Now I must say, while searching for tutorials and methods of cleaning the haze, it was kind of confusing because it was rarely stated that, in fact, the front name plate is attached to the front ring and the element itself. I had to repeat twice, as is usual, but a nice clean outer lens now with just a few true cleaning marks. It immediately started working, almost foaming around the edge where it was thickest. A 50/50 mix of household Ammonia and Hydrogen Peroxide then rinse with tap water. I knew conventional cleaning wouldn’t work so I tried the method for removing Fungus on a lens. Perhaps a buildup of years of cleaning fluid? here is my 1939 Summar with back light showing the mystery crust I scratched at it with my fingernail and sure enough it flaked slightly. I looked at it with a loupe and could see it was raised, some kind of crust or crystallization. my former 1936 Summar with mystery crust around front element This time it was more crusty, uneven looking that led me to believe it wasn’t just the glass itself.

I had seen it before on my former 1936 Summar and other people complaining about their’s calling it cleaning marks, so it must be a somewhat common thing. Some desire it for using as a portrait lens or other such use as the effect is warranted.īefore I show you how I got my 1939 Leica Summar lens apart to clean the haze, I first cleaned some kind of dried gunk on the front element that resembled very bad cleaning marks. Leitz Wetzlar “Summar” 50mm (5cm) f/2 is notorious for having internal haze, clouding images sometimes giving a desired warmth called “Leica Glow”.

E leitz wetzlar summitar