jusxusfanatic
Well-known
First time cleaning a lens by myself (Canon 50/1.2 LTM)
So I just bought the canon 50/1.2 LTM with some haze and oil on the aperture blades. I heard it's easy to do this, but what tool do I need to use? Also, do I just just a cloth and a q-tip to clean the haze and the oil on the aperture blades? Thanks
So I just bought the canon 50/1.2 LTM with some haze and oil on the aperture blades. I heard it's easy to do this, but what tool do I need to use? Also, do I just just a cloth and a q-tip to clean the haze and the oil on the aperture blades? Thanks
nhchen
Nathan
Johan Niels has a good guide for this lens:
http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...anon-diy-cleaning-a-1-2-50mm-rangefinder-lens
It's very easy to take apart as long as you have a lens spanner. Hopefully the haze hasn't etched into the glass on your lens.
Nathan
http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...anon-diy-cleaning-a-1-2-50mm-rangefinder-lens
It's very easy to take apart as long as you have a lens spanner. Hopefully the haze hasn't etched into the glass on your lens.
Nathan
jusxusfanatic
Well-known
Ohh I dont have a spanner for the lens...
jusxusfanatic
Well-known
23 US for one... worth it?
peterm1
Veteran
There are a few references in the internet on the dismantling and cleaning of Canon LTM lenses. Turns out you were advised correctly, it seems the 50mm f1.2 is a comparatively easy lens to work on. Try these articles:
http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...anon-diy-cleaning-a-1-2-50mm-rangefinder-lens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGp0zR28-rw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0U5gq-hKTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMRnqIysGAk (actually for the 50mm f1.4 but should help)
By the way if you do not have a lens spanner to remove lens retaining rings, and do not wish to wait for one to arrive on ebay (where however you can buy them cheap enough) you can try buying an engineers divider (sometimes also called a compass divider or an engineers caliper) which can usually be bought cheaply at good hardware stores. I picked up several on sale for use in my workshop and I think they cost $5 each. You can adapt the ends/points on the dividers if required as some lens retaining rings use little slots while some use small holes). A further alternative is to try using a rubber ring / stopper / plug of the correct diameter and rely on friction to turn the retaining ring - indeed many such rings do not have slots and you must use something like this to remove them.
Photos of compass dividers here:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...P-wt7RAhWInZQKHe_tDPgQsAQIIQ&biw=1920&bih=896
http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...anon-diy-cleaning-a-1-2-50mm-rangefinder-lens
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGp0zR28-rw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0U5gq-hKTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMRnqIysGAk (actually for the 50mm f1.4 but should help)
By the way if you do not have a lens spanner to remove lens retaining rings, and do not wish to wait for one to arrive on ebay (where however you can buy them cheap enough) you can try buying an engineers divider (sometimes also called a compass divider or an engineers caliper) which can usually be bought cheaply at good hardware stores. I picked up several on sale for use in my workshop and I think they cost $5 each. You can adapt the ends/points on the dividers if required as some lens retaining rings use little slots while some use small holes). A further alternative is to try using a rubber ring / stopper / plug of the correct diameter and rely on friction to turn the retaining ring - indeed many such rings do not have slots and you must use something like this to remove them.
Photos of compass dividers here:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...P-wt7RAhWInZQKHe_tDPgQsAQIIQ&biw=1920&bih=896
michaelwj
----------------
LOL
Worth it? Do you want to take the lens apart easily or not?
Like Peter says, you don't need one, but if you destroy you lens was it worth saving $23?
We have been over this before, we have no idea about your disposable income. If you can't spare $23 then it is not worth it, if you won't even notice $23 missing then it is worth it, between those extremes it's your call.
I hope the lens cleans up nicely.
peterm1
Veteran
I would advise buying the tool personally especially if you anticipate cleaning more lenses as they all need this and I suppose if this is your first time a store bought item can add to your confidence and maybe make things a tiny bit easier. But my suggestion about an engineers caliper can most certainly be used if your tool modification skills are OK (i.e. essentially a little careful filing of the tips), you do not wish to wait for ebay to deliver, if you wish to save money etc. In either event there is a risk of scratching the retaining ring if you are not careful however. Perhaps there is more risk with a homemade device unless you are precise with filing the thing to match the retaining ring slots if that is needed. Such damage is quite common to see on older lenses as even technicians sometimes have butter fingers. (In other words do not blame me). :^)
BuzzyOne
Established
If I ever catch you using my calipers as a spanner...
Get the tool. It's cheap and this probably won't be your last lens you dismantle.
Get the tool. It's cheap and this probably won't be your last lens you dismantle.
peterm1
Veteran
If I ever catch you using my calipers as a spanner...
Get the tool. It's cheap and this probably won't be your last lens you dismantle.
