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Message |
    
Santaji
Tinkerer
Username: Santaji
Post Number: 3
Registered: 05-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 14, 2012 - 06:57 am: | 
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I bought my Yashica Electro 35 GTN on eBay recently. The seller said there was no fungus on the lens, just some dust. I've had the camera for about a month now and after taking a closer look i think there is a bit of fungus inside, on the front element but i'm not sure. I have uploaded some pictures of the lens here: http://imgur.com/a/PwtkC
Is this fungus? If it is, what can i do about it? |
Waynemel
Tinkerer
Username: Waynemel
Post Number: 171
Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 14, 2012 - 08:12 am: |
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Yes, that's a good crop of fungus alright. You will have to remove the front element and clean off the fungus. I have had good success with ordinary rubbing alchohol and a cotton swab. Others have used peroxide or Windex. Either way, it should be relatively easy to remove. Hopefully there is not to much damage to the coating. |
Br1078lum
Tinkerer
Username: Br1078lum
Post Number: 309
Registered: 11-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 14, 2012 - 10:43 pm: |
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Athletes foot cream is an alternative. Also, the oil from your nose will work. I know, I've tried it. But not on something in that large an area.
PF |
Hollenbj
Tinkerer
Username: Hollenbj
Post Number: 50
Registered: 03-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 10:28 am: |
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Any advice on how to check for etching before reassembly. I know, if its obvious, you'll see it, but I've learned to check again with perfect lighting. I had a lens with fungus on the backside of the objective that I cleaned nicely. It looked like all was good until images came back. The lens was simple (I think Apotar on an Agfa folder) so I put it back together correctly (I also checked). Now, if I get a strong light and take the shutter/lens assembly off, I think I see what must be etching. Or is it remnant fungi?
In any case, I had about as bad a case of fungus as the original poster. I recommend strong raking light to check for etching before putting things back together. If there's etching, you won't get sharp images (not sharp enough for my liking). At which point I'd search for a donor camera with a good objective.
What are the experiences of others here? |
Waynemel
Tinkerer
Username: Waynemel
Post Number: 172
Registered: 08-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 04:34 pm: |
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I have rarely seen any significant etching on lenses. The photos of this particular lens show the "spder web" fungus, which I have found is easy to remove. I find it hard to believe that etching will seriously affect the lens performance. It would have to be extreme to be noticable. I have lenses with scratches on the elements that perform just fine. You might see a slight decrease in contrast, but I don't think sharpness would be affected. |
Br1078lum
Tinkerer
Username: Br1078lum
Post Number: 311
Registered: 11-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 07:15 pm: |
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I've got a camera that I actually gouged the center element (tool slippage), and I can't see any degradation of the image.
PF |
Hollenbj
Tinkerer
Username: Hollenbj
Post Number: 51
Registered: 03-2012
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 10:55 pm: |
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Oh, then maybe I need to reassemble again. There is definitely something left on the lens though. I'm sure its not solvent residue or finger smudge and I do know that my images are lower in contrast and less sharp than my other Agfa folders.
I read that there are many, many different species of fungus, some more acidic than others. I may have been unlucky.
I also have a Nikkor 50 1.4 with scratches on the outside of the objective (I think someone tried to clean beach sand with a towel) and that thing is completely useless. Other than the damaged objective, its perfect. Frustrating. |
