large radioactive camera lens (thorium 232)
October 26, 2009 - 11:21 am
i scored this lovely old camera at a flea market. the lens partly consists of the radioactive element thorium.
by adding thorium to the lens glass, a high refractive index could be achieved while maintaining a low dispersion. thus, radioactive camera lenses used to be state-of-the-art in high-demand photography.
oh, and here’s a better picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bionerd/3887528914/
Duration : 0:2:57
[youtube OWgYhQnRcWM]
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
haha, nice, i bet …
haha, nice, i bet that comment took a while
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
a few uSv/h at max. …
a few uSv/h at max… i wouldnt worry too much about that, unless your EYEPIECE actually contains thorium – this is very seldom the case though, as that was illegal to do. this could do damage to your eyes (e.g. cataract), however, as the eyes are very sensitive to ionizing radiation.
otherwise, it’s not too much of a concern to take photos with these cameras.
many old / analog SLR / TLR cameras contain thorium lenses, by the way; it’s not just yashica.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I buy Yashicas …
I buy Yashicas whenever i see them, because they take awesome low light pictures with those huge lenses. I had no idea I’ve been irradiating myself. What is the level of exposure when the camera is put together, measuring from the back?
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I like to collect …
I like to collect radioactive things too
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
i have no comment …
i have no comment for this besides ENCORE!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
you silly americium …
you silly americium, radium is for curium people, like einsteinium!
i heard californium are very nobelium people, though?
i hope i’m not bohrium you. seaborgium you later, polonium!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
check out the ORAU …
check out the ORAU site which tells you all consumer radioactive products!! silly americans, radium is for smart people!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
COOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!
COOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
yeah I know you …
yeah I know you have 3 versions of it. normal, w/alert and online.
Ive seen their great site. I wanna buy an used gamma scout (with alert), because the new ones cost like…. WAY TOO MUCH!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Ok, im sorry for …
Ok, im sorry for being preachy, thats not my intention.
Ive just heard of people underestimating the reaction with larger amounts based on experience with smaller amounts and allmost loosing a eye and getting some painful burns.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
lol, i know
lol, i know
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
they’re using the …
they’re using the US version. there’s only one US version AFAIK. we have three different versions of the gamma scout here in germany. the gamma scout is a german product.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
wtf. but like …
wtf. but like ascannerclearly and those dont have the w/ alert and they do make a click… so wtf?
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
true, but we’re …
true, but we’re already planning to do a more advanced experiment; that is, with LEDs that emit everything throughout the spectrum, from UV to IR, to see what has an influence.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
well, i knew that …
well, i knew that old watches contained radium, so i got increasingly curious about what other consumer products may be radioactive… and thats how i found out about thorium lenses, too. =)
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
sweeeeeeeeeeeet now …
sweeeeeeeeeeeet now you have no excuse not to try my experiment with the other one!
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Large amounts 0_o
…
Large amounts 0_o
Be careful dude, pea sized amounts wizzing about in water dont seem that dangerous, but having a couple of 100gm of that stuff in your hand is a different story, there is a reason you keep it in parafin oil.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Your brain excites …
Your brain excites me. How did you hear of thorium lenses?
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
awesome! not …
awesome! not related, but i am going to be making my own sodium metal soon. i’ll most likely drop large quantaties of it in water and upload it to youtube. I wish I had better luck finding stuff like that. No radium watchhands at my antique store, no old cameras either.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
cuz it makes a …
cuz it makes a noise (there’s a cheaper version with no audible click or alarm).
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
nope.
not even …
nope.
not even high school. o_O
if you go by my educational papers, i cant even speak english. ^_^
oh wait, actually, i sneaked into psychology and IT at uni a couple of times – but i guess you were referring to me being a proper university student, right? =)
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
why is your …
why is your dosimeter w/ alert
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
do you/ did you go …
do you/ did you go to university?
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
lol, dont worry …
lol, dont worry about it.
October 26th, 2009 at 11:21 am
ooooh!
*runs away …
ooooh!
*runs away embarrased*