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Basselope1
Tinkerer
Username: Basselope1
Post Number: 9
Registered: 05-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 07:35 am: | 
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I picked up a great looking Minolta Hi-Matic E on Ebay. Unfortunately, I believe once you open the camera back, the lens on that side has dots that I am guessing are fungus. Is there anything a semi-competant weekend tinkerer can do about this problem? Many thanks! Don |
Cooltouch
Tinkerer
Username: Cooltouch
Post Number: 128
Registered: 01-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 12:00 pm: |
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If that back element is held in place by a slotted retaining ring, you can use a spanner to remove it. You can either buy a spanner of the appropriate size (check eBay) or you can make one. Assuming that back element is pretty small, I have seen folks bend fork tines to use for this (bend the two middle tines out of the way with a four-tined fork).
Once you've removed the element, then you want to remove the spots. Start off by just trying some lens cleaner and lens tissue -- just in case it might be something from inside the camera and not fungus. If this doesn't work, you have a couple of ways you can proceed. Some folks like to slather up a lens element with cold cream to remove fungus. Others prefer soaking it overnight in isopropyl alcohol. I've been able to remove rather stubborn fungus just by rubbing the area with my (clean) thumb. Once the stuff is removed, reverse the process for reassembly. |
Basselope1
Tinkerer
Username: Basselope1
Post Number: 10
Registered: 05-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 12:25 pm: |
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I really appreciate the advice! I have two cameras that have this problem and after trying to remove it with len cleaner then lighter fluid I was afraid I was out of luck. I will try these methods this weeked. Thank you! |
Waynemel
Tinkerer
Username: Waynemel
Post Number: 76
Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 02:29 pm: |
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Keep in mind that it may not be fungus. The Hi-Matic E has a bad habit of having internal corrosion. This can take the form of white spots etched into the glass. If that is the case, I'm afraid the lens cannot be cleaned. |
Basselope1
Tinkerer
Username: Basselope1
Post Number: 11
Registered: 05-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 05:14 pm: |
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Thanks - I will keep my fingers crossed that it is the fungus.  |
Chaspics
Tinkerer
Username: Chaspics
Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 03:08 pm: |
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I've found this problem where the fungus is between elements that are cemented together. I've been advised by a major optical elements manufacturer that you can separate the elements witha liquid paint stripper, clean, then reglue using optical cement and the correct UV lights. I'll be trying this on a junker over the next week. I'll post my results. |
Hank
Tinkerer
Username: Hank
Post Number: 18
Registered: 07-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011 - 05:14 pm: |
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When you put a few drops of optical adhesive on the elements, move each element around to work out any air bubbles. Then make darn sure the elements are perfectly in-line and even before you hit it with the UV |
Cooltouch
Tinkerer
Username: Cooltouch
Post Number: 135
Registered: 01-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2011 - 02:48 pm: |
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What sort of UV light is required? Would regular old sunlight work? |
Hank
Tinkerer
Username: Hank
Post Number: 20
Registered: 07-2011
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2011 - 04:24 pm: |
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Yeah sunlight has plenty of uv .... tons of it. But for convenience I purchased a little led UV flashlight off ebay. Cost 12 bucks. Works great. |
