Zuiko 50f/1.4 with condensation marks.

[p.giannakis]

Hello everyone,

I got a nice MC zuiko 50 f1.4 recently (s/n above 1 million) and i noticed that there is a small part of an inner elements with a bit of fogging on it. Google says that is common with this lens version.

I managed to take the lens apart (boy there was some contact cement on every retaining ring) and the "fog" is on the third element. I can see it when I look with a magnifying glass - looks like dried water marks.

Now, I tried blowing on it and cleaning it with a lens cloth, I tried also Ronsonol but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Any ideas what can clean it?

 

[mpaniagua]

Can you share a photo? Also, could it be mold marks? If so, not much that can be done except replacing the glass element. Have some of those along the years and they inded looks as drying spots, similar to drying marks on the film negatives. Not sure if it could be polished by a skilled person?

 

[p.giannakis]

Can you share a photo? Also, could it be mold marks? If so, not much that can be done except replacing the glass element. Have some of those along the years and they inded looks as drying spots, similar to drying marks on the film negatives. Not sure if it could be polished by a skilled person?

I will post some pictures later on tonight when I am back at home. Although I cannot exclude fungus, fogged elements due to condensation is mentioned online about this lens.

I will take a pic and post it layer on.

 

[p.giannakis]

it proved a bit more difficult to photograph - it is visible only when light hits with an angle and you look at it from the side.

 

[zuikologist]

Not sure if the third element is cemented, but it could be some kind of lens separation or Schneideritis.

 

[p.giannakis]

Not sure if the third element is cemented, but it could be some kind of lens separation or Schneideritis.

Thanks for the suggestion. Looking at the lens diagrams online, there is a cemented group on the rear of the lens - these look fine. These blemishes are on the front of the third element, under a magnifying loupe they look like loads and loads of circular marks - I can't feel them when I run my nail over them.

The lens was sealed when I opened it, there was no signs of visible fungus.

Btw, I also tried white vinegar yesterday, no effect on it whatsoever.

 

[mpaniagua]

Yeah you right. That doesn't look like fungus to me. Honestly no idea what that could be. The only think that comes to my mind would be that lens was sumerged on umm unpure water (like rain) and left to dry. I had a slr camera (dont remember which one) that was dropped on rain water and something similar happened to the prism.

 

[rfaspen]

If they're calcium salt (lime) deposits from "hard" water, a mild acid such as vinegar should work. It won't be like magic... that's only on television. My only concern would be the lens coating if there is. Try letting the vinegar set on the deposits for a few minutes (if you feel comfortable doing that). A lime cleaning product (such as CLR here in the states) may have even "better" lime dissolving stuff in it than vinegar. Again, it's your comfort involving the coating that might be present. Of course, who knows if your spots are in fact lime. I don't know what else they could be....dried lubricant drops?

 

[mpaniagua]

If they're calcium salt (lime) deposits from "hard" water, a mild acid such as vinegar should work. It won't be like magic... that's only on television. My only concern would be the lens coating if there is. Try letting the vinegar set on the deposits for a few minutes (if you feel comfortable doing that). A lime cleaning product (such as CLR here in the states) may have even "better" lime dissolving stuff in it than vinegar. Again, it's your comfort involving the coating that might be present. Of course, who knows if your spots are in fact lime. I don't know what else they could be....dried lubricant drops?

+1 on lubrican spots. Probably someone flushed the lens with some WD40. Agree on the vinegar may be slow.

 

[p.giannakis]

Thanks guys, I will open it again during the weekend and try to allow a minute for the vinegar to work.

 

[p.giannakis]

I decided to abandon any further cleaning attempts. I spent yesterday afternoon testing it against the 50f/1.8 MIJ and my old trusty silvernose 50f/1.4 and it performs just as well (and at wide apertures better than) in terms of sharpness and flare control as the other two lenses. I think any risk of damage outweighs any potential benefits.

Anyway, that fogging is not visible in real life conditions, you can only see it if shining a strong torch through the rear elements.

 

[mpaniagua]

I decided to abandon any further cleaning attempts. I spent yesterday afternoon testing it against the 50f/1.8 MIJ and my old trusty silvernose 50f/1.4 and it performs just as well (and at wide apertures better than) in terms of sharpness and flare control as the other two lenses. I think any risk of damage outweighs any potential benefits.

Anyway, that fogging is not visible in real life conditions, you can only see it if shining a strong torch through the rear elements.

I think that's a wise choice. Why fix it if it ain't broken? Most lens "defects" don't have as much effect on image under normal circumstances. Probably would have effect if shooting against lights but my old dad taught me to try to shot with light on my back, unless I was after some special effect or couldn't help it. I have a Caltar 150 LF lens with bad separation issues that performs stellar, haven't had any contrast/flare issue with it.

Enjoy your lens. Zuiko glass is wonderful.

 

[p.giannakis]

I think thats a wise choice. Why fix it if it ain't broken? Most lens "defects" don't have as much effect on image under normal circustances. Probably would have effect if shooting against lights but my old dad taught me to try to shot with light on my back, unless I was after some special effect or couldn't help it. I have a Caltar 150 LF lens with bad separation issues that performs stellar, havent had any contrast/flare issue with it.

Enjoy your lens. Zuiko glass is wonderful.

Thank you. Here are the pictures that made me decide against cleaning it more.



And bokeh