Voigtlander Ultron 40mm issue

[MFstooges]

I saw picture of this lens on internet with what looks like lens/balsam separation. For a relatively new lens I think it is surprising. Is this an inherent issue with this lens?

 

[reddesert]

That doesn't look like what many people usually call separation. (Side note: most though not all lenses use UV cured optical cement, not Canada balsam, since sometime long in the past, possibly the 1950s-60s). Element separation often looks like a series of rainbow interference fringes from a glancing angle, caused by interference in the very small gap between elements.

A pattern of small dots like that here might be due to coating or element damage from environmental factors - there are some lenses where such damage causes a haze that cannot be cleaned, possibly from reaction between lubricants and coating. But diagnosing it from only one example / one picture is uncertain.

 

[Mark J]

I don't believe it's a common problem with this lens - partly because I own one and it's fine. ... but also I remember reading up about the lens before i bought it and didn't see any adverse advice.
It could be either cement layer or an AR coating that's failing - perhaps from poor cleaning in the manufacturing stage ?
Or environmental as Reddesert says - maybe high humidity.

 

[albireo]

I saw picture of this lens on internet with what looks like lens/balsam separation. For a relatively new lens I think it is surprising. Is this an inherent issue with this lens?

View attachment 373774

Not at all. My sample is 5 years old and completely clean. I'd pass on this. Great lens, BTW.

 

[Pioneer]

First time I've heard of this being a problem with this lens. Mine is fine and has been riding around on the front of my LX for the greater part of the last year. I am very fond of this lens and I agree with @albireo .

 

[forest bagger]

I saw picture of this lens on internet with what looks like lens/balsam separation.

I think there are thousands of air bubbles within the UV cured optical cement because this cement is worn.

 

[Mark J]

We've got the beginnings of a fan club here. It's small, sharp and very versatile. It's the sort of lens you put on the camera, or in the bag if you're not sure you're going to take pictures - but then you end up getting a couple of great shots.

 

[albireo]

We've got the beginnings of a fan club here. It's small, sharp and very versatile. It's the sort of lens you put on the camera, or in the bag if you're not sure you're going to take pictures - but then you end up getting a couple of great shots.

Yeah agreed. Pity they made the new one much bigger. Not sure why. I have the previous one, the SL II, and it's basically as long as a thick rear lens cap.

 

[skahde]

Little droplets... the owner could be lucky and the lens just got very hot at some point in its life, lubricant evaporated from the mechanics and condensated on the colder glass. I have a leitz summaron 3,5/3,5 cm suffering from the same small droplets on its elemens which were easy to wipe away with a little bit of solvent.

 

[MFstooges]

Little droplets... the owner could be lucky and the lens just got very hot at some point in its life, lubricant evaporated from the mechanics and condensated on the colder glass. I have a leitz summaron 3,5/3,5 cm suffering from the same small droplets on its elemens which were easy to wipe away with a little bit of solvent.

Sounds like need to take it apart and clean the mechanism as well, no?

 

[skahde]

I would think so but much easier than separating, cleaning and recementing the elements with questionable result. In any case and thinking twice I wouldn't put any confidence into the repairability of this lens. You don't know what it is. Hazy Summarons, as above: Don't worry, it's just oil.

 

[forest bagger]

I saw picture of this lens on internet with what looks like lens/balsam separation. For a relatively new lens I think it is surprising.

You mean, you only saw that picture - it's not your own lens?

 

[electricnerve]

Yes, I had the exact same problem with my first version Ultron SL 40mm f/2.0 lens. It looked exactly like this. The same problem seen in many older Nikkor 35-70/2.8 AI zoom lenses.
I removed the doublet and sent it to a tech in Taiwan for repair.
I realise this is an old thread, but this information could be useful to others searching for the same information.. This is lens separation. Yes, it can be an issue with this lens. I suspect humidity is a factor.