Zeiss Contaxt - Haze, Dust or something else?

[Scotty Fox]

Hi All,

In the process of purchasing Zeiss Contax AEG lenses, to then Cine Mod them. It's been going pretty good, but I've received one that I'm not too sure about.

A 28mm.

Upon inspecting the inside of the lens using a flashlight, I saw something that could be the beginnings of haze, dirt, something else?

I've attached a photo for reference (if anyone has any expertise in this area), I would appreciate your input. It's only around the outer edge of the inside of the glass. Hasn't encroached on the center yet or near it really.

It was advertised as:

＜Optical system＞
There is no scratch.
There is no fungus.
There is no haze.
There is no balsam separation.
There is no dirt.
There is a tiny dust.

I'm okay with the dust (seems more on the photo than to the naked eye), but I am concerned about what's circled in red. I'm debating whether to return it as I'm worried this will be something that worsens over time, and wasn't specified in the listing on Ebay.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9qxhtfg8m2uqg3k/ZeissContax28mmAEG.jpg?dl=0

Thanks!

 

[Nick Morrison]

That looks like some grime/grease, though not sure. I have one or two lenses like that, and yeah...they need to get cleaned.

But this is certainly not a "clean" lens, and you should consider returning.

I've always assumed this kind of grime over time could lead to haze, etc later.

 

[Scotty Fox]

Thanks for the input Nick... Yeah I think I'm probably going to just return it and start looking for the AEG 2,28mm once again.

Bummer.

Thanks again though!

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Where does one send Contax lenses for service that isn't too expensive?

 

[Ilya O.]

Scotty, do you really expect these lenses could be like new inside? How is that possible after all the years after production date? Oil evaporated from the grease base is on every surface around the iris module area:-(

Matt, could you please do me a favour? Let's make a little survey here. What quote range do you consider not too expensive for Contaxes?

 

[Scotty Fox]

Scotty, do you really expect these lenses could be like new inside? How is that possible after all the years after production date? Oil evaporated from the grease base is on every surface around the iris module area:-(

Hey Ilya,

Definitely don't expect them to be like new. I'm more concerned with paying for items that weren't described accurately or have problems that will be too costly to fix. I'm okay with the wear and tear of an old lens that was for the most part taken care of.. or even something that needs to be serviced down the line. But if it's something that needs to be serviced now and affects picture quality, then I'd have an issue with the seller because that's not how it was described at all.

 

[Ilya O.]

Greets, Scotty

I completely get your point

Mine is: if the seller does not say directly that the lens was completely serviced recently, then we should better realize there will be some quirks, irrespectively of what the seller says or describes as top shape, since here what we have is purely subjective (he could simply did not notice that edge smudge that you show in the pic).
To say more, it is simply impossible for the lens to be in top shape, even if it had just been laying on a seller's shelve for 20 years untouched.