Firs+ Aid Handbook

[CZJena]

Firs+ Aids

I find more people in CS looking for more technical infos than sharing fotos
I guess its Your precious Instrument as well as Investment
For me its about capturing that momentary window of opportunity that I feel Right ...Om Ya...
Others may take it as a hobby of collection, to tell people they are cool

For whatever the reasons, maintaining our equipment (while its still above $300) makes sense.
I hope to hear amateurs, serious workers, pros, collectors and even road sweeper share how do you maintain your CAMERA, be it 35mm, MF or LF.

I hope you can mention your camera's make BUT not price, as "Money turns Friendship Sour". NO $ TALK HERE

It will be better if you can show us your Camera's winter clothing or underwears :bsmilie: Did anyone mentioned crash dummys? Share fotos of your Camera thats in bad shape too !

Hopefully after reading this thread, your Camera can have graceful retirement, you will enjoy taking more fotos spending less bucks, and some of you might even pass your instruments/assets to your great grandchildrens :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

Lets start off by taking care the worst DEVIL -- Fungus

 

[CZJena]

Camera destroyed with 600 pounds of dynamite, together with a bridge

 

[alternatve]

! Why destroy such a delicate instrument with such violent force?

Or did that camera ruin the bomber's photos?

 

[CZJena]

This one appeared On the rear element of a 3rd version 50mm F2 Leica Summicron

 

[alternatve]

"The lens in the lower picture should be taken out and burnt. It's beyond hope..."

I meant the middle picture. The last picture failed to load in time.

I have heard of camera repair shops that can clear fungus on lens... It's expensive though. But since the lens in question is Leica, I guess you can me more flexible with the price.

 

[CZJena]

The lens in the lower picture should be taken out and burnt. It's beyond hope...

Maybe some specialist can do "re-coating" .... hope for some suggestions here

 

[regit]

I guess mine is beyond all hopes :bsmilie:

 

[haagen_dazs]

regit
that is one funny photo =0

 

[alvinsclee]

It's about time mycologists, biochemists and physicists come together to invent an anti-fungal multi-coating material and process for optical instruments...

Someone else in ClubSNAP asked about the species of fungi growing on lenses.
I jokingly replied that an appropriate species name for such a fungus would be Lensikiller destructoides.

On a more serious note, researchers have found the following fungi growing on optical instruments:-
Penicillium spinulosum, Thom.
Penicillium commune, Thom.
Penicillium citrinum, Thom.
Aspergillus niger, Van Tiegh.
Trichoderma viride, Pers. ex-Fr.
Mucor racemosus, Fres.
Mucor ramannianus, A. Moeller.

Reference paper:-
Tropic-Proofing of Optical Instruments by a Fungicide.
J.S. Turner, E.I. McLennan, J.S. Rogers, & E. Matthaei.
University of Melbourne.
Nature 158 (Oct. 5, 1946) 469-473.


Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus candidus
Penicillium sp.
Paecilomyces sp.
Syncephalastrum sp.
Sepedonium sp.
Cuvulvaria sp.
Fusarium sp.
Monilia sp.
Cladosporium sp.

Reference paper:-
Saxena, B.B.L., S.S. Nigam, & S.R. Sengupta. Defence Research Laboratory (Stores), Kanpur.
Fungal Attack of Optical Instruments & Its Prevention.
Paper presented at the Symposium on Instruments, held at TDE (Instruments), Dehra
Dun, in November 1959.
Indian Journal of Technology 1 (1963) 283-286

(Above info from http://www.europa.com/~telscope/fungus.txt)

 

[CZJena]

Re: fungus protection, I posted this last year about Corrosion Intercept.

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=175785&page=2&highlight=corrosion+intercept

THANKS!

 

[CZJena]

Copper intercept may only works for short term, like silica gem require regular replacement. Other possible issues:
1. Cost of copper corrosion intercept CCI

2. CCI may protect your other equipment from rust and possibly fungus but MAY ALSO KILL you lens in another way by leaving residue film on the surface of glass element ... e.g. fumes from polymer material, dust from intercept.

3. Toxidity ...copper as one might not know, may pose certain amount of toxic to our human body, so don't deal with material not tested health/environment safe.

