[Konvas] Advice on Rare 14mm/1.5 Lens - Repair or Return?

[Morgan Schmidt]

Greetings,

I recently purchased a rare fast Ekran 14mm/1.5 with the intention of  
completing a set of lenses I use on my Red -- Since I only have the  
standard speed 18, and have not managed to shake a superspeed 18 from  
the bushes, I need a fast wide, and this lens seemed an ok buy at $2000.

Except, according to Paul Duclos, the coatings inside the lens are  
seriously degraded, 4 elements will need to be re-coated;  the cost of  
the job in the US would be 1500-2000!  This to me seems vastly over  
the value of the lens, and I might just return it to the seller for a  
refund, since she did not notice the problems or include in her  
description.  (She seems unwilling to offer any money towards repair)

Here are photos from the auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=390010684780


Question 1:  Is anyone aware of a company in Russia who would do a job  
like this, do it well, and charge less?  My friend Chris suggested  
Hartblei or Olex...

Question 2:  In your opinion, have I paid close to the value of the  
lens, such that it would be silly to go down the route of such a  
costly repair; or is it so unusual that I would be silly not to?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Cheers,
morgan Schmidt
morgan at visionsmadereal.net
dp/la