Nikonos Nikon R-UW 13mm Lens Repair

Does anyone know of a repair facility that could clean, and repair the coating on the rear element of this lens. Or better yet replace it.

May be corrosion of the coating or less likely fungus. It's not on the L37C filter

Its in otherwise excellent condition.

It's too old for Nikon to be bothered with it:(

ian

Mike Mesgleski services nikonos cameras. He teaches the Jim Church photo courses abourd the aggressor fleet vessels. Give him an email to see if he has the parts you need or can get them. http://www.underwatercamerarepair.com

Thanks Saga 7. Good tip:)

Tried Mike... No joy

ian

Reach out to Andrej Belic (andrej@abelic.net) - he does conversions of the RS lenses for modern DSLR use and may have some ideas for you.

You could just remove the coating from the rear element. A very mild abrasive should work. Try Brasso but do practice on an old filter or junk lens.
Also, look for any local telescope makers in your area. They would have the optical type abrasives that would do the job.

You could just remove the coating from the rear element. A very mild abrasive should work. Try Brasso but do practice on an old filter or junk lens.

Also, look for any local telescope makers in your area. They would have the optical type abrasives that would do the job.

You can really get mould off optical glass with Brasso?

Thanks all

I have sent this off to Harald Hordosch at Seacam and they will look at this while doing the Seacam conversion.

The other thought I have after looking at the patent drawings is that this could represent failure of the lens cement due to cleaning solution leaking between the layers.

Apparently the glued elements can be separated, cleaned and re-cemented. I will post the outcome when the lens returns from the spa.

ian

Tim G

I would put trying to remove damaged lens coating towards the bottom of the list of possible repairs. Using a solvent to remove the coating would be preferable to abrading it off but to use a lens coating solvent would probably entail disassembly of the lens. Not a casual action. This lens is more complex than most interchangeable lens. There is the water sealing to be dealt with.
Since Nikon doesn't appear interested in doing a repair his options are somewhat limited. They would be.

Replacement of lens

Finding someone with sufficient skills and parts to repair the lens and especially the waterproofing

Removal of whatever the discolouration of the rear element is
Using the lens as is

Disassembly and selling as parts

Finding a garbage can.

Having, years ago, worked in a camera repair shop, I have seen others do this type of work. Always on a last hope basis. And that repair shop shut down this month. Retirement of owner.

Tim G

I would put trying to remove damaged lens coating towards the bottom of the list of possible repairs. Using a solvent to remove the coating would be preferable to abrading it off but to use a lens coating solvent would probably entail disassembly of the lens. Not a casual action. This lens is more complex than most interchangeable lens. There is the water sealing to be dealt with.

Since Nikon doesn't appear interested in doing a repair his options are somewhat limited. They would be.

Replacement of lens

Finding someone with sufficient skills and parts to repair the lens and especially the waterproofing

Removal of whatever the discolouration of the rear element is

Using the lens as is

Disassembly and selling as parts

Finding a garbage can.

 

Having, years ago, worked in a camera repair shop, I have seen others do this type of work. Always on a last hope basis. And that repair shop shut down this month. Retirement of owner.

Thanks R-B

I had an issue a couple of years ago with several Nikkor lenses having mould problems following a trip to the sweatiest place (I think) on the planet - Sabah rain forest. Foolishly I didn't put them in bags with silica gel. I had huge repair bills from Nikon and two lenses were written off including my beloved 60mm micro.

If Brasso might have been my saviour..... (sigh).... what might have been.......

This saga turns into an international thriller!

The lens was purchased fro Japan. It was described as having "some moisture."

Turns out the original problem was separation of the two rear elements due to a crack in the glass!

I sent this to Focal Point Lens Repair in Superior Colorado. John Van Stelten was able to disassemble the lens, but on heating to separate the elements, the front element cracked. (He had told me ahead of time this was a 10% risk.)

All this rendered the lens useless... but to the rescue came Rene Aumann in Salz Germany.

He was able to provide the element group in its mount, in perfect condition. At a reasonable price too. It must be the only spare part on earth.

So now all is good:)

The lens was modified by Harald Hordosch at Seacam, and I am using it on a Nauticam D800 housing with a Nauticam - Seacam port adapter. The combination works perfectly!

Scary times with $4500 invested

This must be the most travelled lens on the planet.