writingwithlight
Member
I just got this lens from a supposedly reputable online shop. I will not name it, as this may be a one off incident,and I do not want to smear anyone's reputation.
I bought this Jupiter 8 lens off this online shop at about 2-2.5 times what I could have gotten off ebay, as I thought that all the lenses it sold were already CLA'd and in pretty good condition.
But I was sorely disappointed with what I saw. There is this relatively huge bubble in the lens. (look at the pic I uploaded), which I do not whether it will affect the image quality of my pics.
Though I know that the bubble is not the fault of the person who sold me the lens, but I am very disappointed that it was not stated in the item description.
As I am still pretty new to such stuff, could the mentors and experts here pls tell me whether it will affect image quality? If it does, then I may want to ask for a refund and ship this lens back to the person.
Thanks.
I bought this Jupiter 8 lens off this online shop at about 2-2.5 times what I could have gotten off ebay, as I thought that all the lenses it sold were already CLA'd and in pretty good condition.
But I was sorely disappointed with what I saw. There is this relatively huge bubble in the lens. (look at the pic I uploaded), which I do not whether it will affect the image quality of my pics.
Though I know that the bubble is not the fault of the person who sold me the lens, but I am very disappointed that it was not stated in the item description.
As I am still pretty new to such stuff, could the mentors and experts here pls tell me whether it will affect image quality? If it does, then I may want to ask for a refund and ship this lens back to the person.
Thanks.
Attachments
Thardy
Veteran
I always try out new equipment when it arrives. I would test it all apertures to see if the bubble cause any problems.
Sometimes sellers don't even know there's a problem . If it's OK you might still be able to keep the lens but get a discount. I'd shoot a roll then have it developed at a one hour lab if you have them where you are.
Sometimes sellers don't even know there's a problem . If it's OK you might still be able to keep the lens but get a discount. I'd shoot a roll then have it developed at a one hour lab if you have them where you are.
writingwithlight
Member
Thanks for the advice. I will go try it out.
writingwithlight
Member
No kidding!
Roger Hicks
Veteran
I'd be astonished if it mattered. It is about one-twentieth of one per cent of the area of the element; it won't scatter light in the way that a scratch would; it's not worth worrying about.
What sort of image degradation are you expecting? Because unless you have a perfect example of the same lens for comparison, what is your standard?
One of my lenses has a tiny dab of black paint on the front glass, covering up an even tinier scratch -- and that is no problem. This should be of even less concern.
As Platon says, in the past, bubbles were often held up as a trademark of good lenses. In all fairness, this was making a virtue out of necessity: expensive optical glass is not something you re-melt needlessly (especially after it has been ground), and re-melting a glass like this would indeed be unnecessary.
Cheers,
Roger
What sort of image degradation are you expecting? Because unless you have a perfect example of the same lens for comparison, what is your standard?
One of my lenses has a tiny dab of black paint on the front glass, covering up an even tinier scratch -- and that is no problem. This should be of even less concern.
As Platon says, in the past, bubbles were often held up as a trademark of good lenses. In all fairness, this was making a virtue out of necessity: expensive optical glass is not something you re-melt needlessly (especially after it has been ground), and re-melting a glass like this would indeed be unnecessary.
Cheers,
Roger
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writingwithlight
Member
I see. Thanks so much for your insights. I'm still kind of ignorant when it comes to lenses for rangefinders. I started off with digital, and I'm still picking up the ropes for RFs. I think you guys have allayed my fears. Esp when Roger has spoken. Lol. In fact, believe it or not, the very reason I picked up rangefinding is because I read the book you wrote about rangefinders. Was somehow very inspired after reading it. Its unexplainable, but reading it somehow stirred my blood. No kidding.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Thank you: I am touched!
(Mind you, a lot of people have called me 'touched' over the years).
Cheers,
R.
katgut@earthlink.net
Established
While it may not matter for the photos, it does matter in the transaction. Condition of equipment is a large determinant of price, and should be fully disclosed. A camera that's covered with scratches will take the same photos as a mint one, but that's besides the point.
Windscale
Well-known
You can see many in older Leica lenses.
writingwithlight
Member
Well, the guy who sold me the lens probably assumed that I knew that having bubbles in the lens wasn't an issue. Since it wouldn't affect the quality of the photos, I guess I'll just let it pass.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Yes, but bubbles like these are normal and need not be mentioned. So as you say, it's beside the point.
Cheers,
R.
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
Optical glass often had bubbles in it. I believe some or all FSU lenses came with a reassuring statement that the bubbles would not affect picture quality.
retro
Well-known
It's already been said but I will chime in:
Bubbles are common on older lenses and are not a big deal optically.
BTW, I have an old Schneider 360mm lens with a big crack on the
front element and it is a very sharp lens, regardless.
Bubbles are common on older lenses and are not a big deal optically.
BTW, I have an old Schneider 360mm lens with a big crack on the
front element and it is a very sharp lens, regardless.
Highway 61
Revisited
I have such similar bubbles in pretty all my vintage Zeiss and Nikon rangefinder lenses.
You'd rather be happy to have one in a Jupiter-8, it's the trademark for high-quality floated optical glass.
Not too sure, but if your J-8 was one made with some Vodka bottles recycled glass, you'd probably not have bubbles (unless it had been Vodka on the rocks w/ seltzer water) but you wouldn't have anything that could be called a photographic lens, either.
Besides - we all recognized the seller you are talking about I'm pretty certain...