Do enlarger lenses degrade?

[John Olsen]

Recently I've been feeling that my prints from my Schneider 100mm Componon-S have been disappointing. Then I accidentally focused a neg under my 150 mm Componon-S. It was noticeably sharper and printed with about 1/2 grade more contrast. I've looked at older prints made with the 100mm lens and they look sharp. The question is, can it have degraded with simple age? It's about 25 years old. So is my 150 mm that prints sharply.

This is driving me nuts. I've fussed with negative holders, focusing aids and mixed new chemicals, but it looks like the lens has deteriorated. I can't see any smears of grease or mildew - it looks fresh and clean.

What's your experience?

[Gem Singer]

Your description of the problem you are experiencing sounds more like your enlarger might be out of adjustment.

Does It focus sharper with the 150 than the 100, or only the prints come out sharper?.

If the lens had degraded, it would have showed obvious separation of the glass elements or a hazy appearance.

Have you checked the enlarger's alignment?

[Vaughn]

Fungus growing in the lens is a common enough occurence with lenses kept in a dampish darkroom.

[photobymike]

I used to work for a photographer that smoked. I tried and tried to get some sharp prints for him one day thirty years ago. Then i noticed the lenses where coated with stuff from his cigarettes. Since we used the 50mm the most, it was the worst. Smoke gets inside and coats the lens. I also noticed this on some camera lenses that i have purchased for resale. You cannot clean this without disassembly and then a lens bench to refocus and calibrate.

So maybe its cigarette smoke

[E. von Hoegh]

Lenses don't degrade without some sort of external influence. The lens is most likely dirty with lubricant or some other haze, a problem that can and should be rectified. Clean lenses do not get fungus, there's nothing for it to live on. :)

Shine a penlight through the lens in a dimly lit room. This will show any haze or other deposits.

[bob carnie]

Are you using glass carriers, if not you may be thinking of trying them.

[ic-racer]

Have you looked at the lens? If it looks OK then it likely is OK. In fact I have enlarging lenses that have some edge separation or obviously bad coating that still print fine after cleaning the haze off.

[IanG]

Yes they can degrade, in many cases they are easily cleaned.

In darkrooms there's usually a lot of moisture, condensation gets inside the lenses, sometime there's a build up of very fine dust particles on the inner elements. This is usually visible if you hold the lens to a light.

The effect is a slight softness and corresponding drop in contrast. I've had this happen with a couple of Componon lenses and after removing front and rear cells and a careful clean the lenses were as good as when new.

Don't store lenses in a cold darkroom as condesnation is worst when the lens warms up, sometimes the inner glass will mist up.

Ian

[cjbroadbent]

People used to smoke in the darkroom (It was 20 years before I gave it up). Even smoking in the studio accumulates a layer of gunge on (and inside) camera lenses. It is something to look out for when buying vintage glass.

[John Olsen]

Thanks for the suggestions:
Yes, I've tried glass negative holders to no effect, and no, nobody smokes in the darkroom. Alignment seems to be OK. However, the shining-penlight-thru-the-lens did reveal lots of tiny dust (?) spots. I think it needs disassembly and cleaning. Any recommendations for this service?

[John Olsen]

I went ahead and sent the lens to Calumet in Chicago for a thorough cleaning. I just printed three different negatives yesterday and was very relieved to see the improvement. Well, the answer to my own question was: Yes, lenses do degrade over 25 years, even in the absence of obvious smudges. But a good cleaning can restore them.

[ic-racer]

Thanks for the followup.

[ic-racer]

Also, I ran across this since this thread started. Now I don't know what they were smoking or the chemicals involved in those color imaging labs but this is a quote from a Nikon brochure on photoengraving process lenses:


However, used correctly in a proper studio, lenses will ordinarily give good service for three or four years....For these reasons, periodic replacement of lenses is advisable for photoengraving shops which want to keep abreast of developments and offer quality services to customers.

[banjo]

they just wont to sale mort lens!!? LOLLOL

[E. von Hoegh]

Lots of acids and UV around photoengraving, the lenses could well degrade in such an environment.