Problem with Retina IIa lens

[michalski]

I just bought a Retina IIa whose lens, I think, is infected with fungus. Am I right? Here's a picture of the lens. When one looks at the lens straight on, it's difficult to see the problem. Is this lens salvageable? How hard is it get inside and clean this out?

Thanks for your help.

Rob

 

[Murray Kelly]

Mine looked a bit the same when I got it. It had had a busy life in the hands of someone who had done 'news phtography'.
The front element in mine (Retina-Xenon) jusr screws out because the element is interchangeable for w/a or tele.
The back of this element is held in with 2 tiny screws. You can clean the lenses with whatever you read about here. I just used alcohol and compressed gas. Fungus needs ammonia - but google around and look into the repair forum. There is a sticky there on fixed lens RF repair also.
Take careful note of the way the lens is disassembled and make sure it goes back together in reverse order! :=)
Do not fail to look at:
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Srawhiti/index.html
Chris has a bucketfull of good advice there.
Murray

 

[michalski]

Thanks for the suggestions, Murray.

Rob

 

[Spider67]

Not to be a wisecrack but before you start looking for the tele and the w/a the IIa had no exchangable lenses that was the IIc/IIC. Neverthelenss the lens element is easy to unscrew. Sometimes it's possible to find a beater with the front lens still in order. The only thing to be aware of that you can exchange a Xenon only for a Xenon and a Heligon for a Heligon.
Regards from Austria

 

[michalski]

Hi Spider67,

Thanks for the information on the Xenon and Heligon. Yes, I was aware that the Retina IIa only used the 50mm lens.

Now that I have removed the front element, I see that the rear element is also infected. It looks like the rear element is attached to the camera with four straight-slotted screws. Am I on the right track?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Murray Kelly]

I really recommend you go and search the above mentioned site. Chris tells you how to get the lens off. It is a bit complicated for me to repeat it here.
If your problem is only with the front of the rear group try and open the shutter with a cable release (Locking) on 'B' setting with the f stop wide open.
May be enough access for you.
I repeat - read the site thoroughly.

Murray

 

[FallisPhoto]

View attachment 68087

I just bought a Retina IIa whose lens, I think, is infected with fungus. Am I right? Here's a picture of the lens. When one looks at the lens straight on, it's difficult to see the problem. Is this lens salvageable? How hard is it get inside and clean this out?

Thanks for your help.

Rob

Yep! That's fungus for sure. Among the different recipes for lens fungus cures abounding on the internet, the two most effective I have found are Pond's cold cream and a 50/50 mix of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. The cold cream works, but it is sheer hell to clean it all off again (you have to work it into all the stuff near the lens too). That said, the peroxide/ammonia mix is the one I use. It just melts fungus away. The problem with most of the other "cures" is that they don't remove the mold growth -- they just kill it -- so half the time it looks like the mold has etched the glass and the lens gets tossed.

 

[Murray Kelly]

Good stuff FallisP. I must send that to myself for filing away.
I have a collection of oldies here and info like that is invaluable. Thanks
Murray

Yep! That's fungus for sure. Among the different recipes for lens fungus cures abounding on the internet, the two most effective I have found are Pond's cold cream and a 50/50 mix of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. The cold cream works, but it is sheer hell to clean it all off again (you have to work it into all the stuff near the lens too). That said, the peroxide/ammonia mix is the one I use. It just melts fungus away. The problem with most of the other "cures" is that they don't remove the mold growth -- they just kill it -- so half the time it looks like the mold has etched the glass and the lens gets tossed.

 

[michalski]

I used the ammonia/hydrogen peroxide solution that FallisPhoto suggested to clean the outsides of the rear element as well as the outsides and insides of the front element. The fungus did literally melt away. It looks incredibly clean now. I'm going to shoot a test roll and see how it does.

Thanks for all your help.

Rob

 

[FallisPhoto]

I used the ammonia/hydrogen peroxide solution that FallisPhoto suggested to clean the outsides of the rear element as well as the outsides and insides of the front element. The fungus did literally melt away. It looks incredibly clean now. I'm going to shoot a test roll and see how it does.

Thanks for all your help.

Rob

Nothing else I've tried works as well. You're welcome.