ben_johnson3 Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 One of those parcels arrived yesterday from the Ukraine - you know the kind, covered in indecipherable scrawl that makes customs inspectors run the other way. Anyway, I unwrapped my 1960 Kiev 4A with a Jupiter-8M, an 85mm finder, and a lovely silver 1960 Jupiter-9 (85/2) in Kiev/Contax mount. But peering through the J-9, I notice bubbles in the glass of one of the rearward elements! They're about 1mm in width, and there are about 3 of them. I haven't shot a roll through the camera yet (I've actually mounted the lens on a 1960 Kiev 4 while i overhaul the 4A), so I don't know the implications of these bubbles. Has anyone seen this before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul t Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 Bubbles were apparently reasonably common in pre-war Zeiss lenses, and were not supposed to affect the image quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel_iggers Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 Would that be the "Champagne Edition"? :> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furcafe Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 Bubbles are also not unusual in post-WWII E. German Carl Zeiss Jena lenses. Don't sweat them; they were once an indicator of high quality (see page 17, http://www.zeisscamera.com/Library/TenLens1620.htm) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskovacs Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 The highest quality optical glass at molten temperatures is very caustic. In order to get the bubbles completely out, you need to heat it for a very long time. Before the 1970's, the caustic glass would destroy the crucibles used to melt the glass before the bubbles could be completely eliminated. If you're new to Contax/Kiev, welcome to the club! Don't be surprised if that camera and lenses need some tinkering to reach their full potential.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
furcafe Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 Thanks for the technical explanation, Mike. I always figured it had something to do w/the heating/cooling process, but didn't know the specifics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly_flanigan1 Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 Exotic optical glass requires carefull really controlled cooling. The maximum cooling rate varies with the temperature. It can be much quicker in some zones; and snails paced in narrow zones. If cooled too quick; the glass melt quality is radically reduced; and can have built in stresses; break; or have other problems. for a giant lens blank or mirror; this is a huge process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 One of Nikon's claim to fame in the '50s was that, unilke the best German and American optical glass, theirs didn't have bubbles. It lent credince to the stories that maybe they did know something about high quality after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tito sobrinho Posted December 15, 2004 Share Posted December 15, 2004 Yes, Nikon invented a new crucible formula that eliminated all the glass bubbles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen_S Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 I successfully used Polish enlarging lenses (Amar, Matar) which had bubbles. Don't worry to much, but be twice as proud about the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stwrtertbsratbs5 Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Daniel - I like the "Champagne Edition" moniker. That's how I'll think of my vintage glass from now on. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskovacs Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Anyone seen Finding Nemo? - <b>BUBBLES!</b> BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES BUBBLES <p><b>MY BUBBLES!</b> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n1664876959 Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 Then there's the West Ham song "I'm forever blowing bubbles...". Rubbish team, nice song but. Don't worry about the bubbles, Ben. They add a bit of quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mskovacs Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 <b>TINY BUBBLES</b> <p>Tiny Bubbles,in the wine<br> makes me happy, makes me feel fine<br> tiny bubbles, makes me warm all over<br> with a feelin that I'm gonna<br> love you till the end of time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_johnson3 Posted December 16, 2004 Author Share Posted December 16, 2004 This question went places I never imagined! Thanks, all. I'll post a shot or two when I get my test roll developed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis triguez Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 As Mike (The Poet) said: Bubbles are always good and the security you have not a plastic lens. Well done Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luis triguez Posted December 16, 2004 Share Posted December 16, 2004 As Mike,The Poet said: Bubbles are always good and the security you have not a plastic lens. Well done Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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