Lens Condition?

[Chemophilic]

After much searching, I finally bought a S2 + 5cm/1.4 on the big auction site. It was described as seemingly "scratch free" and light dust... well, you can figure out where the story is heading. This is what I received instead..

I supposed I am not too bothered by the scratches, but the spot right in the middle is quite worrisome. Just wondering what's your opinion on this?

P.S. the camera itself is in pretty good shape.

 

[NIKON KIU]

That's Fungus!

Fungus amongst us?

Kiu

 

[ssmc]

Is that on the front surface of the front element (as it looks in the pic)? If so I think it might be a place where the coating has been rubbed off by contact with the wrong type of lenscap. I can't imagine it being fungus on the outside of a lens. Is it visible when looking through the back of the lens without light directly hitting the front element? If not, it may be okay, but it looks like it might flare like crazy under the wrong conditions...

In any case it's definitely not "scratch free"!

 

[maddoc]

Looks like it is behind the front element where the distance to the second element is closest (Nikon lens diagram can be found here). Could be fungus or haze and I would return the lens.

 

[sp9107sp]

fungus

fungus

is the circle on the top of the glass or inside the lens? can you see it on the surface when you hold the lens at an angle to a light.

 

[NIKON KIU]

I know for a fact that's fungus!
Just kidding! But it looks like it. I have/had a few of these in my life, and seen may more via ebay and other places.
I have seen this before, the front element is not alone, it's in a group, fungus grows in between or inside, this one clearly(as clear as I can see!!) looks like it's inside the front group, or in between. It must have come from Florida...


Kiu

 

[sp9107sp]

the front element is alone, but it takes some dis-assembly to get to it. the lens comes apart fairly easy. i will post some photos tomorrow.

 

[NIKON KIU]

The lens has 7 elements in 3 groups, I thought the front part is agroup but sp9107's handle on ebay is Nikkor-S, so I trust him!
What do you think it is sp9107?

 

[sp9107sp]

lens

lens

I'D no longer nikkor-s now nikon_sp.
the front element is a single thin piece of glass, it snaps out of the ring with the serial number, I've had a couple of the lens apart, if you can find the lens cleaner Ror it is a good lens cleaner,
will post more info tomorrow,

 

[Chemophilic]

Thank you very much for all the responses! It seems to me to be inside the lens.

Mechanics of the camera is actually pretty good, the only fly in the ointment is this one patch. If I can take the lens apart to clean it, it seems worthwhile to keep it. So thanks sp9107 in advance for the info.

 

[jonmanjiro]

The magnification of the front optical group can make defects inside the glass look closer to the front of the optical group than they actually are. So my guess is that the patch is on the innermost lens surface of the front optical group facing the aperture blades. You can access that surface very easily. Just grab the rear of the lens with one hand and then grab the chrome filter ring with the other hand and twist it anti-clockwise. The front optical group should screw right out. Use a rubber band on the chrome filter ring if you need more grip. If the patch is not on the lens surface facing the aperture blades, well at least you've narrowed down where the problem is.

 

[Chemophilic]

Thanks for the tip. I just tried it and the patch is not on the surface facing the blades....

 

[Ronald M]

You have been screwed on EBay. Return, leave negative reply, initiate complaint with PP if you must.

 

[goamules]

I'm not sure I'd leave bad feedback yet, but I'd contact the seller and say you do not agree with his description. I would say I'm returning it. The lens makes the photo, and you want a good one. You can get another camera and lens.

 

[farlymac]

Almost looks like a condensation circle. Easier to tell when looking right at it, instead of in a photo. If those are the only two scratches, then that's not bad. But I wouldn't shoot much at wide open with it. I'd think the seller would probably be amenable to a partial refund, instead of a return and negative feedback, especially if the camera is in good shape, and you do want to keep it.

Just tell them it's going to cost you some money to get it cleaned, and figure a percentage off the total to cover that. Or let the seller suggest how much they are willing to refund. I've had sellers just give a total refund instead of dealing with the issue, and that was without asking for one.

PF

 

[Chemophilic]

Thanks farlymac that's what I am working with the seller now. My last CLA experience on a rangefinder lens was many years ago... any suggestion on how much the repair may cost if I ended up sending it out?

 

[Erik van Straten]

I have a Nikkor-S.C 1:1.4 f=5cm wich shows the same circle on exactly the same spot. It is on the outside of the front glass. I've always thought it was a small production issue. It has no effects on the pictures whatsoever. Maybe a former owner of your lens tried to remove it and made the issue worse.

Erik.

 

[B-9]

Thanks farlymac that's what I am working with the seller now. My last CLA experience on a rangefinder lens was many years ago... any suggestion on how much the repair may cost if I ended up sending it out?

If im not mistaken cameraquest.com does Nikon RF lens CLA's for 95$?

 

[sp9107sp]

please bear with me on this the one lens i had planned to take apart is rusted stuck but will use it for the beginning, then will switch to another lens that is missing the mount, Check at a local hardware store for a cane or walker bottom, this one is for canes with a diameter of 1 3/8 inch, also having problems linking photos,

photo of the lens with the cane bottom

the lens mount is removed by removing the black ring on the rear of the lens ( to work on the front of the lens you do not need to remove the mount, )


can tip fits just inside the filter ring on the front of the lens

I switched to a later black lens ( configuration is the same ) lens was easier to get apart,

front element section (Chrome section) middle element section (black section) the black section unscrews from the chrome filter ring section

at this point the front glass can be cleaned on both sides, if you want to remove the front glass if you want to send it off to be re-coated, it can be removed by the metal retaining ring, then with a little pressure it snaps out,
https://www.dropbox.com/sc/7c47g7c3weajfb2/UzLTkuFhty

 

[sp9107sp]

my old method of posting photo on here no longer works, what way do you use now to link photo in the forum? for the posting i used drop box, thanks