p.1 #1 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
I have a chance to buy a Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens for a mere $3500.00us. The lens is in great shape on the outside, everything functions well, the aperture blades look good and are snappy. Its a 2004 model. The only problem is it has whats looks to be a fungus bloom which spreads to about quarter size on an one of the inner elements.
Is it possible that Canon could or would replace this part or clean it and how much would it cost for the procedure?
I hate to pass on the lens at such a great price.
Any suggestions.........
p.1 #3 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
The price seems good, but there are also longer term risks involved. After the affected element is cleaned or replaced, what if another element starts developing fungus six months later ?
It would be best for you to speak to Canon as well as a good independent shop such as Midstate Camera which should have extensive repair experience with fungus afflicted lenses. They'll tell you about the repair cost etc.
p.1 #4 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
Canon will not give even a ball park figure....They will email a form to fill out and mail with the lens to them(Virginia I believe).......After inspection, canon contacts me with the repair cost.....if I choose not to have the work done they ship it back at no cost.
I will try to contact Midstate Camera as you suggest.
p.1 #6 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
iGeekPro wrote:
You can actually just point a UV light at it for a long while and it should disappear.
Thank you for your suggestion.
If I currently owned the lens I would put it on a UV diet.....maybe UV would at the least keep it from spreading further.
p.1 #9 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
Exposure to UV light is a fine way to kill what's there, but it doesn't clean it up very well, nor does it repair any damage to surface coatings or inter-element cement, if such damage is present. I've had fungus of various types in eight or ten "alt" lenses. About 50% of them cleaned up fine, and the others went in the bin. I've never had fungus inside a relatively modern lens, especially one that's sealed like the 500/4L IS. This suggests that the lens might have had water inside it. If this is true, you're probably better off walking away.
p.1 #10 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
I called Midstate Camera and spoke with a fellow who seemed very knowledgeable about fungus issues. If it is not on the rear lens element it should not effect the photo and as a rule of thumb not to take it apart unless it has something else wrong with it.
I got the impression fungus on the front or middle elements isn't anything to worry about unless your pernickety.(Like I am)
On a side note-- he thought it strange that a relatively new lens would have fungus.
p.1 #11 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
xcalibur wrote:
On a side note-- he thought it strange that a relatively new lens would have fungus.
If he stated that, then he is not all that knowledgeable about fungus issues like he seemed to you.
New lenses can have fungus.
It's just a matter of how and to what they are exposed to.
Personal experience.
Weather sealed lenses can easily develop fungus inside since they are not air tight. Air does move in and out of the lens, despite the seals.
Personal experience.
It would be wise to clean all the glass elements, as there might be spores waiting for the right conditions to grow.
The intended effect on putting a modern lens in the sun to kill the fungus can be somewhat or even greatly mitigated by the lens coatings, as they will block some, most or even all the UV rays that kill the fungus. The more recent and the best a lens is, the better the coatings.
OF course, doing this in the summer will make the temperature inside the lens skyrocket and this might actually kill the fungus.
Cleaning it is the best option. Fungus will continue to grow and can eventually damage the glass.
It can even infect other lenses.
You don't have to send it to canon, any repair facility can do this for a lower price, as it's not complicated. They just have to open the lens and clean the glass. No big deal.
Canon will surely overcharge for this relatively simple task.
Of course, it's a 500 IS, it's not exactly a kit lens, so I understand the dilemma.
p.1 #12 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
Right on, Luis and Jim, nothing beats first hand experience.
Luis, please do not post those horrific pictures of your lenses with fungus because every time you do that, I end up spending hours inspecting every one of my lenses.
p.1 #13 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
Thanks guys for all your replies,
I have weighed the pros and cons and decided that it comes down to: Can I live with a a 3500 dollars loss if the lens bellies up in the future? Probably so...
I have lost way more on new vehicle purchases and ex-wives...
First thing is to send it in to repair, as suggested, and have them thoroughly cleanse the inside and Recalibrate it.
Then put it in solitary confinement from my other lenses and keep a close eye on it.
I'm wondering if maybe just actively using a lens often could prevent the growth of unwanted fungus. Opposed to it sitting in a dark case for months at a time.
PetKal--- I hear you......I inspected every one of my lenses also
p.1 #14 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
PetKal wrote:
Luis, please do not post those horrific pictures of your lenses with fungus because every time you do that, I end up spending hours inspecting every one of my lenses.
You have no idea of how much I laughed at this...
