8mm Forum: Lens condensation

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Topic: Lens condensation

Jason Moffatt
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 104
From: Denham, Buckinghamshire, UK
Registered: Aug 2014

posted November 07, 2015 03:40 PM

Hi all, One of my projectors seems to get condensation in the lens when it gets warm from use and goes all cloudy and affects the image slightly.Then when it cools down it disapears.Is there any cure for this ?.

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 08, 2015 07:17 PM

It sounds something like there is moisture inside the lens and when the lens heats up it is evaporating into the internal air and condensing on the lens surface: just like fog on the mirrors when you run the shower too long.

This lens sounds like it's a prime candidate for lens fungus unless you dry out the jungle you have going on inside there.

I think the best thing to do is find it a westward facing windowsill and let it look at a couple of afternoon's sunshine. It will kill off fungus spores and hopefully bake the moisture out too.

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God

Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 08, 2015 09:45 PM

Steve, if the moisture is locked inside the lens and there is no way out, how can it get baked out?

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Winbert

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 09, 2015 08:03 AM

I never said it was locked in. The lens isn't air-tight after all. If it was how did the moisture get inside in the first place?

I am thinking if the lens is warmed it would raise the pressure of the moisture and slowly cause it to escape.

This is also a pretty standard therapy for fungus infected lenses and may stop something that almost should be underway if there is a damp internal environment.

It also may help to just put up with it during projection and let the projection lamp do some cooking! It might clear up after a while, and then you can do sunlight to kill any fungus spores.

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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David Ollerearnshaw
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1373
From: Penistone Sheffield UK
Registered: Oct 2012

posted November 09, 2015 09:40 AM

As we here in UK won't be getting much sunshine now, try getting some silica gel and sealing the lens in a freezer bag for a day or two.

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I love the smell of film in the morning.

http://www.thereelimage.co.uk/

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 09, 2015 10:49 AM

Ah!

-the grim days of Autumn! (The bleak days of winter will be here soon...)

I sympathize: in June I cut my lawn after work, now I can't even see my lawn after work!

I'd still run it in the machine first a while: the nasty little critters can't be too happy with a projection lamp blazing through their nice cool, dark space.

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted November 09, 2015 11:24 AM

What's a Lawn? [Big Grin]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Jason Moffatt
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 104
From: Denham, Buckinghamshire, UK
Registered: Aug 2014

posted November 09, 2015 01:37 PM

Ok, thanks for the advice everyone.I'll have a go with a silica bag.I would have thought if it would dissapear with heat then running it for a while in the projector would have worked but it does not seem to.Strange though as up to a few weeks ago the lens was perfectly allright.

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Jim Schrader
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1628
From: Savage, MN, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 09, 2015 02:38 PM

Steve would it be possible to put the lens in an oven that is preheated to 125f?

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jim schrader
"Let's see “do I have that title already?"

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Steve Klare
Film Guy

Posts: 7016
From: Long Island, NY, USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 09, 2015 04:18 PM

Sure, it's just an issue of patience!

-if 125F is good, then 250F must be twice as good!

I'd just take it easy on the temperature. There are bound to be things like adhesives in there than may become softened with temperature, but we have no idea what they are and when they'll become a problem.

The best solutions here are slow and steady ones.

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All I ask is a wide screen and a projector to light her by...

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted November 09, 2015 04:45 PM

you may recall i had fungus in my lens,(ohh err Mrs), i took the advice on here, put it in the sunlight every mid day onwards for a week and it completely cleared. i then did the same with all our projector lenses.
result [Wink]

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted November 09, 2015 06:44 PM

Wow, then I should be able to clear my lens in a couple of hours here in Florida! [Big Grin]

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Andrew Woodcock
Film God

Posts: 7477
From: Manchester Uk
Registered: Aug 2012

posted November 10, 2015 05:30 AM

Just watch you don't burn the place down Paul with all those lenses lined up in place! [Big Grin]

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"C'mon Baggy..Get with the beat"

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Tom Photiou
Film God

Posts: 4837
From: Plymouth U.K
Registered: Dec 2003

posted November 10, 2015 04:14 PM

on a serious note there, i did cover the tiny end with some tin foil to ensure it didn't act like a magnifying glass and start a fire. anything's possible.

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