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What is this on the middle part of my lens? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/photography@lemmy.ml
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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!

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[–] 10 points 1 year ago (1 child)

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.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    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.

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    • [–] 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    Lens fungus?

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  • [–] [S] 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    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?

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  • [–] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    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.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    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.

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