1. Forum
  2. General Discussion | Introductions | Off Topic Forum
  3. Photography General Discussion
  4. Removing fungus from an older manual lens?

Removing fungus from an older manual lens?


8 years 8 months ago #450241 by Ira Weber
I'm bidding on an older lens that has advertised it  has some fungus in it. It's kind of hard to tell from the photos.  I wanted to find out what is involved in getting fungus removed and also what generally is the cause of this?  (bad seals?)

I'm trying to determine how much I want to bid on this, depending on how much it's going to cost to repair. 
Photo Comments
,
8 years 8 months ago #450273 by JeremyS
I'm going to tell you right now, don't bid. 

As far as I know fungus is deadly to lenses and cannot be fixed easily. It would require a full dismantling of the lens and even then the repair would be iffy. It is caused by moisture getting inside of the lens and allowing fungus inside which causes it to grow. 
,
8 years 8 months ago #450292 by Screamin Scott
Mild cases are easily cleaned up. More severe case will have etched the glass & will cause a severe loss of contrast. Best o avoid. Mild cases may not have much of an effect on the final image but why take that chance ?. If it's an exotic lens, I can see the interest, but not on run of the mill optics.
Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/
Photo Comments
,
8 years 8 months ago - 8 years 8 months ago #450308 by Joves
As said it takes disassembly of the lens. Which with a manual lens is not all that hard, if you are mechanically inclined. I did it with one of my Pentax's lenses that got dust inside of it once. I just cleaned the elements with acetone, and put it back together. But fungus as said can eat into the lens coating and screw the lens, as far as Image Quality. It really depends on how many of the elements have the fungus, and where they are as to whether it will affect its performance. I would pass on it myself.
Well unless you can get it dirt cheap. Then it would be a good lens to play with as far as learning how to work on them. Also is it a zoom, or a prime. Because zooms are more difficult to work on obviously, primes are simple.
,
8 years 8 months ago #450339 by icepics
From what I've always understood fungus is hard to remove and better to avoid it. Unless as these guys said it's an unusual lens or there's some reason you want to chance it.
Sharon
Photo Comments
,
8 years 7 months ago #452409 by VanHalen5150
if its a super expensive or rare lens and you can get it cheap enough, maybe. I know KEH I believe and a few other places can disassemble the lens and clean and reseal it. But its a matter of what you pay for the lens, the cost of repair and final value. So call some repair places, get quotes, run the numbers and decide.

Either way, good luck!
,

  1. Forum
  2. General Discussion | Introductions | Off Topic Forum
  3. Photography General Discussion
  4. Removing fungus from an older manual lens?

817.3K

241K

  • Facebook

    817,251 / Likes

  • Twitter

    241,000 / Followers

  • Google+

    1,620,816 / Followers

Show Me...

Visit 4wdtlak Forum
Saal

Latest Reviews

Canon EOS R100 Review

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024
Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
Canon EOS R50 Review

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the newest R-system cameras from Canon. Is it worth your money? Find out all the details you need to know in this comprehensive review.

Apr 10, 2024
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Review

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II is Sony’s flagship mirrorless zoom lens. As such, it’s loaded with features and has a top-shelf build quality that makes it a top pick!

Mar 27, 2024
More Articles
Ikan

Forum Top Posters

Sponsored Imageimages2/mpb145x145sell.pngSponsored Imageimages2/50off.jpg
Sponsored ImageSponsored Image

Latest Articles

Canon EOS R100 Review

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024
Expert Tips to Upgrade Your Camera Gear With Used Equipment

Are you ready to upgrade your camera? Before buying new, you might consider the value of purchasing used gear to save money.

Apr 18, 2024
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a micro four thirds camera released in 2020. It’s an entry-level system along with the OM-D E-M5 Mark III. Use this guide to determine which one is best for you!

Apr 17, 2024
What is Blue Hour Photography?

Blue hour photography might not be as well known as golden hour photography, but it is every bit as good a time to create epic images of landscapes. Learn how in this quick tutorial!

Apr 17, 2024
Nikon Zfc Review

Nikon’s retro-looking Nikon Zfc is anything but retro. Under its classic body is a host of features and amenities that make it a worthwhile compact mirrorless camera for 2024.

Apr 15, 2024
5 Dog Photography Tips for Stunning Results

Moving from taking snapshots of your dog to creating beautiful images doesn’t have to be that difficult! Use the tips outlined in this dog photography guide, and you’ll get better results in no time.

Apr 15, 2024
FAQs About Acrylic Print Photos

Acrylic print photos are a beautiful way to display your favorite images. But they don’t come without some questions. Get all the answers you need about this medium in this guide!

Apr 15, 2024
Get All the Landscape Photography Inspiration You Need With These Simple Tips

Where do you get your landscape photography inspiration? Is it from masters like Ansel Adams? Or perhaps viewing art from other genres? We’ve got these and a few other sources for you to check out!

Apr 10, 2024
More Articles