Is this the result of a flipped element, or haze? TLR

The lens is a Mamiya 180mm 4.5 for the TLR system. I bought it cheap, knowing it has haze in both lenses. It seems most of the Mamiya TLR lenses are hazed, so I didn't want to spend much, and I can deal with loss of contrast.

So I haven't used the lens, but I was running some focus tests on the 3 lenses I have for my C220 (55mm, 80mm, 180mm), and noticed the severe distortion on the 180mm (see pic). The 180 is the older chrome one, not the super, and is a 4 element design. While the lens has haze, it has less then my 55mm, and I don't get any distortion from it, but I'm not ruling haze out yet.

So would this, or could this be a flipped element? The 2nd element from the rear is concave on both sides, but not identical on both sides, so I could see this one possibly having gotten flipped.

Ironically, this lens had (IMO), the best center focus of the three...

It sure ain't haze. Looks like classic flipped element to me (or you accidentally posted a Holga photo). I like the look very much.

LOL. I kind of like it too, and can see times when it would be appealing. But, I'd rather have a proper lens, and if I want that look, I know how to get it.

I'm going to flip the suspected element, and check how it looks on the film plane with a ground glass. There are really only two elements that could have been flipped, so I don't think it should be difficult to correct.

I have a fun day ahead of me.

You might want to keep it like that and just get a newer 180 in the future. I was doing some stuff like that a few years ago by using the accessory wide angle viewing lens as the taking lens on a Yashica TLR.

This might be the best way yet invented to get a tele-Holga.

You can also hold the lens an appropriate distance away from a piece of paper with a window or light fixture and compare the images given by each lens. Of course, that's assuming the taking lens is the only one that has a flipped element. I had this exact lens, during cleaning up the haze I lost track of one of the elements' direction so had to compare.

Well, it was the second front last element that was flipped. I suspected it would be. Easy fix, and I was able to confirm the repair by using a makeshift ground glass at the film plane:



It's a section of unexposed developed film about 20cm long, taped to two spools, and inserted like a roll of film. Worked great!

Easy fixes are the best!