Inazuma 1,010 Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 I really dislike the clinical rendering of modern lenses. I love the flares you get from old lenses, such as this taken with a Minolta 28mm f3.5 (not my photo). Modern lenses are convenient though for their autofocus and EXIF data. Has anyone here ever tried to remove the coating from their lens or has any tips on how to do so? What chemicals or tools would you use? Would removing the coating from the front element be sufficient to create the shape of the aperture blades as in the above picture, or would I have to go for the rear element and the internal elements too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kye 2,933 Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 Haven't tried it, but if you can find the lens optical diagram for a specific lens then that might show which lens elements have coatings on them. My guess would be that there would be coatings on the inside as the flare above would be caused by light bouncing back and forth between lens elements inside the lens. That's why you often introduce reflections when you put on a filter - the light goes through the filter then reflects off the front element of the lens then reflects off the back of the filter then goes through the lens to the sensor. Can you buy flaring filters for these kinds of flares? Does anyone know? You'd have to get two curved elements with a gap between them, perhaps? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Administrators Andrew Reid 10,227 Posted July 16, 2020 Administrators Share Posted July 16, 2020 Multiple elements are coated not just the front. So you'd have to do a complete disassembly. Not practical as a DIY jobby! Emanuel 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tweak 448 Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 These characteristics you like are not from un-coated elements. Removing the coatings is far more likely to ruin the image (and lens), rather than achieve something nice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
matthere 82 Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 I came across this video from Richard Gale some time ago, who removed the coatings and tinkered with the Voigtlander 40mm, I am interested in experimenting with coating removal too, Inazuma 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
matthere 82 Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 If you search lens repair spanner these are often used to get inside.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IronFilm 4,155 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Duclos sells lenses with the lens coatings intentionally removed: https://thecinelens.com/2013/02/26/duclos-lenses-introduces-rokinon•raw-primes/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HockeyFan12 437 Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 Cooke do this with their front element, Sigma Classic is the same idea but I think every element and there's probably some coating, probably not entirely removed: This doesn't work that well for me because the design is so complex it looks modern and the flares look weird. I think it would work but it might not give exactly the result you want. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fuzzynormal 2,043 Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 On 7/16/2020 at 4:53 AM, Inazuma said: Modern lenses are convenient though for their autofocus and EXIF data. I guess that's a big reason why I enjoy vintage lenses. They certainly offer a more filmic look, and I've never really ever cared about autofocus or EXIF. 1970's FD's are pretty good to take the edge of the "video" aesthetic. Plus, they're radioactive. Fun with decaying isotopes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leslie 646 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 6 hours ago, fuzzynormal said: I guess that's a big reason why I enjoy vintage lenses. They certainly offer a more filmic look, and I've never really ever cared about autofocus or EXIF. 1970's FD's are pretty good to take the edge of the "video" aesthetic. Plus, they're radioactive. Fun with decaying isotopes. please dont tell me you use it as a pillow Maybe buy an old standard lens with fungus or something and have at it, with the same stuff they use to polish telescope mirrors. if you wanted to be technical about it you should probably make a lap so that you dont change the lens shape. do one lens element at a time, record and report findings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fuzzynormal 2,043 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 15 hours ago, leslie said: please dont tell me you use it as a pillow No, but I usually eat my breakfast off of it. Oatmeal. Gives the outer glass a nice buff when I clean it off before the shoots and the thorium adds a nice metallic aftertaste. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leslie 646 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 not really a fan of aftertastes. but hey if it works for you.... I have however made a (lowish) bid on a pentax m42 35mm with haze and fungus issues, if i win, i'll buy some cerium oxide and give one or more of the lens elements a polish Since i already have a nice pentax m42 35mm i should be able to compare them quite easily. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leslie 646 Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 mission is a go, bought the lens, bought a 100 grams of cerium oxide. Should probably get some resin to make a lap or mould with, don't really want to change the lens shape. Probably will "borrow" some half used grinding pads from the old factory next time i go past. Spent 13 years in the stone industry running bridge saws and cnc's although i think i have done about half a days work in the wet bay polishing a couple of jobs. Ebay thinks the lens should be here by september, Maybe we'll see some results before xmas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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