Cleaning a Samurai Z lens...?

fabulousrice · Jul 25, 2022

After a discussion on here about the Samurai Z, I bought one and tried it.

I realized the lens is foggy on the inside (how'd that even happen?) and my pictures came out very foggy and desaturated.

Images here.

Does anyone know if the front lens element of the Samurai Z can be taken apart to be cleaned?

Huss · Jul 25, 2022

Dunno but love the pic taken w the FT. What lens?

Bill Burk · Jul 25, 2022

Looks like there’s a couple notches for spanners. Are you setup/prepared for that?

Helge · Jul 26, 2022

The X3.0 is the one to get. Original and best.

Don_ih · Jul 26, 2022

fabulousrice said:
I realized the lens is foggy on the inside (how'd that even happen?)

That would likely be from lubricants evaporating or off-gassing and then condensing on the inside of the glass. That's something that can happen quickly to a camera left in a hot car a few times. It suggests there might also be oil in a few other unfortunate places - like on aperture blades.

I have one of those cameras but haven't been able to use it, since I got it without a battery cover...

fabulousrice · Jul 26, 2022

@Huss : either the 1.4 or the wide angle one?

@Bill Burk : I might! Can you give me pointers?

@Helge : I have two of the 3.0 - very limited in features compared to the Z

@Don Heisz : how does not having the battery cover prevent using the camera? It should stay in place with a rubber band and work? Otherwise I'll gladly buy it off from you!

Don_ih · Jul 26, 2022

fabulousrice said:
@Don Heisz : how does not having the battery cover prevent using the camera? It should stay in place with a rubber band and work? Otherwise I'll gladly buy it off from you!

The lack of battery also helps. I did hop together two 123 batteries to see if the camera operates - it does. But mostly I don't use autofocus cameras.

Helge · Jul 26, 2022

fabulousrice said:
@Helge : I have two of the 3.0 - very limited in features compared to the Z

Intervalometer and double exposure vs. better, slightly faster lens, and standard 49mm filter thread.
Plus much superior design. Non of the unmotivated 90s aquiline curves, and all Akira era playful, tight functionalism.

fabulousrice · Jul 26, 2022

Helge said:
Intervalometer and double exposure vs. better, slightly faster lens, and standard 49mm filter thread.
Plus much superior design. Non of the unmotivated 90s aquiline curves, and all Akira era playful, tight functionalism.

Double exposures are EVERYTHING. Also, you forget that super cool 5x overlapping feature

fabulousrice · Jul 26, 2022

Don Heisz said:
The lack of battery also helps. I did hop together two 123 batteries to see if the camera operates - it does. But mostly I don't use autofocus cameras.

Still interested in taking it off your hands if you don't use it send me a PM

Helge · Jul 27, 2022

fabulousrice said:
Double exposures are EVERYTHING. Also, you forget that super cool 5x overlapping feature

Be honest with yourself, how often do you actually use those features?

I have generic strobe effect on other cameras, never actually used it.
Too much of a manufactured effect. “Bottled art”. Also very hard to balance background and moving subject unless you are in a dark room.
You need strobe flash to actually get a good strobe effect.

When you set up an intervalometer cloud scene, plowing through a roll and gotten the Koyaanisqatsi aspirations out of your system, generic time lapse micro movies gets old fast.

I’ll take a sharp, contrasty, fast lens over the above features any day.

xkaes · Jul 27, 2022

It's a personal preference, but the Z models have more features in a smaller body. Sure, the lens is slightly slower -- but it's as sharp as a tack.

And a couple of big rubber bands will hold the battery in place. Gorilla Tape might be better -- but will not help with the detractors.

1RJ2 · Apr 17, 2024

fabulousrice said:
After a discussion on here about the Samurai Z, I bought one and tried it.

I realized the lens is foggy on the inside (how'd that even happen?) and my pictures came out very foggy and desaturated.

Images here.

