Argh! Tokina 11-16 causes blob!

AJQS

AJQS

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Alan
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When I first noticed this I thought it was a rain drop on the lens (as it had just strated to spot with rain), however I've just picked up this lens again and at small apertures there is a major blob in images - and it's NOT on the sensor, all other lenses don't show it at all, it's only with the 11-16!

Where can I send it to have it checked out? I can't see anything on the glass that would cause this, I'm thinking it could be oil from the aperture blades possibly? It moves position when zooming! :(

This is my favourite lens, I don't want to have to scrap it! :'(



 
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Yes - the spot becomes larger and softer as the aperture opens, till it's no longer visible below f4.
 
Is it on the barrel (camera) end on that glass rather than t'other end?

If it's not on any other lens at any other aperture then it has to be some crud of some kind on/in the tokina.
 
srichards said:
Is it on the barrel (camera) end on that glass rather than t'other end?

If it's not on any other lens at any other aperture then it has to be some crud of some kind on/in the tokina.
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It's definitely something inside it. :(
 
Can you repeat the effect everytime, or was it a one-off? Looks on/in the lens and high f/numbers pull it into sharper focus, but if it's not summat blowing in the wind, surprised you can't see it. Could it be attached to the aperture blades in some way, so only visible on stopping down?
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Do Fixation do Tokina? Certainly is a PITA!
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Sorry, no idea, I kind of meant a specialist repairer like them, due to Tokina not having a UK office, rather than Fixation specifically. Might be worth asking them anyway as its a clean out job rather than, hopefully, one that requires parts. :thinking:

I did just do some very quick googling though, and this came up from a couple of years ago, which may be of some help :shrug: http://www.robbolershootspeople.com...t_id=116957&post_id=8715&action=view_comments
 
Yv said:
Sorry, no idea, I kind of meant a specialist repairer like them, due to Tokina not having a UK office, rather than Fixation specifically. Might be worth asking them anyway as its a clean out job rather than, hopefully, one that requires parts. :thinking:

I did just do some very quick googling though, and this came up from a couple of years ago, which may be of some help :shrug: http://www.robbolershootspeople.com...t_id=116957&post_id=8715&action=view_comments
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Their website still works so I've sent them a message. :thumbs:
 
PaulButler said:
I've used these before for a Tokina lens and I thought they were good http://www.camerarepairworkshop.co.uk/
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If you can look thru the lens and you don't see anything OBVIOUS (as in really obvious) it's not on the lens....
Here's an example of how lens dirt/defects can affect things...
http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

You don't have to believe me, but sending the lens off to get repaired will be a waste of money. Get a bulb blower and blow off the sensor... that may be enough and it's basic maintenance.
 
try another ultra wide lens on the body. maybe it's shows up only at 11-16mm length ? maybe?
 
I'm going to get shot down in flames here, but if you think it's the lens and it'd cost you money to find out anyway, might as well give the thing a good blast of compressed air and see if it shifts anything..... ?
 
sk66 said:
If you can look thru the lens and you don't see anything OBVIOUS (as in really obvious) it's not on the lens....
Here's an example of how lens dirt/defects can affect things...
http://kurtmunger.com/dirty_lens_articleid35.html

You don't have to believe me, but sending the lens off to get repaired will be a waste of money. Get a bulb blower and blow off the sensor... that may be enough and it's basic maintenance.
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Note that the blob changes position with focal length setting. That wouldn't happen with anything on the sensor.
 
HoppyUK said:
Note that the blob changes position with focal length setting. That wouldn't happen with anything on the sensor.
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Exactly this :thumbs: although what is actually going on inside the lens is a mystery, I've had lenses with all manner of debris in them before now and not suffered any headache!
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Exactly this :thumbs: although what is actually going on inside the lens is a mystery, I've had lenses with all manner of debris in them before now and not suffered any headache!
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It's a strange one for sure, but maybe post #11 - summat stuck to the aperture blades? Have you had a good look with the diaphragm stopped down?
 
HoppyUK said:
It's a strange one for sure, but maybe post #11 - summat stuck to the aperture blades? Have you had a good look with the diaphragm stopped down?
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I THINK I've found it, a black mark on the inside of the front element. Getting the macro gear out now to have a peek! :D

gramps said:
The Lens Doctor is a little slow with emails but reportedly very thorough and well priced.
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Good to know :thumbs:
 
Looks fairly visible to me... :D And conclusive. But black (oil?) rather than dust?

V unusual though. I've seen bits on the lens visible in fish-eye images, with massive depth of field, but I guess f/22 on a super-wde is similar.

Edit: if it was me, I'd have a go at cleaning that myself. Front element group usually comes out quite easily when you peel away the front bezel. There are a few pictorial guides around if you search, eg Canon 17-55/2.8 that's prone to dust inside.
 
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Front group comes out dead easy....but you can't separate the front element from it. I suspect this is going to be an expensive fix :(

 
Yv said:
Thats a funny looking sensor you got there Alan.... :eek: ;)


Seriously though, very obvious on that image, but what the hell it is and how it got there is anyones guess :shrug:
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Absolute mystery, the assembly is sealed, there's no way into it, so must have been there from the factory :shake:

I've fired off a tentative email to Daymen, Tokina's only UK distributor asking about spares but I suspect a new lens is going to be the only viable answer.
 
Good man :thumbs:

Looks like it might be a fleck off the plastic moulding in manufacture that has found its way on to the glass over time. Wonder if you could maybe give it a gentle tap and get it to lodge out of the way around the edge at the bottom?
 
Would not surprise me if it were left over from one of those pesky little flies I once had ruin a laptop screen, by somehow getting between the LCD and the backlight and then proceeding to leave a mess in it's wake..... Bloody things!! :lol:
 
Just an update to say that not one of the repair companies contacted have ever bothered replying. I did get a response from the Tokina importer but only to say it would need to go through a dealer. :bang:
 
save yourself the hassle. Put it through ebay with appropriate description and buy another.
P.s. those 2 shots are incredibly soft. You are either totally front focusing it or it is simply completely screwed.
 
Alan Clogwyn said:
Just an update to say that not one of the repair companies contacted have ever bothered replying. I did get a response from the Tokina importer but only to say it would need to go through a dealer. :bang:
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Great PR work from Tokina:thumbsdown:. Think I'll avoid them from now on.
 
I hope you used the vernier calipers to measure the size of lens spanner you needed to get the element out!


Steve.
 
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