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How to better photograph this hazy lens
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:50 am    Post subject: How to better photograph this hazy lens Reply with quote


This is my best effort at taking a picture of the oily (presumably?) haze inside this lens.

It's an ebay lens, that was advertised as being free of dust, fungus or haze.

Anyone have a picture of their setup for photographing interior of lenses?

based on this crappy picture, can you rate this lens?

Seller is fixated on the concept that the exterior of the lens was beautiful.

tiny pic location if the picture still doesn't work (i used the uploader, image size is within listed requirements, it shows up in preview):
i41.tinypic.com/2utraec.jpg


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:26 am    Post subject: Re: How to better photograph this hazy lens Reply with quote
JC wrote:


This is my best effort at taking a picture of the oily (presumably?) haze inside this lens.

It's an ebay lens, that was advertised as being free of dust, fungus or haze.

Anyone have a picture of their setup for photographing interior of lenses?

based on this crappy picture, can you rate this lens?

Seller is fixated on the concept that the exterior of the lens was beautiful.

tiny pic location if the picture still doesn't work (i used the uploader, image size is within listed requirements, it shows up in preview):
i41.tinypic.com/2utraec.jpg


First posts won't display pics, so I've quoted it for you. Welcome to the forums. Actually I'd say you did a good job of capturing whatever that is inside the lens. The eBay seller wasn't very accurate in his discriptions was he?

I was thinking about this, and it seems to me that trying to show the dust or whartever while using a flash is too trickly. Better to use natural light with the lens angled toward a light source that gives the best appearance of the problem to your eye. Then simply photograph what you see, without using flash. You might have to experiment a bit with exposure to get it right, but that's the way I'd do it.

I would also return the lens.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:55 am    Post subject: Re: How to better photograph this hazy lens Reply with quote
Quote:
First posts won't display pics, so I've quoted it for you. Welcome to the forums. Actually I'd say you did a good job of capturing whatever that is inside the lens. The eBay seller wasn't very accurate in his discriptions was he?

I was thinking about this, and it seems to me that trying to show the dust or whartever while using a flash is too trickly. Better to use natural light with the lens angled toward a light source that gives the best appearance of the problem to your eye. Then simply photograph what you see, without using flash. You might have to experiment a bit with exposure to get it right, but that's the way I'd do it.

I would also return the lens.


thanks for the repost, I've been reading for a while, finally had a question.

I think it's oil haze. There seems to be a very slight shadowing effect of a partially closed aperture in the spots- I'm thinking it's remobilized (moblized?) oil. But, I'm no expert-all i know is that there is a lot of it, and it's not dust.


This was taken backlit from ~45 degrees maybe, with a headlamp. What i can't figure out is how to not get lots of lens flare from the backlight in the photo, or reflections from any light areas in front of the lens, if I try to have enough ambient light to show the perimeter of the lens. Do I want a large light source, or a small one? Close to the lens, or far away? I can't really do a light source far away without illuminating the background.

I would return the lens, but it was part of a camera-lens package, and I'd already rehabbed the camera with new light seals and mirror bumper before I made a detailed inspection of the lens. I made the seller an offer for a partial refund price, but the seller rejected that offer, and made no other offer in return other than "it's used, what the hey, buyer beware'. (paraphrasing a bit). Cosmetically the lens is in good shape- and seller (I think) doesn't know enough about lenses to realize how they wen't wrong with their listing, and how they made specific claims about the lens that were wrong.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Only option in a similar situation I went through was to give negative feedback. ie - seller was deceptive. Item not described properly.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think LED lights are good for this,probably a smaller light as you don't need much light to shine down a lens or blind yourself .As for a better angle to highlight the problem...trial and error is the only advice I could give.What is the lens?


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think that's a pretty darn good photo of your problem. And I agree with you it's most likely oil/helicoid lubricant spatter.

If you can get the lens apart it should be relatively straightforward to clean that up. If it is oil, it is unlikely to have done any permanent damage to the lens. It just needs to be removed. What lens is that? Somebody here might have experience with disassembly.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 3:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Good picture, tells everything it needs to tell. I've went through this many times, flashlight at the back, sharp macro on tripod, long exposure @f8.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
guardian wrote:
I think that's a pretty darn good photo of your problem. And I agree with you it's most likely oil/helicoid lubricant spatter.