Does anyone know if the front lens element of the Samurai Z can be taken apart to be cleaned?

Hi! Did you manage to open the lens and clean it? I just got a Yashica Samurai Z with an oxidized lens as well and I'm looking to clean it.

xkaes · Apr 17, 2024

At least it's not fungus!

How does one clean an "oxidized" lens? And is that the correct term?

fabulousrice · Apr 17, 2024

1RJ2 said:
Hi! Did you manage to open the lens and clean it? I just got a Yashica Samurai Z with an oxidized lens as well and I'm looking to clean it.

No, I ended up selling it. Now I wish I had taken it apart entirely - lens and all - and dipped the lens in ammonia and then rebuilt it. Might have been a catastrophe, but I'll never know

xkaes · Apr 17, 2024

Good luck working this well-packed camera:

Bill Burk · Apr 20, 2024

I pulled mine out thinking it would have clear lenses.

It’s fogged. I used it ten years ago and it was perfectly fine. Battery is still good. It was kept in a temperature controlled environment this entire time.

Anyone figure out how to clean it? I’m interested too.

Thomaaasd · May 18, 2024

1RJ2 said:
Hi! Did you manage to open the lens and clean it? I just got a Yashica Samurai Z with an oxidized lens as well and I'm looking to clean it.

Hi did you succeed cleaning the lens ? I'm about to buy one with foggy Lens for a bargain and I wanted to clean it. Is it possible?

xkaes · May 18, 2024

Anything's possible. What's the likelihood of the roof over your head falling in in the next five minutes?

I've seen more Samurais, than I would expect to see, with "fogged" optics. I haven't performed any control-group study, but it seems a high percentage come from Japanese sellers. Hard to know if were talking about "fog" or "fungus". Maybe the optics are sealed????

Bill Burk · May 18, 2024

I think it’s plastic outgassing. Mine was clear when I put it away and foggy now that I look at it. I had it in the best climate-controlled part of my home

Thomaaasd · May 19, 2024

xkaes said:
Anything's possible. What's the likelihood of the roof over your head falling in in the next five minutes?

I've seen more Samurais, than I would expect to see, with "fogged" optics. I haven't performed any control-group study, but it seems a high percentage come from Japanese sellers. Hard to know if were talking about "fog" or "fungus". Maybe the optics are sealed????

That's my question do I have to crack the plastic to clean the lens or is it just screw ?

neilt3 · May 19, 2024

Thomaaasd said:
Hi did you succeed cleaning the lens ? I'm about to buy one with foggy Lens for a bargain and I wanted to clean it. Is it possible?

Thomaaasd said:
That's my question do I have to crack the plastic to clean the lens or is it just screw ?

Unless you state which group of lenses are in need of a clean , no one can answer that .
You can see by the above diagram how it's assembled.
The front group might be serviceable without total disassembly, the middle group , not so likely .
The rear group , how would you remove them from the front if they are bigger than the hoke in the middle ?

As it's a zoom lens , it's more complex than just unscrewing one lens .

xkaes · May 19, 2024

Thomaaasd said:
That's my question do I have to crack the plastic to clean the lens or is it just screw ?

You can take the Samurais apart be removing the screws, but you need to be careful because there are lots of screws -- some hard to find -- and they are different lengths. PLUS, there are several small, plastic TABS that are hidden under the plastic covers. These are easy to break when you take things apart, and then the parts won't fully re-attach.

xkaes · May 19, 2024

Bill Burk said:
I think it’s plastic outgassing. Mine was clear when I put it away and foggy now that I look at it. I had it in the best climate-controlled part of my home

A very likely culprit. I've had a similar problem with exterior "plastics" on lenses (and some camera bodies) too, especially Sigma lenses. I had one with a super gooey "rubber" focusing ring. It had been stored in a tight case. After leaving it out in the fresh air for several weeks, the gooey-ness simply disappeared.

Cleaning a Samurai Z lens...?

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