Lens separation?

Paul Ozzello · Mar 3, 2021

I was looking at a Fuji g617 but when I asked the seller for some closeups of the lens she discovered this. Is this some sort of lens separation or delamination?

JPD · Mar 3, 2021

"Schneideritis". Paint flaking off the metal parts inside. It can most likely be fixed with a little matte black paint if you can unscrew the retainer ring for the front lens group.

Nicholas Lindan · Mar 3, 2021

I agree - it looks like flaking paint. But I think the paint is flaking off the ground edge of the glass. If you look at the cross section of a SA you can see the edge of the front and rear elements is conical https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schneider_Kreuznach#/media/File:SuperAngulon.png

The image forming light never sees this part of the lens and so it shouldn't affect image quality. The black paint is there to prevent light bouncing off the edge of the lens and then off the inside surface of the outer lens elements. I think the only effect would be an infinitesimal lowering of contrast (famous last words).

It shouldn't be a major job to remove the outside elements and apply new black paint (second set of famous last words).

Grim Tuesday · Mar 3, 2021

I agree with others on Schneideritis, but be sure to get a big discount from the seller, as although it may have minimal effect on image quality, it will affect your ability to resell it if you so choose. This also looks like a particularly bad case, and for a camera that is not known to have much of it, so it makes me wonder what happened to this camera in particular that caused it (extreme temperatures?)

Huss · Mar 3, 2021

fatso said:
I was looking at a Fuji g617 but when I asked the seller for some closeups of the lens she discovered this. Is this some sort of lens separation or delamination?

View attachment 268100 View attachment 268101

She didn't need closeups to see that!
That's about the worst case I've seen. Painting the lens edges is done to prevent flare. I'd hard pass on this one.

Paul Ozzello · Mar 4, 2021

Huss said:
She didn't need closeups to see that!
That's about the worst case I've seen. Painting the lens edges is done to prevent flare. I'd hard pass on this one.

Ahahaha I know right? When I first enquired the pictures were in very low light and it wasn't visible. She claims it wasn't like that a week ago (cough BS cough) I've never seen a lens that bad... and it only has 035 on the counter - maybe it sat for years in a damp closet.

I would use it in rough conditions- hiking and trekking for days on end in the Canadian Arctic. So if it doesn't affect picture quality - but God knowa what else is wrong with it.

Is it really Schneidereitis if it's a Fuji?

Nodda Duma · Mar 4, 2021

That lens is behind a retainer and would be easy to remove for repair. Clean off the old edge blacking with solvent and replace with India Ink using a brush.

AgX · Mar 4, 2021

fatso said:
Is it really Schneidereitis if it's a Fuji?

I have seen such at lenses from different manufacturers from different countries.

AgX · Mar 4, 2021

Concerning its effect, I got a lens without any edge blackening, without any sign of hampering; must have been manufactured this way.

Craig75 · Mar 4, 2021

035 on the counter could just as easily mean 1035 or 2035.

Wouldnt go near that with a barge pole unless it was dirt cheap and i knew how to take it apart

Dan Daniel · Mar 4, 2021

Craig75 said:
035 on the counter could just as easily mean 1035 or 2035.

(if the counter is anything like on the Fuji GW series cameras, it's very simple to reset- remove bottom plate, spin to whatever number you want, and on you go. I would never use the counter to tell me anything about age or use of a Fuji; evaluate as any other camera on wear, signs of use, function, etc.)

BradS · Mar 4, 2021

fatso said:
.....
Is it really Schneidereitis if it's a Fuji?

Yes. It is commonly called Schneideritis because it is quite common on earlier Schneider large format lenses but it is also commonly found on some Fuji lenses. It has very little if any noticeable effect of photos but has a large effect on resale value. You can expect a significant discount in price and excellent photographic results. Buy it and be happy!

Paul Ozzello · Mar 5, 2021

This is the picture from the ad. Hard to believe it's the same lens. Not worth the 3 hour drive.

awty · Mar 5, 2021

Theres someone living inside the lens!!! How the hell did that happen, hope you can save them.

macfred · Mar 5, 2021

awty said:
Theres someone living inside the lens!!! How the hell did that happen, hope you can save them.

The inhabitants of the lens ?

Nodda Duma · Mar 5, 2021

AgX said:
Concerning its effect, I got a lens without any edge blackening, without any sign of hampering; must have been manufactured this way.

Edge blackening is a design tool to help adjust contrast. In your example, uncoated edges means they did not want the higher contrast which comes with blackened edges.

awty · Mar 5, 2021

macfred said:
The inhabitants of the lens ?

View attachment 268256

You could of at least wore some clothes Andreas.

Lens separation?

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