oil / water / something droplets in lens

[pingu666]

so while fixing my neighbours laptop they brought out a couple of folding cameras, one of which has clear liquid droplets on the inside of the lens, ill try and get some pictures when i pop over

its a kodak six 20 with f4.5 lens and 105mm or so

theres a fair amount in there, seems to work ok otherwise, is it likely to be oil ?

 

[kendo1]

Are you sure there are not flaws in the glass lens?

I've seen this in some older lenses ( a Kodak 165mm from the 1940's for a Speed Graphic springs to mind)- bubbles in the glass.

 

[chris malcolm]

Fifty years ago I had a 35mm fixed lens compact with bubbles in the lens. It improved the dynamic range of the camera -- by lowering contrast, there's always a silver lining

I recall a landscape photographer, forget name, who was famous for the dynamic range in his photographs. He complained that it was getting harder and harder to find good lenses with bubbles in the glass as optical technology improved.

 

[pingu666]

 

[TheBigYin]

well - old lenses used to have the seperate elements held together with canada balsam resin, which does occasionally break down with age...

I suppose that the elements could have come de-laminated and picked up some form of condensation between them ??


ETA: now i've seen the actual lens, to be honest, it looks more like either condensation or the result of someone over-liberally attempting to lubricate/clean the shutter mechanism and pouring lots of solvents in there... Undo the "lockring" at the back, take the rear element off and clean it up using the usual lens-cleaning fluid then re-assemble (remembering to put it back in the right way around...)

 

[pingu666]

really does look wet rather than bubbles in glass, hopefully itll clean up as she wants to use it

 

[kendo1]

Hmm. That doesn't look like 'bubbles in glass' that I have seen- there's normally a couple, not a tidal wave!


As above, dismantle and clean. Maybe take some pics along the way so you know how to reassemble.

 

[abdoujaparov]

I bought an Ensign folder that had droplets like that on it - but on the outside of the rear element, not inside. It wiped off clean, and I still have no idea what it was. I had assumed condensation.