Mamiya G 75mm f/3.5 and haze

[rdeloe]

I've been watching out for a Mamiya G 75mm f/3.5 lens for a while now, and am struck by the fact that almost everyone for sale I've discovered has haze or fog. Does anyone have any insight into what's going on? Normally when I see a pattern like this it's a design flaw, e.g., a lubricant that is particularly prone to breaking down with age and creating a hazy coating.

 

[ic-racer]

If these lenses are on e-bay maybe it has something to do with return policy. I have even listed things as "Junk" or "Non-Working For Parts" and had items returned as "Not as described."

 

[rdeloe]

If these lenses are on e-bay maybe it has something to do with return policy. I have even listed things as "Junk" or "Non-Working For Parts" and had items returned as "Not as described."

Most of the ones I've seen are on eBay, but even the ones KEH has have haze or fog.

I've purchased loads of lenses from eBay. I've never seen a situation like this where nearly every copy of a particular lens has the same or similar issue (haze or fog, and sometimes fungus). Out of curiosity, I checked the Mamiya G 50/4 lenses for sale on eBay; only the lowest cost one has haze or fog. Very strange.

 

[Oren Grad]

I got a clean one about a year and a half ago, bundled with a 6 MF body, from a Japanese seller on eBay. When I was shopping I read the fine print on all of the listings pretty carefully, and many of the 75's indeed had haze or fog mentioned. Unfortunately I didn't keep a log, so I can't tell you the exact proportion.

 

[rdeloe]

I got a clean one about a year and a half ago, bundled with a 6 MF body, from a Japanese seller on eBay. When I was shopping I read the fine print on all of the listings pretty carefully, and many of the 75's indeed had haze or fog mentioned. Unfortunately I didn't keep a log, so I can't tell you the exact proportion.

Thanks Oren. Exact numbers not needed. It is curious, but these things happen.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

Normally when I see a pattern like this it's a design flaw, e.g., a lubricant that is particularly prone to breaking down with age and creating a hazy coating.

This is similar the haze or etching in the black barrel versions of Canon 50mm f/1.8 thread mount lenses (1960s to 1970s models?). It is very hard to find one that is clear inside. I finally found one with minor fungus but no haze. DAG has it now. In contrast, the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lenses appear to have aged more gracefully.

 

[flavio81]

If these lenses are on e-bay maybe it has something to do with return policy. I have even listed things as "Junk" or "Non-Working For Parts" and had items returned as "Not as described."

Many lenses, specific models, tend to develop haze due to inherent problems with some materials, interaction between lens cement and lens coating, etc.

That's why for those lenses you'll find almost all of them have haze.