Everything (almost??) is radioactive. It's just a matter of degree. /jnm
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Gary Reese
> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 8:39 AM
> To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [OM] Lens Tests - redos with OM-2S
>
>
> Chuck N. writes:
>
> << I give up. What's with the "radioactive elements" on the Pentax
> 50mm? Used to be owned by a Nevada uranium miner? Used for photos of
> nuclear blasts in Nevada? >>
>
> There were many examples of early ED glass produced from rare earth
> elements that are radioactive. Kodak "discovered" the properties of
> such glass in the mid 1930s and first used them in the WWII era Aero
> Ektar. Most radioactive lenses produced over the years have yellowed (or
> turned sea green) due to radioactive decay. The original Canon FD 35mm
> f/2 is a recent example of such a lens. Leica's first 50mm f/2
> Summicron-M used them in the mid 1950s. Both used thorium floride.
>
> The only possible OM System Zuiko to use radioactive elements would be
> the 55mm f/1.2, given its intense yellow color. But I don't have one to
> test on a Geiger counter.
>
> Gary Reese
> Las Vegas, NV
>
>
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