Zuiko radioactive? Really?!

[Snapper_uk]

I've had an Ebay buyer asking to pull out of buying a OM Zuiko 50/1.4 as they say they have since found out it is radioactive. This sounds a bit of flimsy excuse to pull out to me, but I thought I'd check the facts. It's a 44,000 serial number and it doesn't have that yellowish glow, so I'm pretty sure it's OK.

Anyone any idea?

 

[John Lawrence]

According to this website, http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Radioactive_lenses , only the first 'silver nose' version is radioactive.

John

 

[Snapper_uk]

Yes, that's the one I saw. I think there's some scaremongering going on - someone posted a video of them sticking a geiger counter in front of the lens.

 

[zuiko85]

A lot of people have irrational fears. There is radioactivity all around us. This chap may live in a home with radon contamination. Some places have enough uranium and uranium decay products in the subsoil to set a counter clicking. Does he fly? How much of a dose would he get in a 5 hour transcontantial flight at 36K feet?

Or, as you say he may just be looking for an out.

 

[oftheherd]

Yes, that's the one I saw. I think there's some scaremonger going on - someone posted a video of them sticking a geiger counter in front of the lens.

They might want to stick a geiger counter in front of a wick for a Coleman latern. Or against a granite faced building. Or as mentioned, take on on an airline flight.

As said, there is radiation all around us. While it wouldn't be healthy to start looking for every way in the world to expose ourselves, there is certainly enough to go around. Does the buyer who wants out of the deal smoke?

 

[Peter_wrote:]

anyway, i think it's the business of the buyer to inform himself about an item before he buys it.
a radioactive lens is an inherent virtue of some lenses, and not something like a scratch etc.
that's a private sale, and you are not a big store, which may offer to return a purchase when someone doesn't like it, as part of their service.

it's like he wants to return the 50mm, because he found out, that he cannot mount the lens on his leica.

 

[wblynch]

That guy is crazy.

I would love to have such an early copy. I think my oldest is in the 340,000 range.

The collector gene in me says, the older the better.

I've had an Ebay buyer asking to pull out of buying a OM Zuiko 50/1.4 as they say they have since found out it is radioactive. This sounds a bit of flimsy excuse to pull out to me, but I thought I'd check the facts. It's a 44,000 serial number and it doesn't have that yellowish glow, so I'm pretty sure it's OK.

Anyone any idea?

 

[Snapper_uk]

That guy is crazy.

I would love to have such an early copy. I think my oldest is in the 340,000 range.

The collector gene in me says, the older the better.

Ah - actually it's in the 441,000 range!

 

[Liquid-Sky]

mine is in the range of 181,000 silver nose and have this strong yellowish color on the surface of the front lens, also compared to my later one when look through the lens, glasses have a slight difference in color rendition. oh well if it's radioactive i will live with it!!

 

[Terry Christian]

I'm with Peter. Many, many lenses have radioactive lanthanum, thorium, etc. in their glass, and at such low levels that they're no more hazardous than anything else around the house. I wouldn't exactly sleep with such a lens under my pillow, but still...

Given this, the buyer should know this, and I'd consider it unreasonable for the buyer to back out of the transaction because of it.