Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Can this lens be salvaged?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Western Massachusetts, USA
    Posts
    307

    Exclamation Can this lens be salvaged?

    Hey people,

    I recently purchased this rodagon 300mm lens for my DeVere 5108 enlarger off eBay. It was advertised as "clean and clear" but has fungus all over it and some scratches. I of course raised a complaint about this, and have been offered a partial refund for the cost of getting the lens cleaned. However, I'm wondering if the lens is even salvageable. I'm hoping it can be, because it came with a lens board I needed, but if it isn't, the money I spent isn't worth it for just the lens board. Can any of you tell by looking at the photos if the damage is repairable?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Lens fungus-scratches.jpg 
Views:	81 
Size:	26.5 KB 
ID:	208908
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Lens fungus-scratches-2.jpg 
Views:	73 
Size:	28.9 KB 
ID:	208909
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Lens fungus-scratches-3.jpg 
Views:	67 
Size:	30.4 KB 
ID:	208910

    Thanks,
    Ethan

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Madisonville, LA
    Posts
    2,412

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    Why bother I’d send it back and get a 240!

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    West Coast
    Posts
    2,121

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ethan View Post
    Hey people,

    I recently purchased this rodagon 300mm lens for my DeVere 5108 enlarger off eBay. It was advertised as "clean and clear" but has fungus all over it and some scratches. I of course raised a complaint about this, and have been offered a partial refund for the cost of getting the lens cleaned. However, I'm wondering if the lens is even salvageable. I'm hoping it can be, because it came with a lens board I needed, but if it isn't, the money I spent isn't worth it for just the lens board. Can any of you tell by looking at the photos if the damage is repairable?

    Thanks,
    Ethan
    The scratches are permanent: nothing to do to fix those. The fungus is probably removable, if you know how to disassemble the lens. Would I pay someone to service the lens? No. I'd find out how to disassemble it myself and clean the interior surfaces, and then re-evaluate its condition.

    I see various versions of the 300mm Rodagon enlarger lens listed for prices ranging from $200 to $2500. I'm guessing you paid closer to the $200 mark for it. If I had bought this, I would clean it and then test it before deciding if its a keeper or not. If you can clean the fungus and inner surfaces, then its entirely possible the scratches won't matter much.

  4. #4
    Paul Ron's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    692

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    send it back!

    that much fungus has probably already etched the coating n glass.

  5. #5
    ic-racer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    6,729

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    How much did you pay after the refund? If it was like $100, I'd keep it and clean it. It will work fine likely.
    I had enlarging lens cleaning day a while back. When you hold lenses up to the light, it can look pretty bad, even when the lens performs adequately.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0214.jpg 
Views:	33 
Size:	51.0 KB 
ID:	208911

  6. #6
    ic-racer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    6,729

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    These are all post cleaning. I was using the two bad ones for test prints, but I could not see any difference between the prints made with those and the newer lenses.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0224.jpg 
Views:	51 
Size:	40.1 KB 
ID:	208912
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0222.jpg 
Views:	53 
Size:	37.0 KB 
ID:	208913
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0221.jpg 
Views:	46 
Size:	37.6 KB 
ID:	208914
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0223.jpg 
Views:	44 
Size:	47.8 KB 
ID:	208915

  7. #7
    ic-racer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    6,729

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    Attachment 208916
    Sometimes best not to look at them with a rear shining light:

    Attachment 208918
    Attachment 208917

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    3,901

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    Instead of a Rodagon, why not a Componon S or APO process lens?


    Bernice

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Newbury, Vermont
    Posts
    2,255

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    This lens did not come to you as advertised...quit while you can - and send it back! If you take it apart to clean it, and if this does not result in appreciable improvement, there is a chance that the original owner (especially if the lens' actual condition was known to them) might then refuse to take it back...claiming that you'd "ruined it" by your attempted cleaning.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Posts
    193

    Re: Can this lens be salvaged?

    I'd send it back. Life is too short and materials are too expensive to jerk around with a lens you will always have doubts about. You'll end up replacing it anyway and that will cost you double.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •