Who does lens polishing/recoating?

[Steve Goldstein]

I've already tried George at ARAX. He said they no longer offer this service as the Arsenal factory had sold the equipment needed for these operations. Sigh...

Does anyone else offer this service?

Thx.

steve

[Chauncey Walden]

Yes, John van Stelton at Focal Point in Colorado. It will be done right, but it won't be inexpensive.

[David A. Goldfarb]

There's also a company called Superflat that does this for cine lenses, but I think you have to disassemble your own lens.

[Richard Wasserman]

I will second the recommendation for John Van Stelton. I have used him for 2 different lenses and he did a fabulous job. As Chauncey said, not inexpensive, but first rate work.

[Kevin Crisp]

Focal Point is terrific for recementing and coating. The lens will look like new.

[Kevin Crisp]

There is also a company in England that does this very well, if you're interested.

[IanG]

There is also a company in England that does this very well, if you're interested.

Balham Optical, I had a rough estimate from them 2 years ago, they are supposed to be superb but they are not cheap. Again they earn most of their money from the movie industry.

Ian

[Steve Goldstein]

Thanks all. I contacted John at Focal Point, and he replied within minutes! Sadly, the value of the lens in question does not justify the expense of having the work performed. The lens isn't too bad, actually, I should probably try it out for portraits. In the worst case I can junk the cells and keep the shutter; it still wouldn't be a bad price for a Copal 1.

For anyone curious, John's minimum is $195 as of February 2008.

[Steve Hamley]

I'm currently getting ready to send John a rather large order. Keep in mind that financial considerations don't always rule. Certainly if you can buy a used lens cheaper, go for it. But one comment John had recently was a client with several uncoated Dagors he wanted coated - probably $1,000 per lens to separate, coat, and recement. I asked John if that wasn't cost prohibitive, and he said probably, but the client said the lenses did what he wanted so he was willing to spend the money on them.

Steve

[Bernard Kaye]

I am late but ratify; John is a gem.

Bernie Kaye