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Help for lens fungus?

Barbie Heid

Barbie Heid

Well-Known Member
Hello all! I have a question but not about a particular lens. I inherited my dad's gear when he passed away last year, and I found a lens that I can really use, but it has fungus, about a six small spots. It is *not* affecting my images (yet; I tried it on numerous backgrounds), but will leaving it in the sun really help, or exposing it to UV light? I have access to a laboratory-grade UV light if I need one. Obviously, he hadn't stored it well, but I use silica bags, so it won't go any further. Just hope I can save it. Thanks!
 
I think the only surefire way to make the lens fungus-free and safe to store with other lenses, would be to disassemble it and clean all the parts with isopropanol, or in an ultrasonic cleaner with a fungicidal product. The easier alternative is to indeed keep it dry such that the fungus can't grow, and store it sealed away from other lenses such that spores can't contaminate them.
 
DrLex said:
I think the only surefire way to make the lens fungus-free and safe to store with other lenses, would be to disassemble it and clean all the parts with isopropanol, or in an ultrasonic cleaner with a fungicidal product. The easier alternative is to indeed keep it dry such that the fungus can't grow, and store it sealed away from other lenses such that spores can't contaminate them.
Click to expand...
Thanks. What do you think about treatment with a UV light (lab grade, not decorative)? But I've checked the value on the lens; sending it out is not cost effective. Note sure I'm brave enough to try that myself.
 
I'm not sure about the UV light, it might not reach all the internal nooks and crannies where the fungus might hide.
 
The UV light might kill the fungus and prevent its spread, but it won't remove the growth that's already there. Only a disassembly and cleaning will accomplish that. You might be able to find a technician who can do that work for you.
 
Wouldn't have it in the house, frankly. The mould spores will spread to your other gear - transferred by you (your hands, clothes) and via the air. And by the time you see it, its way too late.

Prevention is better than mitigation.
 
Can you post come images of the lens? Lenses can also get dry condensation in spots that get mistaken for fungus. Fungus- will look like threads from a spider web coming from the center.

I treat these by getting to the glass surface, meaning using a Spanner. Cheap on Ebay.
I use Lens-Cleaner on a Q-Tip, lens cleaner having alcohol and ammonia mix. Use a very light touch with the Q-Tip, then follow up with lens cleaning paper.
Use a UV-Lamp, NOT UV-C as it will not penetrate through glass to the other sections of the lens. Run for a few hours.

I recently bought a small collection of Contax and Nikon gear- had been stored in a safe by the Widow of the owner. I spent weeks going through the gear, disassembling, cleaning, and treating with UV. The many pieces are Okay. I have been using this technique for decades, it works.

Usually on a lens- the Fungus is long dead, and etches the coatings and glass, it is like an acid. If you get to it quickly, leaves no damage. I was able to completely clean up all but one of the lenses in the collection, about a Dozen Nikon S-mount, F-Mount, and Contax RF Mount including a 21mm F4.5. The widow would have had to pay $150~$300 per piece to have a professional shop do the work.
 
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The Do-it-Yourself forum here might be a good place for such projects. Post some pictures of the lens, and the problem description.
On the original DPReview, a lot of repair threads and custom image processing were thrown together. I never posted on it.
 
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