large radioactive camera lens (thorium 232)
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]
Tags: 232, alpha, atom, atoms, beta, cam, camera, decay, gamma, instamatic, ionizing, kamera, Kodak, lens, nuclear, Photo, physics, radiation, radioactive, radioactivity, radioaktiv, radioaktivität, science, Super, tape, Th, thorium, uran, uranium, video, webcam, webcamera, yashica
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
I like to collect …
I like to collect radioactive things too
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
i have no comment …
i have no comment for this besides ENCORE!
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
check out the ORAU …
check out the ORAU site which tells you all consumer radioactive products!! silly americans, radium is for smart people!
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
COOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!
COOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
lol, i know
lol, i know
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
wtf. but like …
wtf. but like ascannerclearly and those dont have the w/ alert and they do make a click… so wtf?
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
sweeeeeeeeeeeet now …
sweeeeeeeeeeeet now you have no excuse not to try my experiment with the other one!
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Your brain excites …
Your brain excites me. How did you hear of thorium lenses?
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
cuz it makes a …
cuz it makes a noise (there’s a cheaper version with no audible click or alarm).
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
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 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
why is your …
why is your dosimeter w/ alert
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
do you/ did you go …
do you/ did you go to university?
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
lol, dont worry …
lol, dont worry about it.
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
ooooh!
*runs away …
ooooh!
*runs away embarrased*
October 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
lol, nope. =)
it’s …
lol, nope. =)
it’s just a note block of paper, not the actual medication. it’s a freebie for doctors who prescribe the stuff… not that i am a doctor, but i scored this at a hospital. i love having medical notes like a doctor. ^_^