Lens fungus? Separation?

[Pinchers of Peril]

Hey everybody,
I know this isn't a canon lens, but I've gotten good info from this forum before so I thought I could pick your brains. I just bought a Yashica Mat 124 off of ebay and noticed a funny "smudge" on the rear element. I've taken the rear element out and tried cleaning it, but it seems like it is "inside the lens" possibly where to elements are cemented? Anyway, I was curious what you people thought it was. I took at test roll of film, but it isnt' back from the lab yet. Thanks

 

[Pookie]

Re: Lens fungus? Seperation?

One of two things... mold/fungus or separation... mold may not show up on a film shot unless pointed directly into the light. Separations will be observed by passing a light across the lens and seeing a crescent shape on the edges. Where did you buy it? Asia? or a Tropical area?

Regardless, unless it's horrible it may still function for years. Mold/fungus can be arrested with direct sunlight, if its a balsm separation = loss (eventually). Fortunately Yashica's are pretty cheap and you may either find a parts model or another body fairly cheap.

I shoot Rolleis and Leicas and have never seen it with those lenses, but I've had some Yashica's that seemed prone to it . Honestly I run a cheap roll of BW through it, soup it in Rodinal or some cheap chem and scan immediately... that could be done in 30min total.

 

[Pinchers of Peril]

Re: Lens fungus? Seperation?

One of two things... mold or separation... mold may not show up on a film shot unless pointed directly into the light. Separations will be observed by passing a light across the lens and seeing a crescent shape on the edges. Where did you buy it? Asia? or a Tropical area?

Regardless, unless it's horrible it may still function for years. Mold/fungus can be arrested with direct sunlight, if its a balsm separation = loss (eventually). Fortunately Yashica's are pretty cheap and you may either find a parts model or another body fairly cheap.

I shoot Rolleis and Leicas and have never seen it with those lenses, but I've had some Yashica's that seemed prone to it .

Thanks for the reply. I bought it off ebay from someone in the continental US, but who knows where this thing has been for the last 40 years ha ha. Yeah, I looked up images of mold on lenses and it looked a bit different than what I'm seeing on mine, but I'm sure it can be pretty variable in presentation. I just wish this was in the viewing lens instead of the taking lens.

 

[Pookie]

Re: Lens fungus? Seperation?

One of two things... mold or separation... mold may not show up on a film shot unless pointed directly into the light. Separations will be observed by passing a light across the lens and seeing a crescent shape on the edges. Where did you buy it? Asia? or a Tropical area?

Regardless, unless it's horrible it may still function for years. Mold/fungus can be arrested with direct sunlight, if its a balsm separation = loss (eventually). Fortunately Yashica's are pretty cheap and you may either find a parts model or another body fairly cheap.

I shoot Rolleis and Leicas and have never seen it with those lenses, but I've had some Yashica's that seemed prone to it .

Thanks for the reply. I bought it off ebay from someone in the continental US, but who knows where this thing has been for the last 40 years ha ha. Yeah, I looked up images of mold on lenses and it looked a bit different than what I'm seeing on mine, but I'm sure it can be pretty variable in presentation. I just wish this was in the viewing lens instead of the taking lens.

Unfortunately there are numerous varieties of mold/fungus... some look like smudges... some pretty veins of white... sick green mold, and on and on...

Often it should still shoot fine, unless into the light. Some (not me) like the haze like ethereal quality of a moldy lens. Go figure. Wanna shoot a Rollei 2.8f? I have a great one up on eBay right now CLA'd by Harry Fleenor.

 

[Pinchers of Peril]

Re: Lens fungus? Seperation?

One of two things... mold or separation... mold may not show up on a film shot unless pointed directly into the light. Separations will be observed by passing a light across the lens and seeing a crescent shape on the edges. Where did you buy it? Asia? or a Tropical area?

Regardless, unless it's horrible it may still function for years. Mold/fungus can be arrested with direct sunlight, if its a balsm separation = loss (eventually). Fortunately Yashica's are pretty cheap and you may either find a parts model or another body fairly cheap.

I shoot Rolleis and Leicas and have never seen it with those lenses, but I've had some Yashica's that seemed prone to it .

Thanks for the reply. I bought it off ebay from someone in the continental US, but who knows where this thing has been for the last 40 years ha ha. Yeah, I looked up images of mold on lenses and it looked a bit different than what I'm seeing on mine, but I'm sure it can be pretty variable in presentation. I just wish this was in the viewing lens instead of the taking lens.

Unfortunately there are numerous varieties of mold/fungus... some look like smudges... some pretty veins of white... sick green mold, and on and on...

Often it should still shoot fine, unless into the light. Some (not me) like the haze like ethereal quality of a moldy lens. Go figure. Wanna shoot a Rollei 2.8f? I have a great one up on eBay right now CLA'd by Harry Fleenor.

Ha ha, this was my poor man's Rollei. if you post the ebay link I'll check it out.

 

[Pookie]

Re: Lens fungus? Seperation?

One of two things... mold or separation... mold may not show up on a film shot unless pointed directly into the light. Separations will be observed by passing a light across the lens and seeing a crescent shape on the edges. Where did you buy it? Asia? or a Tropical area?

Regardless, unless it's horrible it may still function for years. Mold/fungus can be arrested with direct sunlight, if its a balsm separation = loss (eventually). Fortunately Yashica's are pretty cheap and you may either find a parts model or another body fairly cheap.

I shoot Rolleis and Leicas and have never seen it with those lenses, but I've had some Yashica's that seemed prone to it .

Thanks for the reply. I bought it off ebay from someone in the continental US, but who knows where this thing has been for the last 40 years ha ha. Yeah, I looked up images of mold on lenses and it looked a bit different than what I'm seeing on mine, but I'm sure it can be pretty variable in presentation. I just wish this was in the viewing lens instead of the taking lens.

Unfortunately there are numerous varieties of mold/fungus... some look like smudges... some pretty veins of white... sick green mold, and on and on...

Often it should still shoot fine, unless into the light. Some (not me) like the haze like ethereal quality of a moldy lens. Go figure. Wanna shoot a Rollei 2.8f? I have a great one up on eBay right now CLA'd by Harry Fleenor.

Ha ha, this was my poor man's Rollei. if you post the ebay link I'll check it out.

Ehh, don't want it to get redacted... I'll message you.

 

[BeenThere]

Could be a lens coating flaking off the glass.