Help me identify what is wrong with a lens I purchased.

Radost · May 30, 2022

works on safari

Steve906 · May 31, 2022

If the front is a cemented doublet acetone may well separate it if left for a day or so ! I would suggest no more than a few hours to see of anything is happening. Diamond at any grit size is very aggressive as it is not friable, I would recommend cerium oxide if attempting a light polish.
(edit) also polish should idealy be applied on something like a pitch lap cast to the curvature of the lens.

Radost · May 31, 2022

Left for a day in acetone. Next day after it evaporated there is no change.

M-88 · Jun 1, 2022

Nah, there'll be no change, because acetone won't simply "sneak through" the whole balsam. Had similar issue and in the end I pried the lenses apart. By force. Risky business. It was a doublet with thick sides so I "grabbed" two elements with two mini-vises (лещата) and very carefully pulled them apart by rotating at a same time. But mine was some random lens, not a Leitz, so not much was at stake, if everything would go wrong.

Radost · Jun 1, 2022

I will put it aside and wait to find a broken lens with a good front lens

busrider · Jun 2, 2022

Radost said:
I will put it aside and wait to find a broken lens with a good front lens

Did u try using it?

Radost · Jun 2, 2022

Nope. it is too damaged.

Steve906 · Jun 5, 2022

M-88 said:
Nah, there'll be no change, because acetone won't simply "sneak through" the whole balsam. Had similar issue and in the end I pried the lenses apart. By force. Risky business. It was a doublet with thick sides so I "grabbed" two elements with two mini-vises (лещата) and very carefully pulled them apart by rotating at a same time. But mine was some random lens, not a Leitz, so not much was at stake, if everything would go wrong.

Yes it does 'sneak through' thats how we separated lenses for re-cementing where I worked, sometimes 1/2 days sometimes 1/2 weeks. These were £1-3k+ lenses so NO pliers or vices involved!!!

Joel_L · Jun 6, 2022

I don't see a problem, looks like a perfectly fine soft focus lens to me

busrider · Jun 6, 2022

Radost said:
Nope. it is too damaged.

The mount is damaged too ?

Don_ih · Jun 7, 2022

From the look of it, it would take better pictures if you left the lens cap on.

Radost said:
I will put it aside and wait to find a broken lens with a good front lens

You should probably sell it. You're not likely to ever find a broken lens with a good front element - what else breaks on those lenses that can't be easily fixed? Someone might buy it to fix the front element.

Radost · Jun 7, 2022

busrider said:
The mount is damaged too ?

Everything but the front glass element is in pristine condition

busrider · Jun 7, 2022

Joel_L said:
I don't see a problem, looks like a perfectly fine soft focus lens to me

Same here, only lens too damaged to try is a broken lens mount.

Help me identify what is wrong with a lens I purchased.

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