Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/11/07

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Subject: [Leica] OT: Fixing radioactive lenses
From: kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)
Date: Wed Nov 7 14:28:59 2007
References: <27347376-1AD0-40B7-B526-32A6572F1A6D@comcast.net>

On Nov 7, 2007, at 3:10 PM, Leonard Taupier wrote:

> I have an old Pentax 50/1.4 Super Takumar that has, over time,  
> yellowed due to one of the elements containing Thorium, a mildly  
> radioactive element. The addition of thorium makes a very high  
> refractive index glass, and a very good lens. This lens is probably  
> one of the most famous lenses with this element but I'm sure there  
> were more.
>
> The fix for removing the yellow cast to the lens is to expose it to  
> a UV source like sunlight or a UV light for a week or more. I have  
> been putting the lens in a window during the day and exposed to a  
> black light at night.


I'd use a black light 24h... as glass blocks UVB and some UVA....which  
is the active wavelength to rejuvenate the lens...?

Steve
>
>
> My question is concerning the glass used in my windows. They are  
> made of high E glass and have an air space between the double panes.  
> I know high E glass is supposed to suppress  Infra Red but I see no  
> info on if it passes Ultra Violet which is at the opposite end of  
> the light spectrum. Does anybody know?
>
> Thanks,
> Len
>
>
>
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In reply to: Message from len-1 at comcast.net (Leonard Taupier) ([Leica] OT: Fixing radioactive lenses)