Green Tint in Viewfinder
Jul 13, 2020 13:52:44 #
BryGuy
Loc: Buckeye, AZ
Good morning!
I have recently retrieved my old Minolta StSi film camera to put back into a little use. I was able to get a battery and get the camera functioning properly again, but I do notice a green tint when looking through the viewfinder. Is anyone familiar with this phenomena? I am wondering if this is a mirror issue or just the viewfinder. Is there a solution? I just don't want to waste a lot of film with green haze if I can resolve prior to use.
-Thank you!
I have recently retrieved my old Minolta StSi film camera to put back into a little use. I was able to get a battery and get the camera functioning properly again, but I do notice a green tint when looking through the viewfinder. Is anyone familiar with this phenomena? I am wondering if this is a mirror issue or just the viewfinder. Is there a solution? I just don't want to waste a lot of film with green haze if I can resolve prior to use.
-Thank you!
Jul 13, 2020 14:08:52 #
The viewfinder path is different than the film path. There may be something in the viewfinder path that is not in the film path. For a film camera with no film in it, open the back and with the selector on bulb, press the shutter release. You can see from the back through the lens. If there is no green tint, the film won't be affected.
Jul 13, 2020 23:01:58 #
My first thought was the viewfinder had "aged" which sends glass towards the yellowish-green spectrum. But, if you do a search on Google will find this is not an unusual occurrence, although doesn't seem to be any good causes or suggestions. I think PHRubin has best suggestion. Obvious question but you don't have a filter on the camera?
Jul 14, 2020 08:43:09 #
Since your Minolta is a SLR, anything that is on the mirror or in the viewfinder will not show up in your film. Just think of it as being an annoyance but won't affect the final image.
Jul 14, 2020 09:45:57 #
My guess it was left in a hot place, like an attic.
I had an Olympus with the same problem. The pictures were fine.
I had an Olympus with the same problem. The pictures were fine.
Jul 14, 2020 12:04:15 #
alberio wrote:
My guess it was left in a hot place, like an attic.
I had an Olympus with the same problem. The pictures were fine.
I had an Olympus with the same problem. The pictures were fine.
The obvious solution is for the OP to get new eyeglasses with a complementary color coating.
Jul 14, 2020 14:00:35 #
Many of my rangefinder film cameras have a slightly bluish tint in the viewfinder. Not really a big deal.
Jul 14, 2020 18:03:46 #
Race Raccoon
Loc: Yankton, South Dakota
Some of the early Minolta MC & MD lens coating were problematic. I found this on "The Rokkor Files" site.
"The quality of the coatings on these lenses (early MC & MD) is as a general rule not as good as those on later MC and MD lenses, and in some cases radioactive compounds of thorium and lanthanum were added to the glass mixture to increase the refractive index. This is apparent in some of the faster lenses such as the 58mm f/1.2 and 85mm f/1.7, where some early versions that included this glass have had their radioactive ingredients progressively decay, discolouring the glass, and giving the images taken with the affected lenses a very warm cast."
Most describe the discoloration as "yellowing". I have one such lens & viewing through it there is a noticeable yellow cast as are the photos taken w/that particular lens. It's a very nice lens otherwise, but is unusable to me in its current state.
"The quality of the coatings on these lenses (early MC & MD) is as a general rule not as good as those on later MC and MD lenses, and in some cases radioactive compounds of thorium and lanthanum were added to the glass mixture to increase the refractive index. This is apparent in some of the faster lenses such as the 58mm f/1.2 and 85mm f/1.7, where some early versions that included this glass have had their radioactive ingredients progressively decay, discolouring the glass, and giving the images taken with the affected lenses a very warm cast."
Most describe the discoloration as "yellowing". I have one such lens & viewing through it there is a noticeable yellow cast as are the photos taken w/that particular lens. It's a very nice lens otherwise, but is unusable to me in its current state.
Jul 14, 2020 18:41:42 #
Front surface silvered mirrors can "tarnish" or discolor with age.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.