Lens coatings are thin layers of material that are applied to the surface of camera lenses to improve their performance. These coatings can serve a variety of purposes, such as reducing reflections (flares). Increasing contrast, and protecting the lens from damage.
There are several different types of lens coatings, including anti-reflective coatings, which reduce reflections and glare; contrast-enhancing coatings, which improve the overall contrast of the image; and protective coatings, which help to prevent scratches and other types of damage to the lens. Some lenses may have multiple coatings that serve different purposes, or a single coating that serves multiple purposes.
Lens coatings are typically applied using a process called vacuum deposition. In which the coating material is vaporized and then deposited onto the lens surface in a vacuum chamber. The thickness of the coating is carefully controlled, to ensure that it performs optimally without affecting the image quality of the lens.
Vintage lenses are older camera lenses that were manufactured in the past. These lenses may not have the same coatings as modern lenses of course. Lens coatings have evolved over time and are now more advanced than they were in the past.
Vintage lenses may have single-coated or uncoated elements, which means that they do not have any coatings at all. Single-coated lenses have a single layer of coating applied to one or more of the lens elements, while uncoated lenses have no coatings at all.
Single-coated and uncoated lenses can produce images with lower contrast and more flare than modern, multi-coated lenses. However, some photographers appreciate the unique character and “look” of images produced with vintage lenses, and are willing to trade off some image quality for the aesthetic qualities of these lenses.
Not Always The Best Optics Or Lack Of Coatings Against Flare. Some old lenses have amazing optics and some do not. Some older manufacturers had a lot of tolerance from one lens to the other. This means you might get a good copy or viceversa not good.
A lot of this goes back to price. If you are spending a few euro on a lens it’s probably worth the gamble. But if you are paying a premium for a rare lens it can be risky and remember there is no warranty. These optics also includes multi, single, or even no coatings. The coatings on modern lenses really cut down flare and take a lot of the work out of worrying about it.
Keep this in mind when you are looking at a vintage version of a lens. If one is €25 and the other next to it is the same focal length and aperture but is €200 but has an “ MC ”. MC stands for multi coating, which generally will reduce flare, and improve lens quality.
