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[CJ]

 Just a confession:
 
I recently acquired a Fujica ST605 for $40 with a f/2.2 lens.
 
...So I decided to take the lens off tonight, because the finder was making things look yellow, and I figured I could clean the mirror and ground glass,

[Gary]

 CJ, Are you sure you actually scratched the plastic screen (fresnel)? Maybe you just smeared it with contaminants that were already on the screen? Maybe I'm off base here but I think if you gently used only small amounts of denatured alcohol or glass

[Wernerjb]

 Hi CJ, you are not alone, I have just damaged a 35 electro by trying to separate the lens barrel from the lens board, it is beyond repair and can now only be used as a spare part donor. I could kick myself, as everything on that camera was workin

[Paul Ron]

 Gee you guys are bitching about the cost of an education. If you didn't make that mistake, you'd learn nothing. So $40 to learn to leave well enough alone is not a bad price. You'll not make that mistake again.
 
Over the years I've destro

[Wernerjb]

 Making mistakes when learning by doing is mandatory, no question about that, but if one feels sorry for screwing up a camera one was working on for two days has absolutely nothing to do with the financial loss of that camera's price.  
No matter

[Rick]

 If you get to the point of removing the focusing screen from the camera, email me with its exact dimensions.  I have some leftovers of unknown heritage, maybe we'll get lucky and one will fit.
 
: ) =

[Paul Ron]

 Oh no not making fun of ya dude. We've all screwed up perfectly good working cameras, and cars, it part of the DIY course. Although the camera you've been working on is still functional, it's not a total loss but it's a lesson learned for t

[CJ]

Thank you, Rick. When I'm knowledgeable & brave enough to open the camera again, I'll measure the screen and let you know the dimensions. Months ago I passed-up a focusing screen while sifting through a parts bin. D'oh!!
 
pau

[Mike]

 CJ, I'm sorry to say that almost all 35mm camera fresnel screens are plastic, and very soft plastic at that. Only a few of the very first 35mm SLR's used glass for focusing and they are matte, not fresnel.  
 
I have certainly ruined a few

[Rick]

 ALL Fresnel lenses are plastic, at least on this kind of size scale.  They can make them in glass for railroad signal lenses and lighthouses, but anything requiring fine detail can only be done in plastic.  They are soft and sensitive to chemicals,

[Glenn Middleton]

 Having used ronsonol to remove any goo I clean my Canon screens in an ultrasonic cleaning bath.I just use water with a drop or two of washing-up liquid.Rinse in distilled water and air dry.No matter how you clean Fresnel screens always wipe with the Fres

[Stuart Willis]

 I think the subject has been pretty much done to death but in general you can say that if an acrylic fresnel screen (and very soft acrylic is what they are) gets dirty or contaminated and will not clean up with a blower brush - then nothing but nothing w

[Glenn Middleton]

 You can never say never in the restoration business.Sometimes the only way of removing contamination from a screen is to wipe using a suitable inert cleaning agent and applicator.Using a wiping action that is least likely to cause more damage or scratche

[Gary]

Another member of this forum just made reference to a good website that covers cleaning a plastic fresnel. Isopropyl alcohol was mentioned as a appropriate cleaner whereas denatured alcohol might well damage some plastic screens. Thus far I have been luck

[Leo Gottfried]

I do not believe you actually ruined the camera (I am telling you from my experience) - you just smeared the goo all over the place.
I had my cameras (2 pentaxes and a chinon) focusing screens cleaned with Goof Off2 - Warter Based - this is water based