Is ANY fungus in a lense acceptable?

[number6]

Have read many times that some scratches often do not affect the image recorded from a lens. Was wondering if there is also a tolerable amount for fungus as well?

Also, can fungus be removed or does the affected glass have to be changed out?

[Pig]

If you have the tools, a manual, and the aptitude, "fungus" can be [mostly] cleaned off, although it depends largly on the severity and/or type of the "infection".

[Stephen Williams]

I don't know any lens tech who will touch an infected lens.

[number6]

Thanks, unfortunately, I am lacking in all three so I guess I may have to look to a professional if I can't get the seller to take it back. (Was sold "as is" but was also described as being in "excellent condition".)

[number6]

I don't know any lens tech who will touch an infected lens.

Ouch! just read this. It's either a successful return or becomes parts.

[Pig]

Stephen,
because of cross-contamination?
I believe that's largely over-rated.

I've cleaned a few low-cost lenses with no problems. But like I mentioned earlier, depending on the type of fungus and how severe the infection, it's sometimes best to toss the lens (or NOT buy it). Problem with a pre-purchase decision: you won't know until you've opened the thing up...

[Dan Hudgins]

It is possable to clean a lens if it is one that comes apart, some of the Asian newer lenses are glued together and do not come in cells that unscrew.

The glass may be marked by the acid the fungus makes, but the bigger issue is the fungus spreding into the viewfinder or chip coverglas, and being picked up from the lens mount and getting into all your other lenses.

You should clean the lens with alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, but it can be hard to clean the mount and iris, so after cleaning the lens should be kept in an air tight box with with one or more Dri-Can® Reusable Desiccant Canister and only taken out for use then put back in. Mark the desiccant cans with the name of that lens so you do not put them in with another lens by mistake.

You should keep all your lenses in air tight cans with Dri-Can® Reusable Desiccant Canister's all the time to reduce the risk of fungus forming.

Here is a link for the Dri-Can® Reusable Desiccant Canister,

http://www.multisorb.com/products/desiccants/cartridges/drican_html

There may be other sources of similar products.

If the RED (tm) lenses are made in Asia or have glued parts you would want to do all you can to aviod having to take them apart! Also some lenses will never look right after being taken apart since the element cells are adjusted on a special lens bench and only the manufacture can do the adjustments right then put a dab of glue on the rings to keep them in place.

See also my post about keeping the harddisks dry...

[number6]

It is possable to clean a lens if it is one that comes apart, some of the Asian newer lenses are glued together and do not come in cells that unscrew.

The glass may be marked by the acid the fungus makes, but the bigger issue is the fungus spreding into the viewfinder or chip coverglas, and being picked up from the lens mount and getting into all your other lenses.

You should clean the lens with alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, but it can be hard to clean the mount and iris, so after cleaning the lens should be kept in an air tight box with with one or more Dri-Can® Reusable Desiccant Canister and only taken out for use then put back in. Mark the desiccant cans with the name of that lens so you do not put them in with another lens by mistake.

You should keep all your lenses in air tight cans with Dri-Can® Reusable Desiccant Canister's all the time to reduce the risk of fungus forming.

Here is a link for the Dri-Can® Reusable Desiccant Canister,

http://www.multisorb.com/products/desiccants/cartridges/drican_html

There may be other sources of similar products.

If the RED (tm) lenses are made in Asia or have glued parts you would want to do all you can to aviod having to take them apart! Also some lenses will never look right after being taken apart since the element cells are adjusted on a special lens bench and only the manufacture can do the adjustments right then put a dab of glue on the rings to keep them in place.

See also my post about keeping the harddisks dry...

Thanks DANCAD3D, this is indeed an old lens (Nikon) and has many elements, so I'm sure it is screwed together instead of glued. May attempt the above if necessary after the holidays, but hopefully it will get successfully returned. Thanks for the very good information.

[Stephen Williams]

Stephen,
because of cross-contamination?
I believe that's largely over-rated.


Probably right but if you had $250,000 of lenses in your shop you would not really want to take the risk either!

Stephen

[Nick Gardner]

I understand that the contagious nature of the fungus on lenses is not the issue. All lenses have the potential for spores of fungus of many kinds. It is the conditions under which the lenses are stored that will or will not encourage the growth of fungus.

See Here for more on the subject:

http://www.mypentax.com/Fungus.html

[SIRAJ KUMKHE]

Fungus ? is it will affect picture quality of the lens ?
How it will appear inficted lens ( image) ?

[Pig]

...if you had $250,000 of lenses in your shop you would not really want to take the risk either!

You better believe it!