Ooooh. Now that's an idea

Just for the record, the thread I think you're referring to is:
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=266&highlight=cs205

The thing I find really helpful is a 2.5mm stereo headphone extension lead. Cost pennies, and works a treat, even though I have a genuine CS-205 cable release

Glad it helped
Matt

Have you tried new or different batteries at all?
Matt

(PS I moved the thread into the appropriate section )

It looks like the frame is in the centre of the image, not the candle.
Was it with centre-only focus point?
Matt

Tom,
There's the sister site www.ephotozine.com that does exactly that
I've benefitted greatly from that site
Matt

Well, I've applied some Eclipse. I haven't managed to work out how to remove the element, but that doesn't seem to matter too much.
I found that using my thumbnail I could scratch off the deposit that was clouding the glass - still can't work out if it is a deposit, or one of the coating layers. It needed quite a lot of force, but the lens has cleaned up reasonably well.
There are still some trace marks, but overall it seems perfectly usable now. At least it doesn't warrant binning it, which is something!

If anyone has any more information on what causes this, or if there's anything else I can try to clean it up - do let me know!

And a huge thank you to Kim for being so patient with my lens disassembly skills

Matt

Ok, there are some more images: http://www.pbase.com/mattmatic/smcpfa2870f4

I'm puzzled here.
I might try some Eclipse solution on the element to see what happens with it. It would be great if it could be cleaned without more disassembly, but if you have any ideas what comes out next, that'd be great

Matt

Kim - they aren't holes. They are witness marks from the moulding. There are four little "fingers" sticking up, and it's only a couple of mm thick, and really not much to get a grip on. It's quite soft plastic, and I can't seem to find a way to budge it. The last thing I want to do is apply too much torque and rip the plastic

[edit] Just managed to do it. Two finger nails applying constant pressure and it unscrews
Now I can see the dud element more clearly. In fact, I can even feel it with my fingernail. Either there's a deposit on it, or it's been etched. Can't work out which, but I think the lens cloth has removed some of the stuff. It'd be easier to clean if I can get that out... so that's the next stage It appears to be held in by a piece of plastic that has three "pips" that fit into the tube where I just removed the rear element from. Whether it unscrews or unclips I can't quite see at the minute.

Might be able to get a clearer image today.
Matt

Thanks Kim
Saved for tomorrow's attempts
Matt

Thanks Kim. I can't immediately see a ring around the rear elements - either that or it's too far inside. I'll check it tomorrow, and maybe post some more photos.
Matt