Oil or wear on aperture blades - Advice needed

[Anders_]

Today I got a Leica 35mm Summicron IV, which I recently bought from a local forum. Unfortunately I noticed it has oil on the aperture blades or could it be marks from normal wear..?

Is there anyone out there that could diagnose what has happened to my lens?

Thanks!

 

[ferider]

This is wear, absolutely normal for a 25 year old lens.

 

[Joe AC]

This is wear, absolutely normal for a 25 year old lens.

Totally agree. That's wear.


Joe

 

[MIkhail]

I dont know what's the big deal anyway.
I have an oil on blades of one of my lens, it's been like that for 8 years that I have it.
Does not do any harm.

 

[Anders_]

Glad to hear that!
Thanks a lot for the answers.

 

[Vickko]

Oil on blades is an "it depends" issue.
On your lens, likely not an issue.

But on a lens like the Nikon 2.5cm f4, which has iris blades as thin as tissue, if oil gets on the blades, it can stick the blades together, and then they tear if you try to open or close the iris. Ask me how I know.

And on SLR lenses with auto-close function, oil can slow down the motion, causing errors in exposure.

 

[MIkhail]

wear. this version 35 summicron wears particularly in the center of the blades and usually has a bit of dust to match in the center- fine and black. wonder where that came from? the one i bought new in 1990 developed this after a few years and the many i have owned and traded since have mostly all had the same affliction. no issues in picture though. fine lens. even without the bokeh hype. oil can b an issue. heavy oil can cause reflective flair and evaporate through time to settle on your inner elements.

I guess you are right... Did not happen to me though, some thin traces of oil just there. Does not bother me at all.