Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Javier, I doubt whether any currently produced Leitz, or any other manufacturer's, lenses would awaken the sensor on a geiger counter today. But, back in the 1950's the fast Aero Ektar lenses sold by Kodak for their large format aerial cameras used a radioactive glass to achieve their required high speed. If you put a geiger counter near one of them, it sounds like a flock of woodpeckers all landed on one tree and started making a home at the same time. No, the radiation isn't really harmful to humans unless you slept with the lens under your pillow at night for 10 years, then maybe. Cell phone usage is probably more dangerous than sleeping with your Aero Ektar, but then again who really knows -- the verdict is still out on that one. There aren't any lenses that I have ever heard of that would be considered dangerous or "too hot to handle or use". Rob McElroy Buffalo, NY Javier Perez wrote: > Howdy > Does anybody know how radioactive Leitz lenses are? > Are they more or less hot than Japanese or Eastern European lenses? > Were there any standards for this? I would assume that the less safety oriented > east block lenses are hotter but I'm not sure. Finally, are there any commercial > > production lenses past or present out there that might be too hot to handle! > See Ya > Javier > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. > http://im.yahoo.com