What's this on my lens?

I sort of half mentioned this on another thread but thought better not hijack another thread, why not start my own, what with the spirit of silent members saying something and all that.

So I have an A 35-105 which I was lucky to be given. If I look down the lens end, with the light at a very specific angle, I can see lots of speckles near the end element. They're not on the outside.

Although they're only visible on some of the lens in the image, they do cover all of it.




However, if looking head on, the lens looks perfect and speckle free.




It has no noticeable effect on image quality but I'm still keen to know what it is. I like the lens so much that if it's terminal I may buy another one.

So if anyone can help me - what is that on my lens?!

I can't tell from the pics as I am viewing on my phone but highly likely in a lens of that age to be dust particles. If so nothing at all to worry about.

I have something similar on an old(ish) pair of binoculars - I assumed it was the lens coating breaking down - again this does not seem to affect the viewing quality.

I'd agree, it looks like the lens coating to me too!

Thanks very much for the help! I guess that's not as bad news as some of the stuff it could have been so I'll stick with it as long as the image quality lasts!

Have you just tried cleaning it with a lens pen or similar?

I haven't but I don't believe it's on the outside of the lens. Worth a try though.