Rolleiflex Lens Question

BorHa · Jul 8, 2017

Hey! I have a question... This is a front element of a Rolleiflex TLR Xenotar 2.8. Is this fungus, or coating damage?
If it's fungus, I was going to do the 50/50 amonia, hydrogen peroxide fix. Any other suggestions?
If it's coating loss, I guess I just leave it?
Thanks!

Dan Daniel · Jul 8, 2017

Uh, that's really Europa, one of the moons of Jupiter, isn't it? Nice try but you can't fool me...

E. von Hoegh · Jul 8, 2017

God, that looks awful. I see crud and a couple scratches, also some splatter. Maybe bury it somewhere...

macfred · Jul 8, 2017

Do not use this for photographic purposes ...

E. von Hoegh · Jul 8, 2017

Lomography might give you a bundle for it.

Alan Gales · Jul 8, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
Lomography might give you a bundle for it.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 8, 2017

I do not think it is fungus, which usually has a spiderweb-like appearance.

By the way, you did a good job capturing the surface imperfections of that lens.

...and welcome to APUG.

greg zinselmeier · Jul 8, 2017

air bubbles are to expected, like ALLL vintage glass. yes, there are some scratches, some coating loss, BUT I do not see signs of fungus, over all and I quite think its is usable. have fun taking pics.

BorHa · Jul 9, 2017

Thanks for everyone's responses and for the welcome. Once I install it and take some photos, I'll post some up.

HerSmokeySun · Jul 9, 2017

Looking forward to seeing some photographs made with this lens, and how the scratches/coating loss may or may not affect the images. I've played with a lens that had some very obvious surface issues that produced better quality images than a lens with a very slight haze to it.

Good luck sir!

BorHa · Sep 20, 2017

Took a while but I shot some rolls on the replaced front element. The last two images were taken with the original fogged lens. Any amount of back light blew out the entire image and the focus was extremely soft. The other 5 are taken with the scratched up replacement lens that I am holding in the 1st post. Perfect rolleiflex repair for 50 bucks. Thanks for looking!

HerSmokeySun said:
Looking forward to seeing some photographs made with this lens, and how the scratches/coating loss may or may not affect the images. I've played with a lens that had some very obvious surface issues that produced better quality images than a lens with a very slight haze to it.

Good luck sir!

greg zinselmeier said:
air bubbles are to expected, like ALLL vintage glass. yes, there are some scratches, some coating loss, BUT I do not see signs of fungus, over all and I quite think its is usable. have fun taking pics.

Theo Sulphate said:
I do not think it is fungus, which usually has a spiderweb-like appearance.

By the way, you did a good job capturing the surface imperfections of that lens.

...and welcome to APUG.

Saganich · Sep 20, 2017

Check the batch number of that film against those listed in the backing paper posts and keep the rest for testing purposes. Nice shots by the way.

RichardJack · Sep 21, 2017

I don't think that can be cleaned. Look at it under a microscope, looking at your image that seems as if the glass is etched. I had that happen to a lens years ago that was stored without a lens cap or filter that was contacting the foam of the lens case. The foam broke down with time and out gassed. The glass was destroyed. Fortunately in my case the lens was still in production and I was able to purchase a new element. I don't think your going to be that fortunate.

Rolleiflex Lens Question

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