- Status
B
BillyBean
Guest
It's very hard to tell at this magnification. The lens fungus I've seen tends to have thin tendrils - fingers, if you like. Very thin - like 1/10th of a mm of thereabouts, is white or grey, and spreads from a centre, often near the edge of the lens. To be honest, therefore, this does not look like the fungus I've seen - more like some sort of bloom or humidity on the inner lens element - possibly oil migrating from somewhere.
If you are sure this is fungus, it needs urgent attention. A good clean can remove fungus, and prevent it coming back for quite some time, but if you leave it, it will etch the glass, and then the lens is toast. I've cleaned lenses myself by dismantling them, and cleaning all the parts in regular vinegar, but I would have to pretty desperate to do this to a modern EF lens - I've only done it with low value antiques.
If this lens has any real value, I would get it to a service centre, if you really think it's fungus, rather than attempt something yourself.
But unless you live in a very humid, hot or tropical climate, I would rather doubt this can be fungus in such a new lens.
Key to preventing lens fungus is to keep the stuff dry. Even in England, I keep my top lenses in a Peli case with dessicant in, which keeps the air inside nice and dry.
If you are sure this is fungus, it needs urgent attention. A good clean can remove fungus, and prevent it coming back for quite some time, but if you leave it, it will etch the glass, and then the lens is toast. I've cleaned lenses myself by dismantling them, and cleaning all the parts in regular vinegar, but I would have to pretty desperate to do this to a modern EF lens - I've only done it with low value antiques.
If this lens has any real value, I would get it to a service centre, if you really think it's fungus, rather than attempt something yourself.
But unless you live in a very humid, hot or tropical climate, I would rather doubt this can be fungus in such a new lens.
Key to preventing lens fungus is to keep the stuff dry. Even in England, I keep my top lenses in a Peli case with dessicant in, which keeps the air inside nice and dry.
Upvote
0
H
HTCahHTC
Guest
BillyBean said:
I live in Singapore, which is very very humid. I keep my lenses in a dry box every time I'm not using it. I've shone light through the lens and have looked through from the other side but saw nth like fungus, but the spots seem to be worrying me. If it really is oil, what can I do about it? Will it affect anything (not saying about image quality but more towards destroying the lens like how fungus will).
Mt Spokane Photography said:
I've seen this article before, thanks man. Though mine looked nth like it, I'm still worried
Upvote
0
If you think a lens might have fungus, the first thing you should do is set it out in the sun for a few hours, letting the UV get inside it. That'll kill it and prevent new growth, at least.
Upvote
0
B
BillyBean
Guest
Yeah - I'd forgotten the sunlight trick - that's an excellent one to try first, as it is cheap and easy. Just don't drop it off the window ledge!
Yep, Singapore is hot and humid, but at least you have Sentosi, right? ;D
It still doesn't look like fungus to me, but maybe we get different fungus in the UK. Oil won't damage the lens per se, but it can cause a lot of trouble, especially if it gets into the aperture blades.
The catch with fixing anything is that whilst lenses are usually relatively easy to dismantle (the front element unscrews as a rule) they are not always so easy to put back together, especially with no finger prints or dust inside! You may want to give this is a try if it's cheaper lens, but it looks like an L to me, which I wouldn't dream of.
Here is what I would do in your cicumstance:
1. Try the UV trick for a few days at least. Make sure their is no chance of dropping of the ledge, make sure it is getting plenty of UV, move it around to get both ends.
2. Stick into a humidity sealed container (food box?) for a week or two with a dessicant - dry rice will do if you don't have anything better. This will get rid of any humidity (and associated bloom) inside the lens.
Then see if there is any change. If not, take it to a dealer and ask for advice, or phone the local service centre to arrange a full clean.
Contrary to popular opinion, fungus isn't 'catching' - it is pretty much everywhere, all the time. Keeping your lenses dry will prevent this happening.
Yep, Singapore is hot and humid, but at least you have Sentosi, right? ;D
It still doesn't look like fungus to me, but maybe we get different fungus in the UK. Oil won't damage the lens per se, but it can cause a lot of trouble, especially if it gets into the aperture blades.
The catch with fixing anything is that whilst lenses are usually relatively easy to dismantle (the front element unscrews as a rule) they are not always so easy to put back together, especially with no finger prints or dust inside! You may want to give this is a try if it's cheaper lens, but it looks like an L to me, which I wouldn't dream of.
Here is what I would do in your cicumstance:
1. Try the UV trick for a few days at least. Make sure their is no chance of dropping of the ledge, make sure it is getting plenty of UV, move it around to get both ends.
2. Stick into a humidity sealed container (food box?) for a week or two with a dessicant - dry rice will do if you don't have anything better. This will get rid of any humidity (and associated bloom) inside the lens.
Then see if there is any change. If not, take it to a dealer and ask for advice, or phone the local service centre to arrange a full clean.
Contrary to popular opinion, fungus isn't 'catching' - it is pretty much everywhere, all the time. Keeping your lenses dry will prevent this happening.
Upvote
0
- Status
