John Van Stelton
Focal Point, Inc
(303) 665-6640
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.focalpointlens.com/
1017 South Boulder Road, Suite E-2
Louisville CO 80027
USA
If anyone can overhaul and clean your lens, John can.
Godfrey
On Apr 12, 2005, at 1:26 PM, jtainter wrote:
About a month ago I bought an F* 300 f4.5 from eBay. It proved to be
badly damaged. I sent it back and got my money refunded.
Today I received my second F* 300 f4.5 from an eBay auction. It is a
gorgeous lens. Cosmetically and mechanically it is close to pristine.
KEH would grade it no lower than LN-, and perhaps even LN. Then I
looked through the lens toward a strong light and saw that at least
one element is coated with a haze or residue of some kind. It shows up
as very small bumps or ridges.
The previous owner took very good care of it. Perhaps too good. He
apparently stored it around mothcake. The smell is strong. This is not
a good idea for lenses, cameras, or electronics. Mothcake gives off a
gas and can leave residues. I don't know if that is what I am looking
at, but it is some kind of stuff on one or more elements.
I haven't tested it yet for optical performance. I had to come in to
work today.
I called Pentax USA's repair shop to ask if lens elements can be
cleaned without damaging the SMC coatings. The guy I talked to said
yes. But I thought I should ask all of you: Can gunk (for lack of a
better term) be cleaned off lens elements without harming the
coatings?
I haven't decided yet whether to send it back or have it repaired. It
is in such beautiful condition otherwise that I am considering just
paying for the cleaning.
I am batting 1 for 4 on eBay. I have bought 4 lenses there. Here's the
results:
Tokina AT-X AF 400. A keeper. Still have it.
SMC F 70-210. Frozen aperture. It went back, and I got a good one from
KEH (for more).
Previous F* 300. Broken, probably had been dropped. Returned.
Current F* 300. Outcome uncertain.
Many (most?) people don't take very good care of their equipment. I
have noticed the same buying used cars.
I would be happy to buy these things new if they were available.
Thanks everyone,
Joe