I'm trying to clean the lens on a non-rangefinder Ilford Sportsman. The front and rear elements have some kind of cloudy/foggy/hazy coating that lens cleaner, Windex, and a 1:1 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia barely touch. Any clues as to what it might be and how I can remove it. I bought it from a guy in New Jersey and there was a fair amount of sand in the camera (I have since cleaned it out). Could it be some kind of mineral deposit left by evaporating sea water?
Can you say with certainty that the fog is on the outside surfaces of the lens elements to which you refer?
If it is so - then lightly coat with Tea-Tree Oil, Eucalyptus oil, or any Citrus Oil (all from a phamacy). Leave overnight and then use some pressure with fresh clean cotton buds to clean off the oil and the fog. Finally swab with petroleum spirit or pure alcohol - finishing up by cleaning up with Windex on a cotton-bud.
If that doesn't shift the fog - then the lenses are dead.
However - the fog might be on the inside surfaces of the glass - in which case it is easy to remove them on such a simple camera.
