ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
In a recent conversation with a FSU emigre at work he cautioned
me not to clean my I-61 L/D lens as the coating is easily damaged.
Descriptions of used FSU lenses for sale often mention decoating,
cleaning marks, etc. In general, are FSU lens coatings delicate?
TIA,
Chris
me not to clean my I-61 L/D lens as the coating is easily damaged.
Descriptions of used FSU lenses for sale often mention decoating,
cleaning marks, etc. In general, are FSU lens coatings delicate?
TIA,
Chris
ed1k
Well-known
I don't think so. Just don't use t-shirt or a sleeve to rub dirt off the glass. Usual FSU practice was to breath on the lens and use cotton wool - not so great for any coating... Sometimes people used solvents not designated for coated lens, sometimes they used toilet water known as eau-de-cologne with a lot of scent oils - that's why there are so many damaged lens around. Personally I think breath on the glass is OK, but you have to drink a glass of russian vodka before 
FSU emigre,
Eduard.
FSU emigre,
Eduard.
clarence
ダメ
I try not to touch the surface of any lenses, FSU or otherwise. Even the best coatings will get damaged if you're not careful. Just use a blower.
If you breathe on your lenses, you'll get moisture into them. Not a good idea, really.
Clarence
If you breathe on your lenses, you'll get moisture into them. Not a good idea, really.
Clarence
zhang xk
Well-known
I noticed that there are far less cleaning marks on my 4 J-3s than I-22 and I-50s. These may have hard coatings. But it could be that these are more expensive optics, and people took more care of them. Other people may confirm my observation.
Zhang
Zhang
Xmas
Veteran
Chris
Coating technology has improved from Cooke's discovery in 19 century through the initial Zeiss process to latest technology.
An early Ru lens will have had a near copy of the origional Zeiss process, the latest 80-90 proably more sophisticated - cheaper but more effective.
Even if the coating is really hard giving it a friendly rub with quartizite wont necessarily be a good idea.
The Zeiss origional coating was a lot harder then the early optical glass but not necessarily as hard a quartizite.
I'd not clean my lens unnecessarily, get a deep lens hood instead. If you need to clean it wait till you get indoors use:-
- a blower bulb, first,
- dab on some proprietary lens cleaning organic fluid
- wipe off with a new micro fibre cleaning cloth
- store cloth in zip lock bag
If a mark wont come undone try a water based lens cleaning fluid, I've had stains that one needed to employ water based repeatedly...
Some of my older J3 from early 50's are like ground glass, clearly mistreated, -the coating may have been softer. I've a '53 that is good enough to use contra jour with a lens hood, it may have been looked after.
Noel
Coating technology has improved from Cooke's discovery in 19 century through the initial Zeiss process to latest technology.
An early Ru lens will have had a near copy of the origional Zeiss process, the latest 80-90 proably more sophisticated - cheaper but more effective.
Even if the coating is really hard giving it a friendly rub with quartizite wont necessarily be a good idea.
The Zeiss origional coating was a lot harder then the early optical glass but not necessarily as hard a quartizite.
I'd not clean my lens unnecessarily, get a deep lens hood instead. If you need to clean it wait till you get indoors use:-
- a blower bulb, first,
- dab on some proprietary lens cleaning organic fluid
- wipe off with a new micro fibre cleaning cloth
- store cloth in zip lock bag
If a mark wont come undone try a water based lens cleaning fluid, I've had stains that one needed to employ water based repeatedly...
Some of my older J3 from early 50's are like ground glass, clearly mistreated, -the coating may have been softer. I've a '53 that is good enough to use contra jour with a lens hood, it may have been looked after.
Noel
Valkir1987
Well-known
The manual of my Zenit E says the lens can be cleaned with water, ether or eau the cologne. Defenitely not the right way to clean a lens... :| When available I always use a UV filter and a lens hood to protect the lens from dust and such things. I've seen awfull fingerprints on compact camera's and digital cameras.
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