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Eruditass · 08-02-2010, 05:01 PM

So I got a 55BB off of ebay and noticed some finger prints on the front. No biggie, I thought. I try to clean them off and it becomes clear that they are not on the front element, but just below.

How hard is it to clean them off?

Last edited by Eruditass; 08-02-2010 at 05:24 PM.

Adam · 08-03-2010, 12:44 AM

Can you post a picture of the lens? If you've got to open it up, it might end up being a bigger project.

Lloydy · 08-03-2010, 05:29 AM

A friend of mine repairs optics for the military and had a look at a Canon 500mm mirror lens to see if the fungus could be cleaned.

He tested a very tiny area of the mirror that is underneath a clamping ring and the surface came straight off, so the mirror wasn't able to be cleaned.

He was very surprised at how fragile the mirror was.

ovim · 08-03-2010, 06:05 AM

This has been discussed before, here's the thread: Is it worth fixing/cleaning on this Tamron 55BB 500mm f/8.0 mirror

Eruditass · 08-20-2010, 03:41 PM

This is on the edge, right under the front element. There are a couple of these marks, all around the edge. They go almost a 3rd of the way in toward the opaque thing in the middle.

Since it is on the edge, will it not affect my images on an APS-C? Or do mirror lenses work differently? Adapter is not here yet.

opiet70 · 08-20-2010, 08:42 PM

you might want to check out some astronomy forums about how to clean mirrors.

08-02-2010, 05:01 PM	#1
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Mirror lens cleaning So I got a 55BB off of ebay and noticed some finger prints on the front. No biggie, I thought. I try to clean them off and it becomes clear that they are not on the front element, but just below. How hard is it to clean them off? Last edited by Eruditass; 08-02-2010 at 05:24 PM.

08-03-2010, 12:44 AM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Can you post a picture of the lens? If you've got to open it up, it might end up being a bigger project. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

08-20-2010, 03:41 PM	#5
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207 Original Poster	This is on the edge, right under the front element. There are a couple of these marks, all around the edge. They go almost a 3rd of the way in toward the opaque thing in the middle. Since it is on the edge, will it not affect my images on an APS-C? Or do mirror lenses work differently? Adapter is not here yet. Last edited by Eruditass; 08-20-2010 at 04:13 PM.

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08-03-2010, 05:29 AM	#3
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	A friend of mine repairs optics for the military and had a look at a Canon 500mm mirror lens to see if the fungus could be cleaned. He tested a very tiny area of the mirror that is underneath a clamping ring and the surface came straight off, so the mirror wasn't able to be cleaned. He was very surprised at how fragile the mirror was.

08-03-2010, 06:05 AM	#4
ovim Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tre, Finland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	This has been discussed before, here's the thread: Is it worth fixing/cleaning on this Tamron 55BB 500mm f/8.0 mirror

08-20-2010, 08:42 PM	#6
opiet70 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 499	you might want to check out some astronomy forums about how to clean mirrors.

Mirror lens cleaning

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