I got this lens from a charity shop, it’s a healios 44-3. I’ve kept it for years intending to get a camera and adaptor for it one day but it has this sort of cotton strand looking stuff on the middle element.
I know nothing about lenses, is this fixable with a professional clean for example?
Thanks!
Looks like some sort of fungus or just dust that made its way in. Might make some cool lens flare to go a long with the already cool Helios effect. I’d say test the lens first before breaking it open to try and remove the debris.
Seriously, there’s people shooting through filters with vaseline or through plastic bags for character.
Even if this can’t be cleaned it’s hardly a deal breaker. It’s not like you got a helios because you’re chasing a perfectly accurate image.
Lens fungus?
I’ve had the lens for like 4 years and it’s stayed the same the whole time. Is it stupid to think about opening it myself and wiping it off with a microfibre cloth?
Is it stupid to think about opening it myself and wiping it off with a microfibre cloth?
It grows in the glue between the glass, so that won’t work. I can’t say if it’s that for sure though.
Not necessarily, it could be on the surface of a glass element.
I had a similarly vintage lens that had a lens growth, and was able to clean it with alcohol and a cloth.
Not for the faint of heart though, lens are full of teeny tiny screws, and the aperture blades are super light and easy to dislodge.