Cleaning inside of your lens

Frank Dean,  Blacksmith

A
Frank Dean, Blacksmith

  • 8
  • 5
  • 61
Woman wearing shades.

Woman wearing shades.

  • 1
  • 1
  • 68
Curved Wall

A
Curved Wall

  • 6
  • 0
  • 87
Crossing beams

A
Crossing beams

  • 10
  • 1
  • 109
Shadow 2

A
Shadow 2

  • 5
  • 1
  • 79

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,842
Messages
2,781,730
Members
99,725
Latest member
saint_otrott
Recent bookmarks
0

Dustinside

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2024
Messages
3
Location
Vancouver
Format
35mm
Hi,

I have an old Nikon 70-210 F/1.4-5.6 telescopic lens. It’s got dust inside of it and needs to be cleaned. It would cost me $300+ to have it cleaned by a local shop. The lens’ market value is $150 so it doesn’t make sense to spend $300. I’m trying to clean it myself and does anyone know how to open the front part that’s coving the screws?
IMG_5803.png
 

randyB

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2005
Messages
534
Location
SE Mid-Tennessee, USA
Format
Multi Format
I don't see much dust. If this is the currant state of your lens, dust wise, then I wouldn't attempt to take the lens apart. Some can be tricky, you may not be able to get it back together so that it works correctly. A small amount of dust won't screw-up your photos.
 

beemermark

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Messages
869
Format
4x5 Format
All lenses have dust inside. Except for underwater cameras lenses aren't hermetically sealed. Use it to shoot with and don't overthink it.
 
OP
OP
Dustinside

Dustinside

Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2024
Messages
3
Location
Vancouver
Format
35mm
I don't see much dust. If this is the currant state of your lens, dust wise, then I wouldn't attempt to take the lens apart. Some can be tricky, you may not be able to get it back together so that it works correctly. A small amount of dust won't screw-up your photos.

I use it for wedding videos and the dust shows on the videos. The quality of videos is fantastic with this lens and f1.4 is great for low light! It’s only a $150 lens but buying a zoom lens with f1.4 is gonna cost me a lot more. I have no choice but to clean it as it affects my work. It’s either done by a shop for $300+ or do it myself.
 

koraks

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Nov 29, 2018
Messages
22,903
Location
Europe
Format
Multi Format
Are you sure the aperture at 70mm is f/1.4? Is it not rather f/4?

It's most definitely f/4, not f/1.4.
The going rate of these lenses is $50 to $100 or so.

does anyone know how to open the front part that’s coving the screws?
Use a spanner tool that fits in the marked slots to unscrew the front retaining ring. Then work your way further down the lens stack.
1720082014009.png

Be careful not to scratch the optics.
 

Don_ih

Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2021
Messages
7,753
Location
Ontario
Format
35mm RF
I use it for wedding videos and the dust shows on the videos.

$300 is a low price to pay if you're using it to shoot wedding videos you get paid for. Or you could buy another lens that possibly doesn't have the problem (there's one on ebay right now for 85cad with free shipping). Zoom lenses have the elements move in relation to one another and getting access to all of them can be very difficult - and the dust you see could be on the element that's hardest to reach. There's no guarantee you can access all elements just from the front.
 

Andreas Thaler

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 19, 2017
Messages
4,863
Location
Vienna/Austria
Format
35mm
If the dust is visible in the videos, I suspect the rear lenses need cleaning as they are closer to the image plane.

Can you locate the dust in the lens?
 

dxqcanada

Member
Joined
Jun 9, 2011
Messages
331
Location
Ontario, Canada
Format
Multi Format
Dust on the lens elements would never be "visible" on the image ... it can only reduce the light transmission. I you can see dust in a video then it would on the sensor.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom