Dust Particle on Anamorphic Lens

E

ericcosh

Well-known member
I just noticed that I have a white speck on the "inside" of my AG-LA7200 Anamorphic Lens. I hadn't noticed it before this evening. It's very visable located (looking through the lens)about the 2 oclock position halfway between the center and the edge of the lens.

Has anyone else had this problem?

eric
 
Re: Dust Particle on Anamorphic Lens

The history of Panasonic's anamorphic is filled with stories of dust within the elements. It is less of a problem now, but in the beginning I understand that almost all lenses were suspect. Even today, lenses are often returned for dust problems and many rental facilities have abandoned them altogether (also for focusing problems, which, by the way, has pretty much been solved by Barry Green's great reference work on the subject...which I also just purchased...and it's as great as everyone says).
I returned my anamorphic more than a couple of times for dust. If you do get dirt (or dust), sometimes it is only visible if you are stopped way down. It's less noticable in interiors when your lens is opened further and has less depth of field. Unfortunately, as you already know, Panasonic's anamorphic is the only game in town right now. I have heard that Panasonic sometimes exchanges the defective lenses, but it has to be sent to them for their review, which may cause you some down time.
 
Re: Dust Particle on Anamorphic Lens

i had the same problem.. couldn't find even one clean lens in town. it's of course appears to be be more problematic when using close iris (i.e 8 - 16) as dof gets greater.
what you should do is, in a clean environment and very very carefully, open the lens, taking off the rare (small) lens part, and clean both the rare and middle lenses. it looks too difficult to reach further to the inside of the third, front lens, but this little dismantle i described is not so difficult and helped to clean most of the lens.
 
 
Re: Dust Particle on Anamorphic Lens

Shai:

Very bad idea if you hope to get it fixed under warranty. When they clean a lens, they do it in a "clean room". The only time I would even consider doing what you suggest is if it was "out of warranty" and they were going to charge me more than the lens is worth (which by the way, Canon tried to do with me years ago) and at that point, you've got to figure what do you have to lose?

Cyclone: Yes I am familar with the Panasonic problem in the past, but I thought they had it fixed. With regard to Barry's article, I agree. I think anyone who is either now or plans to shoot 16x9 Anamorphic should purchase the text. It's very well written and one of the best deals out there.
 
Re: Dust Particle on Anamorphic Lens

[quote author=ericcosh link=board=Events;num=1091847911;start=0#3 date=08/07/04 at 08:43:25]Shai:

Very bad idea if you hope to get it fixed under warranty. When they clean a lens, they do it in a "clean room". The only time I would even consider doing what you suggest is if it was "out of warranty" and they were going to charge me more than the lens is worth (which by the way, Canon tried to do with me years ago) and at that point, you've got to figure what do you have to lose?
[/quote]

should i add - on your own risk.
when you have to start shooting in 4 hours and can't get another clean lens, what then? shooting with dust particles in the frame?? how much does a shooting day worth? how much a week shooting worth? how much your own work worth? -- make the calculations and decide for yourself.
 
Re: Dust Particle on Anamorphic Lens

Hi Shai:

There are always situations where we have to fly by the seat of our pants, and most of us have had to do extreme things under such conditions. If I had "rented" a lens, and it was the only show in town, I was where I couldn't get a replacement, etc... then of course you were completey justified in doing what you did.

What I was talking about is if this is "your" piece of equipment, unless you're willing to blow the warranty for a shoot, it's a very dangerous thing to do. As you can image Shai, someone out there may read your post and think "Oh, I see some dust on the inside of my Anamorphic Lens. I'll just unscrew those 6 tiny screws and take the lens apart and blow it out and put it back together again and it will be like new"! NOT THAT SIMPLE. But I do see your point in your situation.
 
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