I didn't post them because every time I did, there were always some faint of heart FM'ers that asked me not to do it again...
xcalibur wrote:
Can I live with a a 3500 dollars loss if the lens bellies up in the future?
Why would it go belly up?
You just have to clean the glass. Just don't let the fungus grow until the point where the glass becomes damaged.
If the lens gets fungus again in the future, have it cleaned again.
You can also purchase a dry cabinet and store it there.
I bought one and it solved my problems.
xcalibur wrote:
First thing is to send it in to repair, as suggested, and have them thoroughly cleanse the inside and Recalibrate it.
Having it also recalibrated is a good idea, but so that you get the notion that the cleaning is a relatively simple procedure, I had a 135L, 70-200 f4IS and a 85L all cleaned from fungus at the same time, by the same guy. He has a shop of his own and does not have the necessary equipment to calibrate lenses. He just opened them, cleaned them and closed them again.
All worked perfectly afterwards. Still amazing IQ, no focusing issues whatsoever (no MA necessary on any of them).
xcalibur wrote:
Then put it in solitary confinement from my other lenses and keep a close eye on it.
A dry cabinet would be a good choice, if you can afford it. It's not expensive and definitively worth it for the peace of mind alone. And you can store all your gear there too.
I don't know how are the humidity levels where you live though...
I seriously doubt an infected lens would infect others inside a dry cabinet, though I can't guarantee that it won't.
To be safe, you can buy one like mine, with two separate, independent compartments. Store the 500 in one (and, if you want, the rest of your equipment not susceptible to fungus) and the rest of your lenses in the other.
Or, if you want to save some money, you can install an incandescent light bulb in a closet/cabinet/drawer/closed space and keep the lens there.
xcalibur wrote:
I'm wondering if maybe just actively using a lens often could prevent the growth of unwanted fungus. Opposed to it sitting in a dark case for months at a time.
Yes it will.
I got a major fungus infestation in those three lenses when I left them unattended for two months, inside a closed backpack.
Using your lenses, specially outside, is one of the best ways to prevent fungus.
Just don't store them in a closed, dark, humid environment for a long time.
Obviously, it can be closed if you are able to control the humidity levels inside.
I stored my 500 f4IS and 200 1.8L inside a glass cabinet I bought in IKEA with an incandescent light inside when I waited for my dry cabinet to arrive (it took almost two months...).
Hope this all helps.
Feel free to post more questions if you have them.
You can do it by PM but I guess doing it here benefits everyone with interest in the issue.
xcalibur wrote:
PetKal--- I hear you......I inspected every one of my lenses also
I still do it every time I reach for a lens.
No exaggeration.
I guess I got traumatized...
p.1 #15 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
I keep my lenses in open soft cases in a drawer that is open at the back and front....when I put my hand over the front opening I can feel air flow circulating from the rear...
That drawer is in my LP room (those 12" disks) and there is a large ceiling fan ALWAYS rotating slowly to keep the air moving through it to prevent any of those 1000s of lp covers from getting "fungy"....
p.1 #16 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
Glass blocks more than 90% of UV rays below 300nm. UV rays range from about10-400nm. Better/ more effective ways to kill fungus through glass than relying on UV rays. Doc
p.1 #17 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
Had a long second meeting with the seller and studied the glass well. I don't believe the fungus spot is as large as I originally thought--Optical illusion maybe. Anyway, made the purchase and glad I did.
A somewhat local shop says they can clean it for about 136.00us
I will do some test shots for sharpness before giving it to them for comparison after I get it back.
As far as dry storage, mine are kept in a large sealed gun safe in their original soft/hard cases. Each soft case has a silica pack in the bottom of it. The gun safe has large silica packs on each shelf and several lying around in the bottom. Silica packs in my camera bags also. So far so good.
I have gained some knowledge from you gents and am much less apprehensive about fungus now, knowing it can be fixed easily if caught early.
@fraga - I will keep an eye out and if a fungus issue occurs with a different lens under my current set-up; I may try the dry cabinet alternative.
p.1 #20 · Fungus in Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USM Lens
I had an inner element replaced on a 300 F4L about 6 years ago. It cost me about $175 AIR. I also had a fungus infected element changed on a 35-70 2.8 Nikon lens which cost a similar amount. The fungus never returned during my ownership in either one. The Nikon lens seemed to be prone to developing fungus on only one element so I had heard at the time. I'b be inclined to take a chance on a cheap 500L based on my experience. I could be wrong but I don't think fungus can be removed by cleaning, at least it wasn't in my lenses by Canon or Nikon