It is kind of like using a hammer as a screwdriver I must admit. But in this case, it works OK provided you are willing to modify the tips.
Save
Save
Save
jusxusfanatic
Well-known
True, thanks guys!
Gonna buy the spanner
Gonna buy the spanner
jusxusfanatic
Well-known
Thanks for the info is using a cloth and a q-tip gonna work?
is using a cloth and a q-tip gonna work?
ferider
Veteran
There are two ways to access the surfaces directly in front of and behind the aperture: (1) from the rear (remove retaining ring, and back group), or (2) from the front (loosen tiny screw in front of aperture ring, and unscrew front half of optics). You do not need a spanner for (2).
Note that there is a more than 50% chance that it won't clean out completely, and that the middle surfaces are partially etched by now, so don't expect miracles.
Good luck,
Roland.
Note that there is a more than 50% chance that it won't clean out completely, and that the middle surfaces are partially etched by now, so don't expect miracles.
Good luck,
Roland.
Mackinaw
Think Different
There’s another thread on this someplace, but some of these lenses are also prone to staining. The theory is that Canon’s use of rare-earth elements in this lens didn’t react well with the type of coating that was used.
My 50/1.2 has this staining. Not major mind you, but if you look at the lens a certain way, you can see a discoloration on the one lens element directly behind the aperture blades. It has no impact on image quality, best I can tell.
My lens also requires periodic cleaning to remove the haze that inevitably pops up. I’ve gotten so good at cleaning this lens I can take it apart and clean it in less than ten minutes.
Jim B.
My 50/1.2 has this staining. Not major mind you, but if you look at the lens a certain way, you can see a discoloration on the one lens element directly behind the aperture blades. It has no impact on image quality, best I can tell.
My lens also requires periodic cleaning to remove the haze that inevitably pops up. I’ve gotten so good at cleaning this lens I can take it apart and clean it in less than ten minutes.
Jim B.
jusxusfanatic
Well-known
Heh damn! I just cleaned mine with a cloth and the difference is already pretty big What should I use to fully clean the haze off the element?
What should I use to fully clean the haze off the element?radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
Chubberino
Well-known
Luckily the LTM Canons are fairly easy to take apart
davidnewtonguitars
Family Snaps
jusxusfanatic
Well-known
peterm1
Veteran
Lots of suggestions here:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...RAhUIU7wKHcsTDuIQrQIIJygEMAA&biw=1920&bih=874
The main issue is that coatings can be soft and therefore are inclined to be easily damaged by enthusiastic rubbing, let alone by abrasives no matter how fine (which some never the less recommend). Fortunately the coatings used by Canon back in the day seem to be more robust than some, hence less likely to be damaged by mild cleaning. But I would advise taking care in any event.
Many suggest isopropyl alcohol while others swear by ordinary eye glass cleaner available from optometrists but I must qualify this by saying I have not had the need to try either myself. What you could do is ask your local optometrist what they would recommend on eye glass lenses that are coated. The same stuff should work on camera lens elements. But I would also add that many of these compounds have water as a base. Hence just make sure the lens elements are completely and utterly dry before reassembling the lens.
Incidentally I note that in this link http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...anon-diy-cleaning-a-1-2-50mm-rangefinder-lens the author apparently used lighter fluid for cleaning both the mechanical components and the optical ones. I suppose this is on the basis that the haze on the optical elements derive from oil used to lubricate the lens. I make no comment again as I have not tried it other than perhaps to say it strikes me as less potentially damaging that any mild abrasive as some posters in the above forum search suggested.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=...RAhUIU7wKHcsTDuIQrQIIJygEMAA&biw=1920&bih=874
The main issue is that coatings can be soft and therefore are inclined to be easily damaged by enthusiastic rubbing, let alone by abrasives no matter how fine (which some never the less recommend). Fortunately the coatings used by Canon back in the day seem to be more robust than some, hence less likely to be damaged by mild cleaning. But I would advise taking care in any event.
Many suggest isopropyl alcohol while others swear by ordinary eye glass cleaner available from optometrists but I must qualify this by saying I have not had the need to try either myself. What you could do is ask your local optometrist what they would recommend on eye glass lenses that are coated. The same stuff should work on camera lens elements. But I would also add that many of these compounds have water as a base. Hence just make sure the lens elements are completely and utterly dry before reassembling the lens.
Incidentally I note that in this link http://www.johanniels.com/index.php...anon-diy-cleaning-a-1-2-50mm-rangefinder-lens the author apparently used lighter fluid for cleaning both the mechanical components and the optical ones. I suppose this is on the basis that the haze on the optical elements derive from oil used to lubricate the lens. I make no comment again as I have not tried it other than perhaps to say it strikes me as less potentially damaging that any mild abrasive as some posters in the above forum search suggested.