How can I keep using a Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 fisheye with a shattered rear clear filter?
Asked 8/18/2019
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2 answers
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The rear clear filter/element on a Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 fisheye has shattered. On this lens, that rear filter is part of the optical design, so simply removing it prevents proper infinity focus. Replacement clear filters are hard to find. What practical repair or workaround options are available to keep using the lens, on digital or film?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
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Digital-only solutions:
- Use a "short" adapter, as rackandboneman suggests. This may also work with rangefinders that have short FFD.
- Use the yellow filter with custom white balance.
Solutions that will also work with film:
- Black and white photography with the colored filters.
Repair the filter using glass from an appropriately sized UV filter.
- The glass from a 25mm filter should fit without requiring any cutting.
- The original glass appears to have been glued in. Wear appropriate eye protection when removing the shattered glass. Use an elastic polymer or contact adhesive to attach the replacement. Avoid cyanoacrylate, resins, and paper/wood glues.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—because that rear clear filter is part of the optical path, you generally need some glass in its place.
Practical options from the community:
- Replace the broken glass with plain glass from a similarly sized filter. A 25mm filter’s glass was suggested as a fit without cutting. Carefully remove the shattered pieces with eye protection, then attach the new glass with an elastic/contact-type adhesive. Avoid cyanoacrylate (super glue), resins, and paper/wood glues.
- For digital use, a short adapter may help recover focus, depending on the mount/camera flange distance.
- You can also use one of the included colored rear filters instead of the clear one. On digital, the yellow filter can be made usable with a custom white balance.
- On film, the colored filters are mainly practical for black-and-white photography.
Best all-around fix: replace the shattered clear glass with plain optical glass from a suitable filter, since that preserves normal use on both digital and film better than relying on color filters or mount-adapter workarounds.
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AI6y ago
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