Voigtlander Ultron 35/1.7 moisture cleaning front element

[mkielan]

hello,

my lens has recently got some moisture inside.

any chance it will evaporate - or are these already marks left from it?

otherwise is there an easy way to disassemble and clean, or is it better to have a professional deal with it?

thanks in advance for helping.

kind regards,
michał

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I opened up my 50/1.5 Nokton LTM, was not hard. I open up a lot of lenses.

I see spanner slots on this one, probably fine-tip needle nosed pliers would work.

I can't see the moisture from these images, best to shine a light through the back of the lens to catch it.

This is not a cheap lens, not one to learn lens cleaning with. Best to send to a professional shop for cleaning.

 

[raid]

I agree with Brian. Send the lens to a pro.

 

[Larry H-L]

That looks more like "Schneideritis" to me, relatively harmless black paint bubbling where the glass meets the sides of the barrel.

 

[mkielan]

Thanks for the replies.

No, these are tiny water bubbles on the side of the first element and then another line beneath it, between the first and the second. These are already on the surface of the glass, not the side. They are not visible from the back.

Still i'd like to get rid of them as they might be a base for mold or rust in the future.

Had no idea these lenses are so leaky. It was just a walk in mild rain.

 

[mkielan]

I've only seen online one short description of how to open up the front element, but it was done to fix a loose aperture ring not for cleaning the glass, so not as precise as I would like it to be and no pictures either.

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/35-1-7-ultron-its-fixed.91781/

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The discussion on Photo.net is for the LTM version.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The namering should unscrew using a pair of fine needle-nosed pliers. That will reveal the underside, which is typically another retaining ring that requires an optical spanner. If you intend on doing this yourself, have something with compartments- like an ice-cube tray rady to put parts in. Using a tray, like a cafeteria tray, lined with clean paper towels. I use a sheet of bubble wrap under the paper towels in case a part drops to prevent bouncing. Have lens cleaning paper ready to drop glass into, and a soft suction cup if the glass does not drop out easily.

Sonnar Conversion by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

My setup.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

This is a thread on PN from the same OP with the same question.

It can be repaired, but I would not try doing it myself.

 

[mkielan]

That looks more like "Schneideritis" to me, relatively harmless black paint bubbling where the glass meets the sides of the barrel.

Yes, you were right in identifying the problem! Thanks for the info.

Is that only an issue of removing the moisture or do I have to reapply the paint?

 

[mkielan]

The namering should unscrew using a pair of fine needle-nosed pliers. That will reveal the underside, which is typically another retaining ring that requires an optical spanner. If you intend on doing this yourself, have something with compartments- like an ice-cube tray rady to put parts in. Using a tray, like a cafeteria tray, lined with clean paper towels. I use a sheet of bubble wrap under the paper towels in case a part drops to prevent bouncing. Have lens cleaning paper ready to drop glass into, and a soft suction cup if the glass does not drop out easily.

Sonnar Conversion by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

My setup.

Nice! Impressive setup. Thanks for the valuable tips.
We'll see if i have all the equipment and skills needed to do that.

 

[Larry H-L]

If it is "Schneideritis" then it doesn't usually involve a moisture problem. This is well-known issue with some lenses, especially older Schneider large-format lenses. Bubbles that look like underwater air bubbles form where glass/glue meets black paint on the inside of the barrel.

Lots written about it if you look it up.

I'd leave it alone personally, I have some LF lenses that have it, but no problems with images at all, even after 20 years.