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Posted by eric jorgensen on August 25, 2000 at 09:01:59:
In Reply to: Re: Kiev fisheye lens disaster posted by rick oleson on August 21, 2000 at 10:22:41:
>>I own a Kiev 88 - which is a cheap copy of the old hasselblad 1000. I purchased a 30mm wide angle lens (some folks call them fisheye lenses)for the camera a few years ago. It is a huge piece of glass. I opened the lens case last week and all of a sudden there are numerous (dozens)of what appear to be bubbles or separation marks underneath the front element. At first they looked like they were on the outer surface but rubbing them with lens cleaning tissue has no effect. I have not left the lens in a hot car and just had it stored at home. the hottest it has gotten was maybe 90 degrees when in the car on the morning I discovered the problem. does anyone have any idea what may have happened ? Is the lens ruined ? I have yet to shoot any photos since this problem occurred. It is probably not worth sending it off for repair since I can get a new one for about $150 on ebay. And of course this is supposed to be one of the advantages of owning a Kiev MF - good lenses at low cost. I can't complain about the picture quality with the lenses but this one has us stumped. thoughts would be appreciated.
Followup: to make a long story short, I have discovered what is on the lens. It is pine tree pitch from a photo outing this spring. It is adhered so well I initially thought it to be on the inside of the lens. I'm amazed at how much pitch can travel through the air. There are about a dozen tiny splatters per square inch on a lens that is more than 12 square inches of front glass. Now I'm thinking about the best way to clean it. I don't think alcohol will touch the stuff. Maybe acetone or another solvent. I am proceeding slowly and cautiously.
Posted by Dave Jones on September 24, 2000 at 14:23:48:
In Reply to: Re: Kiev fisheye lens disaster posted by eric jorgensen on August 25, 2000 at 09:01:59:
You might try(cautiously)a product called GOO-Gone. It is citrus-based and should not attack your lens coating. It works wonders on pitch, sap etc.
Editor's Note: You have to be very careful not to damage any flare reduction lens coating. Before trying anything on the lens, first try removing the pine tree pitch from another surface (like a car windshield, etc.) If you try the Goo-Gone, I would dilute it down with water, then use a wood-stick Q-Tip to test clean just a very small peripheral area on the lens, no more than the head of the Q-Tip. The 90 degree heat helped melt the pitch and adhere it to your Kiev lens.
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