Other possible methods of fungicidal i can think of are:
1. inert gas like helium injection into lens/lens-container
2. effective drying agent / environment
3. vacuum
4. UV (haven't research on effective wavelength)
5. temperature (extreme cold or heat)
6. ozone ionizer
7. radioactive e.g. polonium (highly dangerous to health or even to lens)

All in all is about effectiveness, conveniency, cost and harmfulness to health...

 

[glchua]

Copper intercept may only works for short term, like silica gem require regular replacement. Other possible issues:
1. Cost of copper corrosion intercept CCI

2. CCI may protect your other equipment from rust and possibly fungus but MAY ALSO KILL you lens in another way by leaving residue film on the surface of glass element ... e.g. fumes from polymer material, dust from intercept.

3. Toxidity ...copper as one might not know, may pose certain amount of toxic to our human body, so don't deal with material not tested health/environment safe.

Other possible methods of fungicidal i can think of are:
1. inert gas like helium injection into lens/lens-container
2. effective drying agent / environment
3. vacuum
4. UV (haven't research on effective wavelength)
5. temperature (extreme cold or heat)
6. ozone ionizer
7. radioactive e.g. polonium (highly dangerous to health or even to lens)

All in all is about effectiveness, conveniency, cost and harmfulness to health...

I think #1 is out. Helium is tiny, you would lose it fast, better nitrogen or argon. But such methods are not convenient.

#2 is probably what most people does.

#3 may dry out the lubricants in the lens. What if there are bubbles in the lens?

#5 not good for lens.

#6 is a no no. Ozone reacts and degrades or oxidizes many materials, especially rubber (almost instantly).It may harm the lens coating or metal parts.

#7 If gamma irradiation, then a safe altenative would be UV.

Best method to prevent fungus: USE THE LENS!

 

[alvinsclee]

Something in my mind about these fungi... what sustain them? There isn't any visible 'food' for them on the glass (we all know that fungi do not have chlorophyll and hence cannot photosynthesise)... so...

I was wondering if oil stains or thin films of bacteria provide these fungi the necessary sustenance. Will cleaning the lens with a bactericide help? Some food for thought, indeed!

 

[CZJena]

I believe fungi are everywhere, in the air, on your eyes, under your feet ...

They appeared even on my daguerreotype camera lenses, however because these lenses have no coating, i just wipe them easily clean with alcohol and sparkling again ...well for my CZJena babies caused me lots of nightmares, They really know how to pick good german home!!! So i extra careful and check my precious lenses carefully, and terminate them when they just began to grow ...this is just tiring! phrew...

 

[alternatve]

Yes indeed... Fungus on your precious CZ / Leica lenses is a nightmare for classic camera users. But how do you eliminate the fungus? I am experiencing some fungus problem on my zoom lens and would like to know how to get rid of it.

 

[alvinsclee]

Because of my hypothesis that lens fungi feed on bacteria flim and oil stains, I once dismantled a fungi-infected Tokina lens and clean the lens elements with "Septi-Gel" (a 'no rinse' hand sanitizer containing 65% Ethanol and 3% Triclosan). Seems to work wonders for that lens. I have yet to try another sanitizer "Microshield" containing 70% Ethanol and 2.5% Chlorhexidine.

Of course, dismantle lenses at your own risk... some are not easy to align back during re-assembly.

 

[CZJena]

Protection from SALT at beach/coast

Anyone have any preventive measures?

 

[alvinsclee]

Protection from SALT at beach/coast

Anyone have any preventive measures?

I find it impossible to protect cameras and lenses from salt sprays at the beach. More importantly, I ensure that I clean them with wet towels to dissolve salt grains first before drying them. Never wipe lenses using dry cloth after a beach session... the almost invisible salt grains are hard enough to scratch delicate coatings!

 

[CZJena]

You are right ... especially with zoom lenses ... too many "compartments" in zoom lenses to trap salt and dust. Another reason why i stick to fix-focal lenses and avoid going for inexperienced private camera servicing centers.

How about cutting out plastic film/bag to wrap around the cam/lens?

When you find your cam/SLR mirror and shutter corroding ... well you had it