Radioactive Lenses (Yashica Lenses?)

PGraham3 · Nov 5, 2017

Howdy, APUG!
After being on my camera wish list for quite awhile, I finally found a working, super-clean Yashica J-3 with a crisp AUTO YASHINON 50mm f2 lens (not a DX or DS lens) that is on its way.
I look forward to using it, but I've recently become a little spooked regarding radioactive m42 lenses from this time period, and while the AUTO YASHINON 50mm f/2 is not listed on the various lists of radioactive lenses that I've located on the net, I have searched this particular lens and some pictures of this lens have glass with a yellowish color and some do not.

Does anyone know if the AUTO YASHINON 50mm f2 (Not DX or DS lens) is to be regarded as radioactive?
Anyone have a copy of this lens that can post a photo up with a clear view of its serial number?

I think I may have noticed that earlier serial numbers do not have yellowish glass, whereas higher serial numbers do.

Thanks for your help, APUG!

-Paul

Svenedin · Nov 5, 2017

This may be of some use: http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Radioactive_lenses

My partner is an electronics whizz and has built a geiger counter and it is interesting what is radioactive around the house. It's off topic but uranium glassware (e.g. antique vases are quite "hot" and Fiesta Ware tableware is even hotter). The radioactive lenses contain thorium.

PGraham3 · Nov 5, 2017

Yeah, this is one of the first sites I had found. The AUTO YASHINON 50mm f2 is not listed on here or other small lists. I’m trying to ascertain more specific info as it appears some of these lenses have yellow-green colored glass that is similar to radioactive takumars, etc.

Svenedin said:
This may be of some use: http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Radioactive_lenses

My partner is an electronics whizz and has built a geiger counter and it is interesting what is radioactive around the house. It's off topic but uranium glassware (e.g. antique vases are quite "hot" and Fiesta Ware tableware is even hotter). The radioactive lenses contain thorium.

h

Paul Howell · Nov 5, 2017

Need a Geiger Counter, or in the dark cut a small length of 35mm fresh unexposed film, tape the film on the front element, put in a light proof bag and leave for a few weeks then develop to see if the film is fogged. As a control you can follow the same procedure with another lens that you know is not radioactive.

Sirius Glass · Nov 5, 2017

Basically the radiation levels from lenses is low enough that one does not need to worry about it. However there can be a problem with the optics yellowing over time and that perhaps may increase cloud contrast for black & white film [not a serious comment, a sirius comment] but it could cause a slight color cast problem on color film [a serious comment and a sirius comment].

BMbikerider · Nov 5, 2017

I know in the 1970's there was a lot of talk about Canon FD lenses - the very high quality ones, had an element of radioactivity in their optical glass formulation. Apparently it did have an enhancing effect of the resolution or something like that. There was a lot of discussion about it, then it just stopped - people get bored after a while! I think the level of radioactivity would be very little or they would not be allowed to sell them.

Update

After posting my reply I searched the web under Canon FD Lenses/radioactivity and a whole load of optical names popped up. Pentax, Minolta Canon, Nikon and especially Kodak!
It seems they were all at it at some time or another. Well it hasn't harmed me yet after 55years, so I am not going to worry overmuch.

AgX · Nov 5, 2017

Only a few FD lenses are radiactive, and then the more rare ones. It is the FL range where two common lenses are amongst them.

E. von Hoegh · Nov 5, 2017

Worry more about the chlorine in your tapwater.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 5, 2017

As long as you don't eat the lens elements or imbed them in your skin, don't worry about it.

Don't make it a habit of sleeping with the lens next to you, either (this may be hard to resist if you really like the lens).

The radiation level is very low. Flying in planes, eating bananas, and living in a brick house will expose you to more radiation.

My motto: "a little radiation never hurt anyone".

I've had about 10 CT scans and 2 PET scans since 2010 (which actually is a lot of radiation) and just look at how normal I am...

E. von Hoegh · Nov 5, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
As long as you don't eat the lens elements or imbed them in your skin, don't worry about it.

Don't make it a habit of sleeping with the lens next to you, either (this may be hard to resist if you really like the lens).

The radiation level is very low. Flying in planes, eating bananas, and living in a brick house will expose you to more radiation.

My motto: "a little radiation never hurt anyone".

I've had about 10 CT scans and 2 PET scans since 2010 (which actually is a lot of radiation) and just look at how normal I am...

Last fall I had a trimalleolar fracture plus dilocation set in live time via shortwave "x" ray. Yesterday I discovered I was cheated the screws and plate the put in aren't magnetic.

