LTM Canon 50mm 1.4 droplets in lens. Oil or what?

[Arbitrarium]

Apologies for the sub-optimal photo but take a look and let me know what you think:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AEPAyX7m5e1q5qBb8

I'm in Tokyo right now on holiday and found a Canon VI-L with this 50mm 1.4 at a good price despite the little droplets. I know the photo isn't overly detailed but what do you reckon? Oil drops or condensation perhaps?

My main question is, if I choose to shoot some film here with the lens before taking it home to clean it, will the droplets likely affect my photos at all?

Cheers!

 

[splitimageview]

Are those bubbles in the glass?

In any case look at the lens using an LED light to illuminate the glass. Those won’t affect anything, but see if the light reveals anything else such as haze which can reduce contrast. This normally isn’t visible under standard lighting.

 

[chambrenoire]

Probably oil/grease, how are the aperture blades?

 

[Timmyjoe]

When you turn the lens at different angles, are you sure they are droplets. From the picture you posted, I had a lens group on a Kodak Medalist that started separating, and it looked just like the image you posted. Again, if from different angles you can tell that they are actually droplets, then "never mind".

Best,
-Tim

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Some one should put tremendous amount of oil into the lens to have droplets.
This is from my black J-12 experience, which are known as oil bins, but even they don't have enough oil to drip from aperture blades on glass.
Condensation doesn't looks like two big droplets. At any glass.

Here is something odd at peripheral part of the front element on your picture. Visible above "Canon lens 50 mm ..".

In general it is bad idea to buy this old camera with no clarification and trying using it with film. It could have pinholes in the shutter, it could have uneven curtains traveling at some speeds.

And watch your luggage limit. It is one kilo apparatus. 🙂

 

[rick oleson]

They do look like oil droplets to me. Their effect in photos will probably not be great, but you might see some effect particularly if the sun is striking the lens: these will be little lenses that scatter light in all directions and create flare. It's possible also that they may create a localized flaw in the image, I'm not sure how visible that would likely be.

The gray marks at the periphery look like the black enamel is separating from the edges of the lens elements - a pretty common thing at this age, it shouldn't have a dramatic effect and they can be repainted.

On the up side, this shouldn't be hard to fix when you get home. If it's a good price and otherwise looks good, I'd go for it.

rick