Does the lens glass turns yellow with time?

[pseudonymus]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking to get some second-hand lenses for my camera, but it recently struck me the idea that the lens glass could be affected by light and turning into yellow.

Is it the case with the nowadays lenses?

Thanks!

 

[sybersitizen]

A very small number of old lenses had mineral content in the glass that caused slight yellowing over time.

If you happen to come across such a lens, keep it. It will be valuable because they don't make 'em like that anymore.

 

[JimH123]

A very small number of old lenses had mineral content in the glass that caused slight yellowing over time.

If you happen to come across such a lens, keep it. It will be valuable because they don't make 'em like that anymore.

Actually, exposure to uV light will reverse the yellowing.

Some older Pentax Takumar lenses that used thorium are known to exhibit this behavior.

 

[sybersitizen]

A very small number of old lenses had mineral content in the glass that caused slight yellowing over time.

If you happen to come across such a lens, keep it. It will be valuable because they don't make 'em like that anymore.

Actually, exposure to uV light will reverse the yellowing.

Horrors! Like polishing away the patina on fine old irreplaceable brasswork.

Some older Pentax Takumar lenses that used thorium are known to exhibit this behavior.

 

[WillemB]

My Takumar 50/1.4 m42 lens that I bought with the Pentax SV camera happened to turn yellowish, but I only read about it, never experienced it in colour film shots

 

[Mark S Abeln]

I'm thinking to get some second-hand lenses for my camera, but it recently struck me the idea that the lens glass could be affected by light and turning into yellow.

Old time photographers noted that older lenses were often better than new ones, and this was due to the coating that developed on lens surfaces over time, which helps reduce reflections and so improve transmitivity and lessen lens flare.

Artificial lens coatings were later developed and are pretty much universal today.

Auto white balance would remove any slight color from a lens and so isn’t a problem.

 

[absquatulate]

I'm thinking to get some second-hand lenses for my camera, but it recently struck me the idea that the lens glass could be affected by light and turning into yellow.

Old time photographers noted that older lenses were often better than new ones, and this was due to the coating that developed on lens surfaces over time, which helps reduce reflections and so improve transmitivity and lessen lens flare.

Artificial lens coatings were later developed and are pretty much universal today.

Auto white balance would remove any slight color from a lens and so isn’t a problem.

I have a 1952 Agfa Record II 6x9 folder that I use and what you say accords with my experience of the lens on that camera. It's a triplet lens, common for that time, it isn't sharp by modern day standards but it resists flare like you wouldn't believe and has a nice glow to the images. Here's a shot on a very bright day, I love shooting with this camera as you're never quite sure how it's going to turn out, but often you get a nice surprise. I also shoot with Takumars with Thorium in them and it definitely gives the lenses nice character.