infinity setting to accommodate this protruding screw.

Ideally, a new hole at the new infinity setting should be drilled into the barrel to allow the screw #4 to be fully screwed in. That way the new infinity setting gets fully fixed. However, it is possible to use the lens having just those three set screws.