31 replies to this topic

[miguelGA1]

Hi all...

This Pentax XW eyepiece has an almost internal circular central haze with small pointed spots.

Could it be fungus?
What cleaning methods could I try?

Thank you

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by miguel gonzalez, 17 March 2025 - 09:22 AM.

[Jon Isaacs]

Hi all...

 

This Pentax XW eyepiece has an almost internal circular central haze with small pointed spots.

 

 

Miguel:

 

You say "almost internal circular central haze."  Do you think it's internal or external?  

 

If it is external, I would try the Roland Christen's (Astro-Physics) method for removing silver spots, a clean finger tip wet with saliva.  Your saliva has enzymes which can remove tough to clean spots.  Follow it immediately by rinsing it will alcohol.  

 

Jon

[miguelGA1]

Hi Jon...

Its internal.

[MrsM75]

Can you turn and remove the lower part of the eyepiece, then you should see the upper lens, see if it on the other side of the lens (under that part where you need to turn to remove).

[scottinash]

as info:

https://www.cloudyni...ning/?p=9675750

[miguelGA1]

as info:
https://www.cloudyni...ning/?p=9675750

Wow...

[russell23]

Did you get this new. If so return it. You should not have to clean one of these.

[miguelGA1]

I bought it used at C.N.

I trusted the seller too much but it's too late.

I have contacted Pentax technical service in Spain and they are going to give me a quote.

I think I'll pass the invoice to the seller.

Edited by miguel gonzalez, 17 March 2025 - 11:58 AM.

[areyoukiddingme]

I think the seller should take it back, or compensate you for the repair.

[russell23]

I think the seller should take it back, or compensate you for the repair.

Right, external dust is one thing, but internal fogging and dust or spots is a different issue a buyer should not expect.

[csrlice12]

Maybe they're embedded photons from lots of use.....

[PJBilotta]

as info:
https://www.cloudyni...ning/?p=9675750

[PJBilotta]

I've actually used this post to disassemble and clean two other Pentax XWs that had internal issues.

I figured the eyepiece was already flawed, so nothing to lose in trying. With a $12 camera retaining ring tool, a clean workspace, and methodical patience disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling each element and spacer, they turned out good as new.

[Scott99]

I think the seller should take it back, or compensate you for the repair.

My preference would be to return the eyepiece to the seller for refund and let him deal with repairs. 

 

He may not be willing to pay a repair bill.  If the price is high he might balk & refuse to pay.    It looks like some kind of dust or debris particles.  How did they get in there I wonder? 

Edited by Scott99, 19 March 2025 - 01:41 PM.

[miguelGA1]

I have sent the eyepiece to Pentax technical service. I await your news.

Returning it to the seller from Spain is not an option.

I don't think I'll say anything to the seller. I have learned many lessons thanks to this purchase:

1.- You must take care of the eyepieces from humidity and fungi, let them dry well before storing them. There is a lot of information in C.N.

2.- It seems that the old Pentax XW models are not waterproof.

3.- Not believing a used item seller 100% when they say: "it is in excellent condition."

Edited by miguel gonzalez, 20 March 2025 - 07:45 AM.

[payner]

Thoughts on point 2 & 3. All Pentax XW are only water resistant, they are not waterproof. Whenever a used item is for sale I'm interested in I look for descriptions of the condition, not just a one-word adjective. If that is all there is and I am still interested I will ask my own probing questions.

[kasprowy]

I bought a 20XW off of classifieds and it had the same problem. I wound up getting a spanner wrench to remove the retainer ring, and then carefully let all of the lenses gently fall into my hand, with lens cleaner paper in between. I was able to clean the offending lens with acetone, reassemble it correctly, and it works like almost new now. The hardest part was breaking the glue-seal to get the ring loose. It's no longer waterproof (or water resistant, if you want to get into the semantics of that), but I wasn't taking it out in the rain with a spotter scope anyway. Before the cleaning it was fine on deepsky, but you'd notice scatter on bright objects. From the pattern and how easily it came off, it seemed like mositure stains.

