strange white edge inside the lens

[alice]

Hi Guys,
I am new here! and I already have a question for you all Leica users already! (hope you don't mind...)
It is a question about the M 24/2.8 Asph lens.....
recently I discovered a sort of white ring thingy around the edge of the lens close to where the aperture diaphragm is, i don't think its mold, does anyone know what it is?
i think you can sort of see it from the attached photo.
other than this weird white edge, the lens is perfectly clear and clean.

thank you all! 😕

 

[phototone]

The edges of the optical glass elements are coated with a black paint (for want of a better word to describe it), to control reflections and possible reduction in image contrast. It looks like some of this coating may have come off that particular element. It is not mold.

 

[alice]

Thank you Phototone for your swift reply! where did the coating come off to then? would this seriously affect the image quality? but I really wonder how this happened......
i am not seeing this problem in my other 90/2.8, 35/2, and 50/2 lenses....
i think the best way to find out is to shoot a test roll....

 

[Fred]

Welcome Alice.

Look forward to seeing some examples of your work in the gallery.

 

[DerekF]

Hi Guys,
I am new here! and I already have a question for you all Leica users already! (hope you don't mind...)

Welcome, Alice!

It is a question about the M 24/2.8 Asph lens.....
recently I discovered a sort of white ring thingy around the edge of the lens close to where the aperture diaphragm is, i don't think its mold, does anyone know what it is?
i think you can sort of see it from the attached photo.
other than this weird white edge, the lens is perfectly clear and clean.

thank you all! 😕

It looks like the exact same thing I have in my Nikon 35/F1.4 AIS lens that I bought at KEH.com about a year ago, except that I have a lot more of it and the white line(s) appear closer to the outer lens element. I brought it to a local camera shop and asked them what it could be. An older gent behind the counter recognized it immediately and told me it was some of the glue (or compound) inside the lens coming loose, but that it was nothing to worry about. Since I still had the option of returning the lens to KEH, I prodded further and asked him when it might become a problem for me, and he told me "not within your lifetime". I have not noticed any image quality degradation whatsoever.

So... I guess if that's what it really is, then you probably don't have anything to worry about. 😉

 

[alice]

some humble shots

some humble shots

Fred,
i tried to attached two shots that i took with my MP and 24/2.8.
apologies for the terrible scan job though.....

 

[alice]

thank you DerekF for your sharing.
its informative.....and encouraging!

 

[phototone]

Thank you Phototone for your swift reply! where did the coating come off to then? would this seriously affect the image quality? but I really wonder how this happened......
i am not seeing this problem in my other 90/2.8, 35/2, and 50/2 lenses....
i think the best way to find out is to shoot a test roll....

There are two ways this could affect image quality. 1. If the "bits" of "blackening" fall into the center of the glass elements they could obstruct part of the light flowing through the lens, thus affecting the sharpness perhaps.

2. Under certain lighting conditions there might be a slight, very slight tendency to flare more, thus reducing the overall contrast of the image ever so slightly.

 

[peter_n]

Alice welcome to the forum! 🙂 The images look OK (I especially like the first one) but I'm wondering if the lens is still under warranty. Have you thought about returning it to Leica for repair/replacement? You may not have anything to worry about in terms of performance in your lifetime but what would this do to its resale value?