Schneider Super-Symmar XL series haze and fog problems

[Oren Grad]

Ari, the 72 is a Super-Angulon, not a Super-Symmar. There appears to have been a design (choice of glass) issue specifically with the Super-Symmars, possibly just with the 80 and 110.

[StoneNYC]

Hmm, so from the wording it sounds like the replacement glass does NOT suffer this problem?

So the question remains, did they use the new-improved-non-fog glass in any of the SS XL lenses? And if so, when did they start? What manufacture number is "safe" or are they all "bad"?

Am I reading that right? The new research to make a glass that doesn't suffer this issue is why they are charging so much for the "fix" correct?

[Ari]

Ari, the 72 is a Super-Angulon, not a Super-Symmar. There appears to have been a design (choice of glass) issue specifically with the Super-Symmars, possibly just with the 80 and 110.

Quite right, Oren; thanks for pointing it out.
Still, I do have the 150XL, it came from wet 'n' humid Vancouver, and it looks great.

[Bernice Loui]

Own both the 110mm and 150mm SSXL since the mid 1990's. Neither has ever had any problem what so ever to this day. These two were from the initial production batch with the "hand ground aspheric element". Memory says Schneider altered the production method for the aspheric element after this initial batch of lenses according to the Schneider sales rep. All these discussions about problem with the SSXL's has me wondering how much this lens design has changed since it's introduction.


Bernice

[Bernice Loui]

Question of serial numbers came up. Here are the serial numbers for when SSXL's first began customer delivery.

The SN for 110mm is 14 624 959

The SN for 150mm is 14 637 811

Making them about Nov. 1996 according to http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/age_of_lenses/


These serial numbers are within the first 5-6 SSXLs delivered to the US market by Schneider.


Bernice

[StoneNYC]

Does anyone know the end dates/serials for the 150 or 110?

[Heroique]

I recently saw a 110mm at Glazers with the tell-tale signs of the widely reported haze issue – basically a whitish, translucent, cumulus-cloud-like swirl, circling the area of the glass about 3/4 away from the center, traveling maybe 160-170 degrees around.

Its serial number was: 14769xxx

My beloved 110mm has never had this problem (knocking on wood, Tachi cherry wood).

Its serial number is: 15021xxx

[StoneNYC]

I recently saw a 110mm at Glazers with the tell-tale signs of the widely reported haze issue – basically a whitish, translucent, cumulus-cloud-like swirl, circling the area of the glass about 3/4 away from the center, traveling maybe about 160-170 degrees around.

Its serial number was: 14769xxx

My beloved 110mm has never had this problem (knocking on wood, Tachi cherry wood).

Its serial number is: 15021xxx

*sigh* well there goes my hope... My 150mm is 14 673 xxx ....

Thankfully none of that haze business just yet...

Maybe I should buy a backup lens now while they still exist!

[Old-N-Feeble]

I wonder if anyone has researched best storage and usage practices with these lenses. Are these particularly susceptible to heat or cold... long-term, short-term or rapidly changing temperatures?

[karl french]

This has been gone over many times on the forum in the last 10 years...