If you can get the lens apart it should be relatively straightforward to clean that up. If it is oil, it is unlikely to have done any permanent damage to the lens. It just needs to be removed. What lens is that? Somebody here might have experience with disassembly.


thanks, I tried a lot of ad-hoc setups in my tiny little room and that was the best I got.

It's not very exotic, it's a Canon nFD 24mm f/2. But I've never taken apart a lens, I wouldn't even have any tools, although I would have access to fume hood I could use as a clean room. I have two 50mm 1.8 lenses I could start with to warm up on, but for next couple of months, this isn't really a new hobby/skill I have time to start.

I offered the seller several options- either a return of the lens only with a refund, I keep the lens with a lesser refund (and based the value of the lens as being an 'ugly' lens and tried to estimate what would be KEH's buy/sell price differential for this lens, but they don't have one currently in this shape)- but the seller didn't even counter with another offer to square this up, the seller just said, basically, buyer beware and that I could get it cleaned professionally. which would be true, BUT the seller made specific claims about the state of the lens. So I gave the seller a third offer, which was to get a quote for professional cleaning, to bring it up to the condition advertised in the auction, but haven't heard back. Seller is fixated on the idea that I got a good deal, based on the cosmetic shape of the lens.

I'll probably have to do a return using Ebay buyer protection, but A) the initial shipping was a bit expensive, and B) I put time in cleaning up the camera and replacing all the seals and foam- and I'd have to eat that on a complete return.


PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Good news for you, bad news for the seller, is that eBay refunds both the purchase price AND the initial shipping charges. You would still have to return the lens and pay to have it shipped, though.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
JC wrote:
guardian wrote:
I think that's a pretty darn good photo of your problem. And I agree with you it's most likely oil/helicoid lubricant spatter.

If you can get the lens apart it should be relatively straightforward to clean that up. If it is oil, it is unlikely to have done any permanent damage to the lens. It just needs to be removed. What lens is that? Somebody here might have experience with disassembly.


thanks, I tried a lot of ad-hoc setups in my tiny little room and that was the best I got.

It's not very exotic, it's a Canon nFD 24mm f/2. But I've never taken apart a lens, I wouldn't even have any tools, although I would have access to fume hood I could use as a clean room. I have two 50mm 1.8 lenses I could start with to warm up on, but for next couple of months, this isn't really a new hobby/skill I have time to start.

I offered the seller several options- either a return of the lens only with a refund, I keep the lens with a lesser refund (and based the value of the lens as being an 'ugly' lens and tried to estimate what would be KEH's buy/sell price differential for this lens, but they don't have one currently in this shape)- but the seller didn't even counter with another offer to square this up, the seller just said, basically, buyer beware and that I could get it cleaned professionally. which would be true, BUT the seller made specific claims about the state of the lens. So I gave the seller a third offer, which was to get a quote for professional cleaning, to bring it up to the condition advertised in the auction, but haven't heard back. Seller is fixated on the idea that I got a good deal, based on the cosmetic shape of the lens.

I'll probably have to do a return using Ebay buyer protection, but A) the initial shipping was a bit expensive, and B) I put time in cleaning up the camera and replacing all the seals and foam- and I'd have to eat that on a complete return.


Yeah, sounds like a difficult situation. I certainly don't know that particular lens but any 24mm lens these days commands a pretty penny. Pricing on 24's has become absurd and they get bid up out of sight.

No way to offer concrete counsel without actual numbers, and I'm NOT asking. But my "seat of the pants", given everything you have reported, says to eat this and maybe attack the lens when and if opportunity presents itself.

You have identified the lens and your best bet would be to obtain input from a repairer here who has attempted to repair or clean that particular lens. Maybe somebody will step forward to guide you.

Another possibility, given your work on the camera, would be to sell the lens on eBay in an honest manner with flaw fully revealed. The lens will command a bid that's a function of its ease of repair, and of course you can always set a minimum to protect yourself, put it out there, and test the waters. You might be surprised what a 24mm in otherwise nice shape will bring. All this assuming you are hesitant about repairing it yourself. If you can sell the lens you could put the proceeds toward a different lens which, with luck, will work out better for you.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 7:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The photo is good. Properly shows your problem.


PostPosted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 12:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tae shoot inside lenses, ah put lenses on a windowsill at an angle tae catch sunlight. Using a wee fuji s1500 in macro or super macro. Lens wide open, usually, but stopped down tae show the diaphragm if the sun's strong - no rear cap on...






Or large manila envelopes in bright sunshine





Or a white-painted cardboard box which ah use for selling items...



Cool
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