A question about the Junost

Hello !
Photos from my Junost look somehow foggy; as there are obvious signs of a previous lens disassembling, I was considering the possibility of a misplaced/inverted glass – I went through this before.
So I took the camera to a reliable repairman (not especially knowledgeable in Russian cameras) and he stated that the lens frontal optical element was missing ! But he himself admitted that it was the first time he was holding a Junost…
The lens is deeply recessed and there is actually a groove on the ring a few milimeters from the existing glass, but I have no other Junost to compare, and the web photos of other Junost cameras are too small to check this detail.
The photos of my lens are here, I hope it shows the place of the existing lens

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/foto_apparat/Junost01.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/foto_apparat/Junost02.jpg

Can someone please confirm from these photos if the frontal lens element is really missing ? I am willing to post better photos, if necessary.
If a glass is really missing that’s a problem – it is not easy to find a parts Junost.
I’m grateful for any input on this subject.
Thanks in advance
Joao

P.S. I would say that a missing front element would cause more abnormalities in the photos than just a mild fog, but I am not so sure...

My dear Joao
Good to hear (read) a Camхes language speaking person!
Your picture are good but we cannot affirm the lens missing by them.
This lens is a traditional triplet lens (three element) formula used in several other cameras. the two outside elements are convex the internal is a double concave one. If you see concavity to the internal of the tube it will be clear the missing of the front element! But you say "somehow foggy". The absence of the front element causes only light to come in -NO IMAGE AT ALL!!!!!-
The "T-32" lens is the same as Apotar 3.5 45mm on Agfa Sillete and the Cassar/Dignar 3.5 45mm of Dacora Dignette and similar Ilford Sportsman
Best regards
Congratulationd for your great photos posted in Zenitcamera yahoogroups

Obrigado Luiz !
Thank you for the technical data on the Junost lens, it is very difficult to find reliable information about this model.
The front element of my camera is definitely convex, so it seems that I will not have to look for a replacement glass.
I will proceed to a careful cleaning of the lens, it may be enough to get some improvement.
Despite its bad reputation, I really like this camera. The only bad point is the way to attach the film leader to the winding spool - it often needs three hands to attach the film to the spool, I wonder who designed it that way...
Abraзo
Joao

Caro irmгo Lusofтnico
Perhaps the problem is very simple
The distance between internal elements are critical
so the lens who forms the image are doing it in the wrong place.
A common error for those who dismantle those lenses are the mispositioning of the central element. Try first to reverse it. The two curvvatures are similar but not identical. the same could happen with the rear element where each face have different radius it is rarer because the difference are clearly seen.
Abraзos Saъde e Grandes fotos!
LP

The schematics of "T-32" could be seen in Picture 32- 2 at
http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=86&ParentID=4&ContentID=718&Item=Lenses+Specifications+and+Comparison+Tables
Saudaзoes

Obrigado outra vez !
Your very informative answer will allow me to confidently diagnose and correct any misplacement of the lens elements. This will be done soon - but not today. I am heading to downtown Lisbon with a more trivial Zenit EM loaded with one of my last Fuji Neopan 400 rolls.
Abraзo
Joao