haze on lens?

Rinthe · Nov 23, 2010

I'm looking to buy an aero ektar lens.

any idea what this haze might be?

http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages...07,427070923&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0

Christopher Walrath · Nov 23, 2010

I see two lights falling on the glass. I would venture, in absence of physical inspection, that the 'haze' to which you refer is a whole bunch of electrons bouncin' all around down in there. Again, without the lens in hand and by that illustration, there's know way to determine fungus, moisture, bad cement, or whatever else it could conceivably be.

elekm · Nov 23, 2010

I vote for bouncing electrons. Seriously though, I agree with Christopher that it's difficult to tell from a photo. You usually just have to buy it and cross your fingers.

Rinthe · Nov 23, 2010

not talking about the lights. on the left side of the lens, you can see the 'haze' im talking about.

Sirius Glass · Nov 23, 2010

Possibly cement or coating flaking off.

MattKing · Nov 23, 2010

Christopher Walrath said:
I see two lights falling on the glass. I would venture, in absence of physical inspection, that the 'haze' to which you refer is a whole bunch of electrons bouncin' all around down in there. Again, without the lens in hand and by that illustration, there's know way to determine fungus, moisture, bad cement, or whatever else it could conceivably be.

Actually, I would vote for photons, rather than electrons.

Otherwise, I agree fully.

Christopher Walrath · Nov 23, 2010

Geez, Matt. Well, um, duh, you're right. Stupid keys.

As to the discoloration on the left, I would vote for coating that has not been rubbed off yet. That, in and of itself, shouldn't affect image quality.

Christopher Walrath · Nov 23, 2010

Wow. Did I really say Electrons? And did Mike really not catch that? ;p Sorry, I like company under that bus. Nice tranny.

Dan Fromm · Nov 24, 2010

There's some sort of crud visible at the edge of the front element from roughly 6 o'clock to 9 o'clock. Might be oil, might be coating damage. If oil, a microfiber cloth and Super Kote or maybe R.O.R. lens cleaning fluid might remove it. If coating damage, negligible.

I can't tell what's going on with the rear element's outer surface. Whoever took the pictures want to learn how to photograph lenses.

If the lens' price is low enough, gamble. If too high or you're very risk averse, don't get it. It is, though, much cleaner than most of the ones I've seen on offer.

Tony D · Nov 24, 2010

From what i understand the Aero-Ektar lens contain glass elements made of Thorium, which is radioactive and causes internal fogging.

http://home.earthlink.net/~michaelbriggs/aeroektar/aeroektar.html

Dan Fromm · Nov 25, 2010

Tony D said:
From what i understand the Aero-Ektar lens contain glass elements made of Thorium, which is radioactive and causes internal fogging.

http://home.earthlink.net/~michaelbriggs/aeroektar/aeroektar.html

Not fogging. Lens elements made of thoriated glass eventually yellow. They're still clear. The yellowing can be removed by letting the lens bask for a while, sometimes a long while, under a UV lamp.

Aero Ektars aren't the only lenses that contain radioactive elements. I've cleared three TTH tessar type process lenses and one Repro Claron with a compact 20w UV-B fluorescent. The process took nearly a month with that dim little bulb. Some people have reported quicker clearing by setting lenses to bask in the sun. I was reluctant to do that because of the crud that falls from the sky.

haze on lens?

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