The rear element of a Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye is shattered. What can I do to be able to continue using this lens?
I know it is a clear filter. It cannot simply be removed because it is an essential component of this lens – hence it is the rear element. The lens is physically incapable of being adjusted to focus to infinity without a filter present. Note that the filter is represented in the optical design:
Image from All Photo Lenses.
Non-viable solutions:
Attempt to obtain a replacement clear filter online. Filter sets available for sale consist only of the colored filters. Likely people are selling the colored filters, but keeping the clear filter for use with another copy of the lens.
Obtain a broken copy of same lens for replacement parts. Most lenses being sold for parts are "broken" because they are missing the rear filter.
This question is not a duplicate of the following questions.
- Front element shattered, can I have my lens repaired?
- Can the front glass on a broken lens be repaired?
- Is my Nikon 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6G lens with broken front glass beyond repair?
Owners of this lens can face cannot simply throw the filter away, as they would with the lenses in the questions above, because the filter is an essential part of the optical design.