Mold in lenses

8 years 4 months ago #463219 by ShutterPal
I'm buying some older manual lenses.  The seller has told me that a few of them have some mold in them.  How does this happen and how can this be removed.  Better yet, if not practical to remove, will it interfere with image quality?  


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8 years 4 months ago #463231 by Tim Dordeck
Well yes, if the mold is growing on the glass elements.  


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8 years 4 months ago - 8 years 4 months ago #463268 by effron
Lens fungus isn't good, not a death knell every time either....
photo.stackexchange.com/questions/14794/...how-to-get-rid-of-it

Why so serious?
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8 years 4 months ago #463510 by Roblane
Yeah, unless you got an absolutely killer deal on these, I wouldn't bother.  


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8 years 4 months ago #463895 by Colorado Mike
Unless it's a block of cheese, mold in anything is bad news.   I'd pass.  


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8 years 4 months ago #463985 by Frisco

Roblane wrote: Yeah, unless you got an absolutely killer deal on these, I wouldn't bother.  



I was thinking the same thing, even with a killer deal.  Still might not be worth it.  

Nikon 18-55mm VR, Nikon 70-200mm VRII f/2.8, Nikon 50mm f/1.8, Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, SB-700 & SB-800
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8 years 4 months ago #464171 by Duncan K
So how does the mold get in the start with?


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8 years 4 months ago #464254 by Don Fischer
I bought my RB67 and it's lens's used and there was mold in one of the lens's. I took it all to a camera shop and had them service everything including cleaning the lens's out, mild all gone. If I remember right it cost me something like $500 to do it but I got the camera I wanted.


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8 years 4 months ago #464255 by Don Fischer
I bought my RB67 and it's lens's used and there was mold in one of the lens's. I took it all to a camera shop and had them service everything including cleaning the lens's out, mild all gone. If I remember right it cost me something like $500 to do it but I got the camera I wanted.


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8 years 4 months ago #464257 by Screamin Scott
The correct answer is "it depends". How bad is the fungus?. Extensive cases can etch the glass causing the images to be soft. A small amount may be cleaned & you would never notice the difference.... I've had lenses with fungus. The images can be salvaged in post to some degree. If it's not a bad case of fungus & the price is right, it may be worth it, otherwise, pass...

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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8 years 4 months ago #464345 by Ben Vanderbilt
Although I agree, it depends on the amount of mold.  However if you want a good indicator as to what the lens is worth.  Call up someone like KEH.com and tell them you have a lens with mold in it, and see what they offer you for it.  


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8 years 4 months ago #464349 by effron
A thread like this can get some people worked up, and all photographers should read this article. Not all mold, fungus, scratches, spots, etc are the same.....
www.kenrockwell.com/tech/flashlight-test.htm

Why so serious?
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