M42 Lens Cloudiness - Any Suggestions to Remedy it?

PGraham3 · Sep 19, 2018

Howdy, APUG! I found a not-so-common m42 lens that I've been looking for that is in great condition. The only issue is that it seems there is a mild cloudiness in one of the elements. I've done a little research, and it appears there doesn't seem to b much of a full-proof way to eliminate it. I understand that the cloudiness can form from several attributing factors. However, would any of you have an suggestions or know of any home-remedy ways to get rid of this cloudiness without opening up the lens elements?
Thanks, APUG!
-Paul

Marco Gilardetti · Sep 19, 2018

The answer is NO, because you don't know what it is, and you won't know until you have the lens in your hands. It might go from some tarnishing that you can remove with a towel (very unlikely) to a deterioration of the coating (supposed it has any) to a degradation of the cement within lenses' groups (very likely) to a corrosion fo the glass (very likely).

If it is for sale at a ridicolous price and you're one of those who like to place bets, you might buy it and then find out what this "cloudiness" was. Otherwise you might wait for a unit with glass in decent conditions.

If you want my opinion, I would definitely wait for a unit with glass in decent conditions, and even in that case expect it to have some issues you didn't notice in pictures.

PGraham3 · Sep 19, 2018

@Marco Gilardetti
Thanks for your thorough comment! Much appreciated!
Also, I know it’s a lens that has a large radioactive element. Have you ever heard of radioactive elements kind of speeding up the degradation process that may be the cause of the cloudiness?
-Paul

GLS · Sep 19, 2018

PGraham3 said:
Also, I know it’s a lens that has a large radioactive element. Have you ever heard of radioactive elements kind of speeding up the degradation process that may be the cause of the cloudiness?

As far as I know lanthanide containing elements only cause yellowing of the glass over time, not any cloudiness.

The cause could be a severe case of mould growth.

jim10219 · Sep 19, 2018

The only way to clean off the cloudiness of a lens element is to get inside there and manually wipe it off. So unless it's on the outside of the front or rear element, that means you're going to have to take the lens apart. Depending on the lens and which element we're talking about, this can range from fairly simple, to very difficult. If you're not experienced with taking lenses apart, I wouldn't buy a lens that has a cloudy element inside it. The risk of doing more damage than good is just too high.

Radioactive elements won't cause cloudiness. Cloudiness can have many causes, and only some are fixable. You'd need a trained eye to be able to tell if it's worth your time to even attempt a repair.

Marco Gilardetti · Sep 19, 2018

I agree with other fellows that what I've read is that radioactive elements cause a yellowish cast of the glass, not a cloudiness. Some pretend that this cast is removed by simply exposing the lens under the UV rays of the sun. I cannot assess wether both statements are more or less true because, even though I own a radioactive lens (Voigtlander Apo-Lanthar), it doesn't have any significant yellow cast, and anyway I wouldn't let it sit under the sun.

Beware that cloudiness in a lens is not necessarily only mold growth that could be wiped out: coating detachment, lens separation as well as glass corrosion may lead to quite the same cloudy look. As said, by purchasing the lens you basically place a bet. I would keep in mind that if this cloudiness was something that could be easily wiped out, chances are that the seller would have done it himself before advertising the lens.

GLS · Sep 19, 2018

Marco Gilardetti said:
Some pretend that this cast is removed by simply exposing the lens under the UV rays of the sun. I cannot assess wether both statements are more or less true

It is true, although whether every trace of yellowness can be removed depends on the lens and how bad the case is.

My 105mm Takumar for the Pentax 6x7 had some yellowing, most of which was cleared up by shining a UV-emitting LED lamp through it for a few days. The remaining cast was so mild I decided not to worry about it any further.

sissysphoto · Sep 19, 2018

Absolutely no info as to lens type. But one thing they all have in common is that the op's question couldn't possibly be answered anyway, even knowing that. Only disassembly of the lens could provide answers. Anything further said about it on this thread would be background chatter.

pentaxuser · Sep 19, 2018

At close to the 38th parallel in mid-September, the UV might still be sufficient to try putting the lens outside in the sun from say 10:00am to 4:00pm for a few days. It might work or at least help and you would appear to have little to lose bu so doing.

pentaxuser

Dan Fromm · Sep 19, 2018

Marco Gilardetti said:
I agree with other fellows that what I've read is that radioactive elements cause a yellowish cast of the glass, not a cloudiness. Some pretend that this cast is removed by simply exposing the lens under the UV rays of the sun.

I don't pretend. I have, though, reported accurately. I'll report again.

Four lenses. 55/8 ReproClaron, 6"/9 Cooke Copying Lens, 10.16"/9 Taylor Hobson Copying Lens, 300/9 Cooke Apotal. All badly yellowed when received, all known to have elements of Thorium glass. I set them to bask under a BL-B compact fluorescent lamp and eventually they all cleared completely. I didn't expose them to sun, moon, stars, rain or snow.

Sirius Glass · Sep 19, 2018

PGraham3 said:
Howdy, APUG! I found a not-so-common m42 lens that I've been looking for that is in great condition. The only issue is that it seems there is a mild cloudiness in one of the elements. I've done a little research, and it appears there doesn't seem to b much of a full-proof way to eliminate it. I understand that the cloudiness can form from several attributing factors. However, would any of you have an suggestions or know of any home-remedy ways to get rid of this cloudiness without opening up the lens elements?
Thanks, APUG!
-Paul

Pass on that lens. Find one that is not cloudy, even if you have to pay more.

PGraham3 · Sep 22, 2018

Very helpful info.
Yeah, while I’ve done some old camera repairs, I’ve never taken apart a lens. From what I’ve read, it can be a complicated matter.
Thanks! I’ll pass on this lens.

-Paul

E. von Hoegh · Oct 1, 2018

I didn't see anyone mention lubricant haze/migration, one of the most common haze producers.
The lens would still need careful disassembly, cleaning, relubrication, then reassembly - not a project for the inexperienced - and experience is not available via the internet!
What lens is it?

jim10219 · Oct 1, 2018

E. von Hoegh said:
I didn't see anyone mention lubricant haze/migration, one of the most common haze producers.
The lens would still need careful disassembly, cleaning, relubrication, then reassembly - not a project for the inexperienced - and experience is not available via the internet!
What lens is it?

If it’s cloudy with the classic spider webs you’d expect to see from mold or fungus, then this is most likely the issue. The only way to fix it is to open it up and clean it off. I’ve done this to a couple of lenses. Depending on the design and which element(s) need cleaning, it could be a relatively easy fix (with a scanner wrench and a dust free work zone), or a very difficult one (especially in the case of autofocus zoom lenses).

PGraham3 · Oct 2, 2018

@E. von Hoegh
The lens was an Auto Rikenon 55mm f1.4 m42 lens. The lens looked clean, but was advertised as being a little cloudy inside. From what I can gather, these lenses are a bit complicated to dismantle and clean. I passed on the lens and I'm pursuing others. In fact, I'm trying to collect and use all the Auto Rikenon m42 lenses. I've grown an affinity for them. Thanks for commenting!
-Paul

M42 Lens Cloudiness - Any Suggestions to Remedy it?

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