Hermagis Paris lens separation

**jkcz** · 20-Nov-2012, 00:58

Please friends,
is this "nice" effect on my Hermagis Paris No1 lens separation?
Thanks.

**welly** · 20-Nov-2012, 01:27

It looks like a dozen invisible flies have splattered into your lens.

**Steven Tribe** · 20-Nov-2012, 02:03

100% certain this is balsam breakdown!

This is the more "distinguished" type - clear or opaque "fern-like" growths.
The most common of other types is the darkening yellow edge separation due to oxidation/drying out and deposit of white solids on the internal lens surfaces.
You still get this made into a perfect achromat as the glass is still OK.

**Emil Schildt** · 20-Nov-2012, 05:44

But these are SO beautiful!!

Can you make an image with it - in that case you'll have a rather unique lens...

I have one with much more of that stuff - an expensive lens unfortunately, but I refuse to fix it....