Some shine inside the lens walls (Elmarit-M 135mm), what's this?

Hey everyone,





I recently purchased an old Leitz Elmarit-M 135mm at a good price and really good looking condition.

Glass is free of scratches, only very little dust and I don't see any fungus.
So all in all I think it's a keeper, but looking inside the lens I found some shiny, sticky-looking stuff that I don't know what it could be.

Anyone know what this is? It's behind the glass lenses. Maybe someone knows...

I don't see anything unusual with the images I took, could this affect image quality?



Thanks!

marckyokay said:

Hey everyone,

I recently purchased an old Leitz Elmarit-M 135mm at a good price and really good looking condition.

Glass is free of scratches, only very little dust and I don't see any fungus.
So all in all I think it's a keeper, but looking inside the lens I found some shiny, sticky-looking stuff that I don't know what it could be.

Anyone know what this is? It's behind the glass lenses. Maybe someone knows...

I don't see anything unusual with the images I took, could this affect image quality?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

if memory servers the front end that is the lens can be unscrewec for use in the visoflex so there is just an empty tube with the focus helicals behind that, if yours comes of with a bit of twisting the tube can be cleaned as well as the back of the rear element, but be careful the rear element is much more likely to effect your image with any scratches.

aplumpton

marckyokay said:

I don't know wether you have the former Elmar 135 mm f4 lens or the Tele-Elmar 135 mm f4 lens. The latter's head unscrews and is useable on the 16464 focussing mount, over its normal range of focus, just as the 65mm Elmar or the 90mm f2.8 Elmarit (former version). For closer focus you will need one or more 16471 expander sections between the 16464 unit and the screw in lens head.tn

Click to expand...

the above is from photo net forum

John aka bosjohn21

Thanks for the reply but I already unscrewed the lens part.

The photo you see is the unscrewed top lens part only, without focusing ring and lens mount.

The wall with the shiny sticky surface you can see is behind the rear lens element glass.

I have the second version Tele-Elmarit-M 135/2.8 with Goggles, 55mm filters and S-VII adapter. The portion you show is probably in the optics module, the portion that unscrews from the focus mount. The focus mount interior is baffled, not flat. I believe what you are showing is behind the aperture and before the rear element. Hard to say what it is from the Photo- looks like a little grease rubbed on the side, or it could be discoloring. I doubt it will cause any problems. If it is grease- it looks like the rear element is held in with a retaining ring and would come off with a spanner. I would not bother. If it were flakes of paint- then I would open it up and clean it out.

Thanks for the reply!

It's indeed in the optics module, the portion that unscrews from the focus mount.

This spot is right there (attached picture) behind the aperture, in the last part of the optics module. I don't see any way I could clean it.

marckyokay said:

Thanks for the reply!

It's indeed in the optics module, the portion that unscrews from the focus mount.

This spot is right there (attached picture) behind the aperture, in the last part of the optics module. I don't see any way I could clean it.

Click to expand...

You are best to leave it alone and use the lens. It has a great built-in lens hood. If the lens ever needs service, like the focus mount needs to be relubed, or any build up of haze- ask that it be looked at.



Test the lens by shooting into the sun, at an off angle. Shoot a few scenes that are brightly backlit. If there is an effect from the discoloration- it would show up. If it looks like every other lens you've used under similar circumstance- you've gained confidence to use it as is.



To clean the spot- the rear element would need to come out. I do this a lot- but would not bother with a small spot like this one.

marckyokay said:

Thanks for the reply!

It's indeed in the optics module, the portion that unscrews from the focus mount.

This spot is right there (attached picture) behind the aperture, in the last part of the optics module. I don't see any way I could clean it.

Click to expand...

I would use the lens, see if you are getting any anomalies in the image check it at f2.8. Don't do anything until you check it. If you are getting anolmalies, you may want to get the lens a good CLA, used lenses sometimes need it. Bought a cheap 105 micro Nikkor f2.8. It had early fungus, the repair guy did a great job and the lens is phenomenal. Personally I wouldn't open it myself without knowledge of the lens.

the rear element should screw off as well again if memory serves i am thinking if this is one of the old ones the rear element was well behind the others, unscreing a lens element is not a big deal for most of these old lenses just be careful. you should be able to get a better idea of whats in there then and also can carefuly again wipe of the back of the front element cluster, if that will not get rid if it the i am out of suggestions