Internal lens crack in Hasselblad 80mm?

crumpet8 · Nov 25, 2015

Uh oh. I just received an 80mm Hasselblad lens that seems to be in great condition except for what I think is a crack in one of the internal elements. Its a thin line that streaks atleast halfway across. In both pictures you can see what Im talking about starting around 7 o clock.

Can anybody help identify it and let me know if it is a big problem?

Thanks,

Daniel

Arvee · Nov 25, 2015

Looks like a hair to me. I once owned a Summicron that was dropped and had a moon-shaped crack. Blacked it out and used it for many years and was never able to see any degradation in quality. Of course, the lens became an f2.2. Expose some film with it; I doubt you will be able to see any effect.

Any physical evidence that the lens was dropped?

bdial · Nov 25, 2015

^^what he said.
Looks a little more like a hair to me too. Either way, it probably won't affect the image quality.

TheFlyingCamera · Nov 25, 2015

Yeah. Third that- looks like a hair. Shoot and enjoy, and worry about removing it when the shutter needs servicing. It won't register at all.

railwayman3 · Nov 25, 2015

Certainly looks like a hair, and, traditionally, small marks (and even quite big marks!) on lenses have no visible effect on image quality. So you'll probably be OK.

(OTOH, when buying second-hand, I always think of advice I had many years ago (actually from an antique dealer): only buy something if you're 100% happy with every aspect, then don't be afraid to pay top $. If you settle for less, you'll always be conscious of the faults. And, if and when you sell again, the top item will always fetch a good price. But, given a less-than-perfect item, the next astute buyer will always see the same faults and beat you down on price. Not an infallible rule, but a good guide if one is unsure of a possible buy.)

Richard S. (rich815) · Nov 25, 2015

Only thing this will affect is re-sale, and for really no reason as the image will not be affected in any discernable way. That said I'd pay less for a hairy lens too. if you paid "full price" vs the market I'd return it. Plenty others to be had. if you got a screaming deal and plan to keep it a while just starting shooting and forget about it.

crumpet8 · Nov 25, 2015

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2015

I can only see it in the first photograph and it looks like a hair. A crack would not have that many curves. I should not effect the photographs but as others said it would hurt the resale value. I could be cleaned at a cost.

crumpet8 · Nov 25, 2015

Fred Aspen said:
Any physical evidence that the lens was dropped?

Hey Fred, the lens is otherwise in good conditon. Could it possibly be fungus? It seems strange a hair would be in there and in real life it is more colourless than hair coloured...

Does putting it in the sun for a while kill fungus?

crumpet8 · Nov 25, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
I can only see it in the first photograph

Yep, my software rotated the second image for some reason so the "thing" starts at roughly 10 o'clock not 7.

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
I can only see it in the first photograph

crumpet8 said:
Yep, my software rotated the second image for some reason so the "thing" starts at roughly 10 o'clock not 7.

Ok, I found the little bugger. To use a highly technical term "What a bummer!"

crumpet8 · Nov 25, 2015

Major bummer dude! Will test it out and see how it goes I guess... Still thinking hair? Or something else?

Sirius Glass · Nov 25, 2015

There are always 80mm CF Hasselblad lenses available for a good price. When I purchased my first 80mm CF lens they cost $600US then, the cost is much lower now.

crumpet8 · Nov 25, 2015

I assume you meant $800 I have another 80mm in the old camera bag that has great glass but is probably in need of a service soon... Focusing ring is a little tight and I have a feeling the slow speeds are a little slow.

trondsi · Nov 25, 2015

Not a Hasselblad expert, but if it makes you feel better I'm sometimes surprised at all the lens flaws that don't show up in the final image. Judging from my own lenses, it seems that a scratched high quality lens is better than a pristine mediocre lens, but it would also depend on the type of damage of course.

Arvee · Nov 25, 2015

I have a Nikkor-S f1.4 that was given to me by a fellow who was caught in a sudden sandstorm without a lens cap and the front element is pocked by at least a couple hundred serious marks from the flying sand. He gave it to me as a parts donor. I checked it out and shot a roll, comparing it with the pristine version I already owned. Shot half with the damaged lens, the other half with the pristine lens. Developed and printed a few big enlargements. Bottom line: no observable difference at 11x14; however, a lens shade was used. I have been wondering what the (artistic) results might look like when shot with specular highlights in the frame. Might be interesting!

Again, it takes some serious flaws to begin to show themselves on a print.

To answer your second question, I examined the photos again and am thinking about revising my first thoughts that it is a hair. I blew them up and there are too many little bends to be a typical hair shaft. I'm leaning toward a strand of lint of some sort.

paul ron · Nov 25, 2015

if you can remove the rear cell, youd be able to blow it out or at least better identify it.

Sean Mac · Nov 25, 2015

A cracked lens would likely be a lot uglier.

While I would wonder how a hair found its way in there.

Amateur fungus removal spings to mind.

If that's the story the good news is that a more careful person can remove it.

If it was mine I would strip and remove it.

Do what makes you happy but don't spend too much energy worrying.

Slixtiesix · Nov 26, 2015

Hairs, even as big as that, can indeed find their way into lenses. A friend of mine has a lens with a really thick hair right behind the rear element. We shot it on his D800 and it was surprisingly fine! However, if this really makes your stomach ache I would return it. If you can´t return it or if it was a real bargain, just use it. These chrome lenses may be due for a CLA sooner or later anyway...

crumpet8 · Nov 26, 2015

paul ron said:
if you can remove the rear cell, youd be able to blow it out or at least better identify it.

Is it easy and safe to take apart this lens? I'm pretty good with fine toolwork but haven't taken apart a lens before... Let alone a relatively expensive CZ.

TooManyShots · Nov 29, 2015

You would need a lens spanner. The typical ebay one should do it...nothing fancy. Or you can order a lens rubber stopper 49mm. About $10. The front element is easy to open. I bet there's where the air is. Rear element is harder to open because I believe the outer retaining ring is glued and Loctited. I have the 80mm too but in black. The front was easy to open. The rear....I didn't bother..is loctited HARD.

Sirius Glass · Nov 29, 2015

S. K. Grimes sells spanners with two types of tips. I have used these and I highly recommend them. He is out of them at the moment.

http://www.skgrimes.com/products/spanner-wrench

canuhead · Nov 30, 2015

I've seen cracked lenses and they looked nothing like yours, which I presume is a hair or similar. A crack will go through the entire element (front to back but not necessarily across the entire lens) and be VERY visible. Kind of like cracks in lake ice if you've ever seen that.

GarageBoy · Dec 1, 2015

My dad's sharpest copy of a 53 4.5 Biogon was one which had been dropped with a full crack in the edge of the rear group of elements- Had to be careful with it flaring, but worked great

crumpet8 · Dec 1, 2015

Thanks for the tips everyone! I'll try to sight whether it's in the rear or front of the lens and then have a look at how the elements are placed. If it's in the front then maybe I will try and open it up

Internal lens crack in Hasselblad 80mm?

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