Leica Elmar copy contrast
Hi,
I acquired a nice Leotax (Leica Barnack copy) with Simlar 5cm f3.5 (Elmar copy). The camera is in overall good condition (curtain, working speeds, double image alignement). There is fungus in the viewfinder but not affecting usage. The lens doesn't seem to have fungus but quite a bit of scratching in the front element, and what looks like deposits from old lubricants on the internal elements.
Here are some sample shots of the lens as is placed in front of Nikon z7 +ftz (it fits almost perfectly against the ftz but there might be some light leaking) compared with modern lens. Sharpness seems quite good compared to the more modern lens, contrast feels definitely flat though with the feeling to have a faint veil.
Is this level of contrast what you would expect from a normal/good Elmar/Simlar ? Given the image quality, do you think it's worth doing a deep clean of the lens elements ? Perhaps polishing the front element ? Would the scratch free glass without coating provide better contrast and sharpness than coated with scratches ? I have CLA'ed my yashica mat before including lenses so not really afraid to do it again. I will probably at least do a basic clean to at least remove any residues.