Don't get the hype about CLA-ing every old lens you find

I keep seeing folks online say you should send every vintage lens you pick up for a full CLA. But I've been comparing shots from a 1970s Nikkor 50mm f1.4 I found at a thrift store in Pittsburgh. I used it for six months without any service, then paid Bob at Bob's Camera Repair $85 for a clean and lube. The before and after photos look identical to me - sharpness didn't improve, haze didn't clear up. Has anyone else noticed CLA only matters if there's actually sticky aperture blades or oil on the glass?

2 comments

2 Comments

brooke47529d ago

Read a blog post that said CLA is mostly for fixing stuck grease, not improving optics.

coran6329d ago

Got my Rolleiflex CLA'd last year and the action went from crunchy to smooth but the lens quality stayed exactly the same. The biggest difference was just not fighting the advance lever anymore, the images already looked fine before. If your camera is working smooth already you probably won't see any optical jump from a CLA.