What issues are there with this Aero Ektar lens - and how can I repair them?

Hi community,

I have been looking for a Kodak Aero Ektar for some time and have been offered one that looks like it needs some TLC.

Its from a company that clears houses, and they have done the best they can of showing the condition and giving descriptions.

Here are the images of the lens

https://i.imgur.com/GyFjE28.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jq83fWD.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/v12ceD6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hBtauem.jpg

The iris reportedly opens and closes smoothly, but the black specs inside the lens are apparently pieces of metal or loose paint.

So, the question is, what am I looking at here? Can this lens be opened, cleaned, and restored from this current condition?

Many thanks in advance for all your help.

I would say it is a very good candidate for restoration. Except for the loose dirt and some superficial fungus, it appears to be in good physical condition.

Of course, there is the chance that the fungus has etched the glass and you can't really know that until it has been serviced, but what little is there appears to be fairly benign from the photographs.

If you've never cleaned a lens before, you might not want to make your first attempt on a lens long-sought and get some quotes from local repair shops.

Kino said:

I would say it is a very good candidate for restoration. Except for the loose dirt and some superficial fungus, it appears to be in good physical condition.

Of course, there is the chance that the fungus has etched the glass and you can't really know that until it has been serviced, but what little is there appears to be fairly benign from the photographs.

If you've never cleaned a lens before, you might not want to make your first attempt on a lens long-sought and get some quotes from local repair shops.

Click to expand...

Hey, thanks for your message. Thats possitive for sure.

The seller kindly sent two more images of the haze/fungus on the front element.

https://i.imgur.com/gDzLZkt.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/oG4TrH3.jpg

Do you think its workable or is this too far gone to be restored and salvaged?

Of course, you are asking me to judge from a small photo over the Internet, but personally I don't find it off-putting.
Now, the price should reflect the current defects and NOT the value of the lens once restored. If the seller is unreasonably high on price, remind them you have to invest in costly cleaning and restoration.

As many will tell you on this site; the flashlight test on a lens is quite brutal and lenses that perform superbly often look horrible with a flashlight shining through the elements.

That's not to say you shouldn't have it cleaned if you purchase it, but what I see is actually pretty good for a lens of that age that has probably been poorly stored.

Evaluate it logically. You are the ultimate arbitrator of it's worth to you and what you are willing to spend to obtain and clean the lens.

I do not see anything that will affect image quality significantly as is. The haze will reduce contrast slightly. That type of haze usually cleans off.
What is the price? The cells unscrew from the barrel and individual elements can be removed from each cell.
This is the Yellow Dot version from1944. The yellow dot indicates coated by Kodak. They started coating them in 1944.
The lens diagram, arrow indicates direction of light travel and is at the aperture position.