Lens condition, does it really matter ... the 'lens from hell!'

[Keith]

The Ricoh SLR I was given by a well meaning soul on New Years day had a couple of very rough looking lenses with it. The camera is a gem and with the corrosion cleaned out of the battery compartment and a couple of new batteries fitted it works perfectly and is actually a rather nice SLR ... the lenses are another story!

The worst of the pair is a Hanimex 80-200 f4.5 macro zoom. When I got it home and held it up to the light for a looksee I was very close to just dropping it straight into the rubbish. 😱 It has two very large stars of fungus and a build up of crud on the internal glass surfaces that has to be seen to be believed but being curious as to how this would actually affect it's performance I couldn't resist dropping a short (24) roll of Neopan into the camera, clicking the 'lens from hell' on and giving it an outing.

All I can say is I think we're a little precious at times about what optics we use and how we look after them! Out of twenty two shots I have twelve keepers that I kind of like the look of considering the disastrous state of this humble budget zoom!

Please see them HERE.

 

[Phantomas]

Nice photos. One of them looks like boobs 🙂

 

[Chris101]

Maybe you can get a little "glow" out of them! 😉

 

[Keith]

Nice photos. One of them looks like boobs 🙂

You noticed that too huh ... I have to admit that's my favourite! 😀

I'm so ashamed! 😱

 

[batterytypehah!]

Twelve keepers out of twenty-two (and they really are!) -- man, I hate you! 😉

Nice work. Exhibit A for anybody who believes that their photos would improve if only they could afford Camera "X."

I actually have that same Ricoh (Sears) and Hanimex zoom combo. Mirror currently stuck, though.

 

[hans voralberg]

Jesus, looks sharper than my clean lens!

 

[Ducky]

A question: I thought fungus would spread to other lenses if kept in the same drawer or box. Am I wrong or is this something to worry about.

Great photos. If were're not careful all of us weak willed gearheads will be looking for "lenses from hell" ourselves.

 

[Wayno]

They look great Keith, nice shots... and from a Hanimex Zoom, full of crud. I can hardly think of a more humble lens. I'm as guilty as anyone of obsessing with small marks in lenses at times. I know it's not rational, and I do use some pretty scratched up lenses at times, but it's easy to fixate on such things I suppose.

 

[-doomed-]

Makes me think I should use that fungus marked yashinon that came on a yashica j-5 I found in a puddle in my buddy's junkyard. It's fairly clean otherwise and it mounts on my other m42 yashica slr I got on the cheap.

Will have to load it and try it out.

 

[wjlapier]

I bought a CZ Opton 50/1.5 from Brian Sweeney that he cleaned the best he could. It looks rough, but takes great pics. Couldn't pass up a Sweeney Zeiss lens, even if it was "a lens from hell".

Nice pics, Keith and great story behind them.

 

[FallisPhoto]

Nice photos. One of them looks like boobs 🙂

You need to get out more.

A question: I thought fungus would spread to other lenses if kept in the same drawer or box. Am I wrong or is this something to worry about.

Lens fungus behaves no differently than other fungi. Yes, it spreads.

It's quite easy to remove though. A good soak in a 50/50 mix of drugstore hydrogen peroxide and grocery store ammonia will kill it and dissolve it away. After that, a little distilled water and a few Q-tips and you will, more often than not, find that your lens is undamaged. A lot of people use less efficient methods of fungus removal and mistake stubborn filaments of fungus for etched glass.

I can hardly think of a more humble lens.

One word: Star.

 

[benlees]

Love the boob shot..er...I mean..the postmodernist, uh, interpretation of alarming sensuality... Right!

 

[Keith]

Love the boob shot..er...I mean..the postmodernist, uh, interpretation of alarming sensuality... Right!

I have to admit that it was deliberate ... I like your interpretation! 😀

 

[gb hill]

I hyad a lens from hell & thats where I sent it. Looked like a giant cobweb inside. The JC Penny name didn't impress me too much either but this lens from hell you have is a keeper. I wonder if setting the lens in sunlight will kill some of the fungus. I have a pentax lens that I set in sunlight to de yellow & it looked to have some fungus. After sitting in the sunlight the fungus is gone!

 

[robklurfield]

Keith, nice work. To continue benlee's metaphor, I, too, find those boobs, er, bells, to be causing ringing in my ears. Anyway, I'm sure some of our favorite famous photographers used lenses in far less than pristine condition to make images all we admire. The talent comes mostly from what's between the ears. Your grey matter works quite well and these images are evidence.

 

[gavinlg]

Awesome results from a fungus infected hanimex - even the bokeh is nice!

 

[BillBingham2]

Keith,

Very interesting and fun experiment. I do think perfection is often overrated. I'm sure that if you pointed her into the sun you might find it enlightening.

Makes one wonder if when it's warm that the bells smooth out or such.......

Never mind.

B2 (;->

 

[dacookieman]

loving the boob shot keith😛 very nice shots from this roll, im impressed!

 

[Keith]

loving the boob shot keith😛 very nice shots from this roll, im impressed!

It does seem popular ... men are such shallow creatures ... not too sure how a female RFFer may view it though! 😛

By the way Shawn, I received a parcel in the mail from you ... your a legend!

Thanks so much. 🙂

 

[pawel glogowski]

You got another proof, that caring for lenses and keeping them in good condition is way overrated 😉 --> And one link.