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| Fungus in Wollensak 159mm f/9.5 | |
| Author | Message | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| rwarhover Joined: 11 Aug 2002 Posts: 8 |  Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 8:50 pmI have an otherwise lovely Wollensak Velostigmat wide angle Series III with fungus between the elements. I can easily unscrew the front and back groups but this reveals what may be lens elemnets cemented together. I don't want to attempt to separate them if they're cemented. Does anyone know the construction of this lens? Can i safely separate the elements to clean them? thanks, Bob Warhover | ||
| Les Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 | Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:11 pm fungus shouldn't be in the cement. | ||
| RichS Joined: 18 Oct 2001 Posts: 1468 | Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 9:16 pm
http://graflex.org/helpboard/viewtopic.php?topic=1584&forum=10&73 It may not be fungus, but other than total seperation, something cam happen to that cement... And there's no mention of the construction in my book, so I can't help there either... | ||
| rwarhover Joined: 11 Aug 2002 Posts: 8 | Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2003 11:40 pm Thanks for the help. I'm convinced that it is not fungus but overall separation or clumping of the old lens adhesive. I spoke to someone at S.K. Grimes--they will re-cement it for 3 times what I paid for it. I'll have to find a photo-pictorialist to sell it to. Thanks again. | ||
| 45PSS Joined: 28 Sep 2001 Posts: 4081 | Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 2:18 am Bob, ask that lens if it is preforming well and if it is up to doing it for a while. How? you say. Photograph an evevly lit wall that is also uniform in texture from a distance that will just cover the format with the lens wide open. Process the film normally and evulate it with very high scrutiny for evenness of illumination. Charles | ||
| RichS Joined: 18 Oct 2001 Posts: 1468 | Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 2:40 am
I would be very interested in the quote they gave you. I was going to ask them about a lens I have but never got around to it... And I agree with Charles. Shoot the lens before giving up on it. My choice would be a sunlit brick wall. You get the detail in the bricks and the high contrast between brick & mortar. It should show up any problems in the lens. And if it's seperation, it may not get worse for years! But if you really do have to get rid of it, give me a shout  _________________ ---------------------------------------- "Ya just can't have too many GVIIs" ---------------------------------------- <font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2003-11-20 18:41 ]</font> | ||
| rwarhover Joined: 11 Aug 2002 Posts: 8 | Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 2:27 pm I did shoot the lens, and it is like shooting through waxed paper. Extreme halation on everything.The separation, if that's what it is, is fairly uniform and looks like tiny bubbles under a loupe. It's a little like frosted glass. BTW, SK Grimes quoted $150 per set to re-cement, for a total of $300. thanks, Bob | ||
| RichS Joined: 18 Oct 2001 Posts: 1468 | Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2003 2:53 pm Thanks. I can see why you don't want to make the investment. I'm also surprised about the lens seperation. I've never heard of it with the 159? But who knows what's happened to it in it's long life? And now you can either use the lens for special effects or try the recementing job yourself. Could be fun either way? I still plan on trying this someday, but it's that old 'free time' problem... | ||
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