AgX · Nov 5, 2017

The largest issue with radioctive lenses was for the workers in the optical plants and the people around.

Sirius Glass · Nov 5, 2017

Thorium was added to lens glass for enhanced optical performance. The radiation levels were always low. There are many APUG threads on this subject.

Sirius Glass · Nov 5, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
Worry more about the chlorine in your tapwater.

Do not sweat the chlorine in the water. Water fluoridation is a well know Commie Pinko Fascist plot by big government. You need aluminum foil hats for protection.

E. von Hoegh · Nov 5, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Do not sweat the chlorine in the water. Water fluoridation is a well know Commie Pinko Fascist plot by big government. You need aluminum foil hats for protection.

Nay nay. Chlorine, fluorine, bromine, and iodine are the halogens. The only halogen the human system needs is iodine, unfortunately the iodine receptors can bond with the others to our detriment.

ic-racer · Nov 5, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Do not sweat the chlorine in the water. Water fluoridation is a well know Commie Pinko Fascist plot by big government. You need aluminum foil hats for protection.

Sirius Glass · Nov 5, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Do not sweat the chlorine in the water. Water fluoridation is a well know Commie Pinko Fascist plot by big government. You need aluminum foil hats for protection.

ic-racer said:

YES that is exactly what I am talking about!

E. von Hoegh · Nov 5, 2017

MU METAL. Far more effective than aluminum.

Poisson Du Jour · Nov 5, 2017

Nothing to be spooked about. Among many others out there in history, early Pentax Takumar lenses and a couple of right-angle viewing attachments, had yellow-tinted (thorium) lenses. Chapter and verse has been written about the merits and/or perils of using these lenses, and it is conclusively a non-event; if anything, a conversation starter at the dinner table! It is often surmised that the thorium tint decreases brightness, but I have found no evidence of this with my own items. Creative types like to say that they leave their lens or whatnot in the hot sun, to gradually restore clarity to the element(s) with thorium. And what else might happen!?

AgX · Nov 5, 2017

This is nothing to laugh about. Manufacture of radioactive lenses is an occupational health issue and there is a case where the issue even sustains long after end of production.

John Koehrer · Nov 5, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
Do not sweat the chlorine in the water. Water fluoridation is a well know Commie Pinko Fascist plot by big government. You need aluminum foil hats for protection.

You realize that the headgear recommended by the church of the flying spaghetti monster is an ALUMINUM colander right?

E. von Hoegh · Nov 5, 2017

John Koehrer said:
You realize that the headgear recommended by the church of the flying spaghetti monster is an ALUMINUM colander right?

I have a sterling silver grape bowl. Would that do?

PGraham3 · Nov 5, 2017

Thanks for your comments and observations. However, except for a few helpful comments about testing the lens, they did not attempt to answer my original questions:

Does anyone know if the AUTO YASHINON 50mm f2 (Not DX or DS lens) is to be regarded as radioactive?
Anyone have a copy of this lens that can post a photo up with a clear view of its serial number?

I run a film photography club at my school and some students are wishing to trying out some m42 cameras and lenses. The last thing I'd want to happen is for a student to drop and break a radioactive lens and contaminate my classroom/school, in addition to possibly endangering their health in some way. A few students have busted lenses before, and so I definitely do not want to take the risk with a radioactive lens. Thus, with the Yashica J-3 and AUTO YASHINON 50mm f2 lens, I just watched a few videos from Theoria Apophasis on Youtube and he claims the lens to be non-radioactive. However, I've seen some to have yellow-green glass.

-Paul

shutterfinger · Nov 5, 2017

As stated before the only way to know for sure is to test the lens in question with a geiger counter or test to see if it fogs film. If glass associated with radioactive lens was used one batch of elements may be more radioactive than others or not be radioactive at all. Its not the sands used to make the glass but the contaminates that were in the sand and were not known to be there until after the fact, later production removed the contaminates before making glass from the sand.

PGraham3 · Nov 5, 2017

Gotcha. Thanks!
Could the test be done on something besides film, such as black construction paper? Anyone ever tried this?

shutterfinger · Nov 5, 2017

What effect will low level radiation have on black construction paper and what time frame will be needed for it to become apparent. Polaroid sheet film was good for this test, regular B&W will fog in a few days to a week. In a changebag cut a length from a roll, sit the lens on it and leave it for a few days then develop and fix, if the area where the lens was is denser than the surrounding film then its fogged. Unexposed processed film is clear.

Radioactive Lenses (Yashica Lenses?)

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