p.1 #1 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
I’ve collected a number of Zeiss ZE lenses over the years, one of them has some oxidation (?) or some blemishes. Of course it does not affect the image or the handling of the lens, but as this forum has a wealth of experience, I’d thought someone may have a good way to treat / fix / clean this. I couldn’t find anything online, but maybe the search criteria weren’t effective.
The natural metal is quite prominent in the series, so proper maintenance can’t hurt.
Not the latest and greatest, but I like this particular lens (35/2 Distagon for EF mount).
p.1 #2 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
I haven't run into the problem on my three chrome nosed lenses. Is it rust or is it like a tarnish you'd see on silver utensils or jewelry? If it's the later, then some kind of silver polish or jewelry cleanser might do the trick, but I have no idea if their fumes would be corrosive to the lens coatings.
p.1 #3 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
freaklikeme wrote:
I haven't run into the problem on my three chrome nosed lenses. Is it rust or is it like a tarnish you'd see on silver utensils or jewelry? If it's the later, then some kind of silver polish or jewelry cleanser might do the trick, but I have no idea if their fumes would be corrosive to the lens coatings.
Looks more like tarnish - maybe I can upload an image.
I did think of silver polish, but like you mentioned I am hesitant to do that.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
p.1 #4 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
Once, I had a basket full of ZE lenses. Now, I have only the 50/2 and 100/2 Makros. Anyway, I haven't seen anything like that. If I did, I'd first try an alcohol swab, and then a non-abrasive metal cleaner. Metal polish (or a light rubbing compound) would be my next step.
p.1 #5 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
jcolwell wrote:
Once, I had a basket full of ZE lenses. Now, I have only the 50/2 and 100/2 Makros. Anyway, I haven't seen anything like that. If I did, I'd first try an alcohol swab, and then a non-abrasive metal cleaner. Metal polish (or a light rubbing compound) would be my next step.
Try the alcohol swab/ q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
I personally would not use any kind of metal cleaner/polish near the glass.
Do those trim rings come off? You can then polish them up w/o having to worry about the glass.
p.1 #6 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
Desmolicious wrote:
Try the alcohol swab/ q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
I personally would not use any kind of metal cleaner/polish near the glass.
Do those trim rings come off? You can then polish them up w/o having to worry about the glass.
They do come off, but it's not a simple as unscrewing them and I think how simple the disassembly is to remove them is on a lens-by-lens basis. It might be worth it to look up a disassembly of the 35/2 if the alcohol wipe isn't effective.
p.1 #7 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
Desmolicious wrote:
Try the alcohol swab/ q-tip dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
I personally would not use any kind of metal cleaner/polish near the glass.
Do those trim rings come off? You can then polish them up w/o having to worry about the glass.
I'd tape-off the glass, before doing anything serious to the filter/hood ring. First, I cover the front element with a parchment paper disc (or similar), then tape the disc to wherever it can be taped to. I don't go hog wild with the procedure, just take it easy, with the lens taping as my backup.
I just had a look at my 100 Makro, and I'm pretty sure the front ring will not come off willingly.
p.1 #8 · Zeiss ZE/F/K/A/S - how to best treat metal front of lens barrel?
Thank you all, nothing so drastic - in fact when I first mentioned this I thought it was worse than it actually was. On closer inspection it is all on the outside - the inside filter thread is clean (so with a filter you don’t have to stress when dealing with the outside). The outside when I looked up close part dirt, part wear (showing some brass underneath), what remains a few very small blemishes, some just specs, where the outer layer (is it chrome?) is a bit discolored. I have stopped worrying about this, the lens is optically fine, focus is smooth, but the outside shows some usage - 7/10 - and that’s more than good enough for me. As I wrote this is probably my favorite Zeiss that I have.
Thanks again for the tips - I’ve used Isopropyl Alcohol on a q tip, a broken flat toothpick and cloth.
Ah, I’ve also used a drop of WD40 on the toothpick to see if it helped with the discolored specs, it took off some of the discoloration, showing brass instead. Lens was filtered during the cleaning.