[kasprowy]

I've actually used this post to disassemble and clean two other Pentax XWs that had internal issues.

I figured the eyepiece was already flawed, so nothing to lose in trying. With a $12 camera retaining ring tool, a clean workspace, and methodical patience disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling each element and spacer, they turned out good as new.

That's exactly what I did as well. When you have nothing to lose, you get a lot braver and more confident in your repair skills.

[PJBilotta]

I bought a 20XW off of classifieds and it had the same problem. I wound up getting a spanner wrench to remove the retainer ring, and then carefully let all of the lenses gently fall into my hand, with lens cleaner paper in between. I was able to clean the offending lens with acetone, reassemble it correctly, and it works like almost new now. The hardest part was breaking the glue-seal to get the ring loose. It's no longer waterproof (or water resistant, if you want to get into the semantics of that), but I wasn't taking it out in the rain with a spotter scope anyway. Before the cleaning it was fine on deepsky, but you'd notice scatter on bright objects. From the pattern and how easily it came off, it seemed like mositure stains.

When I have had to repair Pentaxes and several other eyepieces, and after removing the retaining rings, I insert an old film canister or pill bottle (cloth covered) into the barrel, invert the eyepiece, and then lift the housing up. This results in all of the lenses and spacing rings sliding out of the housing as a single layered stack on top of the bottle - much like a layer cake on a stand. This insures that all the lenses and spacers stay in the proper order and orientation.

 

Once this is done, I take a photo of the stack, and then carefully and methodically un-stack the lenses and elements into a line on a soft, lint-free cloth, taking care to keep them in the same order and same orientation. Then, start your cleaning with the bottom element, being careful to maintain its orientation, and stack it back on the bottle. Follow this same process as you clean, re-stacking the lenses and spacers in the same order. You end up with a freshly cleaned stack on top of the bottle in the exact same order and orientation as when they came out. Carefully slide the housing back over the stack (may take some jiggling), and use the bottle to hold the stack in place as you re-invert the housing. Replace your retaining ring, and you're good to go!

Edited by PJBilotta, 20 March 2025 - 05:23 PM.

[miguelGA1]

The Pentax technical service in Spain has informed me that they made a query to Pentax Europe.
The resolution is that the eyepiece cannot be disassembled.

They offer me a new eyepiece for €175 plus taxes (VAT)

Edited by miguel gonzalez, 10 April 2025 - 06:37 AM.

[Traveler]

Fantastic service!
I say: go for it and do forget your bad experience fast.

[PJBilotta]

That sounds like a great deal from Pentax. I would definitely accept the offer and enjoy your new 30mm.

 

Then, you can send me the damaged one, and I'll take it apart and clean it!

[miguelGA1]

They already told me that they were left with the damaged eyepiece.

[Illinois]

Wow! That’s bad! I would get it back to seller and get money back.  Be careful the price look too good but beware! 

[Jon Isaacs]

I have sent the eyepiece to Pentax technical service. I await your news.

Returning it to the seller from Spain is not an option.

I don't think I'll say anything to the seller. I have learned many lessons thanks to this purchase:

1.- You must take care of the eyepieces from humidity and fungi, let them dry well before storing them. There is a lot of information in C.N.

2.- It seems that the old Pentax XW models are not waterproof.

3.- Not believing a used item seller 100% when they say: "it is in excellent condition."

 

When I read a short description that simply says, "Excellent condition". Minty, Like New In Box. or something similar, I am skeptical. 

 

I like a detailed description particularly of any flaws including photos.  That tells me the seller is more interested in me being happy than with making as much money as possible.  

 

Some years ago, I bought a 35mm Panoptic on astromart for $175 shipped.  The seller had reduced the price because he felt the eyepiece needed to go back to TeleVue for cleaning... When I received the eyepiece, it just had a little dust on the eye lens and was otherwise in very good to excellent condition.  I cleaned it myself. 

 

Jon