Fungus? Haze? Can someone help?

[julian_oczkowski1]

<p>Hello everyone. <br>

<br />Recently I purchased a lens on eBay. The person (camera shop) who sold the lens described it as without any fungus or haze. Once it arrived I noticed something which looks to me but I am not a specialist like a part of inner lens (just below the first element) has been scratched on the edge which seems unrealistic. So now am thinking what this may be. Unfortunately I can't check now if the issue has any impact on the photos as I sold my camera a week ago and I am moving to a different system. <br />I can return the lens and I have few more days to test it out but I want your professional opinion what this may be.<br /><br />As you will notice on my horrible photos that the issue has some sort of a colour gradient which looks like a rainbow, maybe it is the coating? The lens is Zeiss 28mm f2 and I don't really want to return it as I got a pretty good price but maybe I should?<br /><br />Please help.</p>

<p>Photos:<br>

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oyg1TMd8kDS1U3X3piV0lpM0U/view?usp=sharing<br>

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oyg1TMd8kDQnVGa1JQSWhsUmc/view?usp=sharing<br>

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oyg1TMd8kDVW5ReVR6SXJsX0E/view?usp=sharing</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

 

[q.g._de_bakker]

Hard to say. Is it on top, on the top surface? Or below it?<br>Looks like it's on the top surface. Could be the dried up remnants of lens cleaning fluid.

[BelaMolnar]

<p>I would definitely returned the lens to the seller, for full refund. You get a good case for a reason. I dealing with eBay sellers and know the rule. You have all the right for full refind. And report to the eBay or Paypat imediantly, you going to return the les or not, regardless.</p>

[julian_oczkowski1]

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=282122">Q.G. de Bakker</a> it is inside the lens not on top of the glass. It looks like it is where the second glass element is touching the inner part (metal part) of the lens just at the rim. Like if you had a piece of glass and scratched it just at the rim.</p>

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=831118">Bela Laszlo Molnar</a> I might do that but if this is something that is not major I would love to keep the lens as it is a good one. </p>

 

[julian_oczkowski1]

<p>I found a different example of the same lens. Mine problem looks similar but is deeper in the lens. <br />Here is a photo I found:</p>

<p>https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8oyg1TMd8kDeXUzWTRwWXVGLUU/view?usp=sharing</p>

[john_bear]

<p>This doesn't look anything like fungus to me. I would have guessed at separation of the elements, but the grouped elements in this lens design are at the middle and back, not the front, so it can't be that. It's a nice lens, and I would not be inclined to return it if you got it for a good price. </p>

<p>I hope some of the "old timers" are looking at your post, as I'm sure one of them will know exactly what it is.</p>

[julian_oczkowski1]

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=8506799">John Burton</a> thank you. You see why I hesitate, it is a nice piece of glass so to speak. <br />Maybe anyone knows of another forum that I could post the question to? </p>

[julian_oczkowski1]

<p>I also have a reply from the seller I am not sure what he means: "Hello, this lens is one old german lens, this is vernish became old, this is nothing no problem for use, this is common of old german lens." I think he meant varnish. He is from France so the translation could be all wrong. </p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Doesn't look like fungus to me. I would more suspect separation if it's not some residue, but it doesn't seem that it would affect the image quality unless it goes a lot farther.</p>

<p>BTW your linked image can be reduced just slightly and it will display in-line if you add a title:</p><div></div>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>It looks to me that the inner lens group edge has had some of the paint scraped away. Perhaps from a previous (amateur?) repair. You may be seeing an interference pattern as you try to photograph it as the specular highlights shine through the top element. The glass looks clear otherwise clear. Take a few pics, under various lighting conditions, and look at your results. Let that, and the price you paid, be your guide. </p>

[stephen t]

<p>I heard of that varnish issue a few years ago. I would lean towards keeping the lens.</p>

[julian_oczkowski1]

<p>Thank you all. </p>

[John Seaman]

<p>This looks similar to "Schneideritis", a problem said to affect mainly Schneider lenses whereby the paint or varnish around the edges of the lens elements flakes off. It probably won't affect the image quality.</p>

[julian_oczkowski1]

<p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=541403">John Seaman</a> thank you for the info but why would it happen on a Zeiss lens. </p>

[John Seaman]

<p>Who can say? Perhaps they used similar materials. Its not something I have personal experience of, its just that your post jogged my memory having in the past seen threads like this one:</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/00K3xH</p>

[allen_gara]

<p>It seems so close to the edge, whatever it is, that I'd be willing to bet you won't see any issue in the photos.</p>