Sticky fingerprint

[Brichma]

Sticky fingerprint
Hello,

Bought me this beautiful and in full working order Zeiss Ikon Contessa LKE. Only there is a nasty, sticky fingerprint on the frons lens of the Tessar. Could this be removed by the use of a lenspen? I've tried already all (safe) liquid methodes... Any suggestions? Thanks in advance...

Brichma

 

[oftheherd]

I always used lens cleaning fluid and lens cleaning tissue from my local camera store. Before that I used rubbing alcohol and lens cleaning tissue. I used it gently and it always worked for me. Does the lens have a lens coating. Is the print really sticky or is it just that you can feel it? I would guess a lens cleaning pen would not hurt it, but I just always trusted lens cleaning fluid and lens cleaning tissue. Always using fresh material.

Hopefully someone can offer a better solution, but I think a better description, and perhaps a photo might help.

 

[John E Earley]

The acidic oils on someones finger may have emulsified the lens coating. As mentioned by oftheherd, proceed cautiously.

 

[Landshark]

You can use either a cotton ball or piece of lens cleaning paper.
wet it with alcohol and let it sit on the sticky print for a while to work. After it's sat, use a clean tissue and alcohol to wipe it off.

The tissue/cotton should not be soaked, just dampened.

 

[Brichma]

Picture of my Tessar (with fingerprint)

Picture of my Tessar (with fingerprint)

Here's the picture than shows the nasty fingerprint. Even the lenspen doesn't work. Now I'm out of possibilities to remove this stain. I hope it's not of any influence of the sharpness of the Tessar...

 

[Robert Lai]

Looks as if the acid in the oil has etched the glass. It will never come out now, short of having the element repolished and recoated.

 

[johnnyrod]

Have you given it a go? I think marks on the front lens are less singificant than they are further back, from what I've read. I also bought one of these recently, am waiting for the first film back from it. It was all pretty grubby, in the end (much like oftheherd above) I carefully cleaned the front and back lenses (i.e. no dismantling) with alcohol. After that the flashlight test looked pretty good so I thought I may as well give it a go. Do you find the aperture and shutter dials stiff, especially if going towards faster shutter speeds?

 

[oftheherd]

I have also read, and seen examples of photos taken with some unbelieveable problems on the front lens, that still produced acceptable photos, just as Johnnyrod said. Hopefully when you get the photos back you will find it so with your lens. Please let us know one way or the other.