This topic is in the 2011 archive. You can read it and like its posts here. It is read only.
Archive 2011Would this be fungus?
p.1 #1Would this be fungus?
Oh no!
I bought this item from eBay, Minolta 100-500, the NON APO version.
It was advertised mint, no problems, looked great, cheap, thought I'd give it a play.
Anywho, when received, it was in the old original leather/velvet case, kinda moldy.
Indeed it was mint, perfect in fact, lens hood, close up lens, original registration/warranty card.
Taking the caps off, the glass looked perfect also, however,
looking through the glass, oh no, what's this?!
It's mottled with something.
Looks to be fungus on the inside of the rear element.
What do you think?
It doesn't move, so, it isn't condensation.
Sticking in a cotton swap doesn't seem to move it about, nor remove any of it,
seems to be on the inside.
Would this be costly to have cleaned in a repair shop?
http://www.cornbread.com/~buggz/Fungus-CropResized.jpg
I bought this item from eBay, Minolta 100-500, the NON APO version.
It was advertised mint, no problems, looked great, cheap, thought I'd give it a play.
Anywho, when received, it was in the old original leather/velvet case, kinda moldy.
Indeed it was mint, perfect in fact, lens hood, close up lens, original registration/warranty card.
Taking the caps off, the glass looked perfect also, however,
looking through the glass, oh no, what's this?!
It's mottled with something.
Looks to be fungus on the inside of the rear element.
What do you think?
It doesn't move, so, it isn't condensation.
Sticking in a cotton swap doesn't seem to move it about, nor remove any of it,
seems to be on the inside.
Would this be costly to have cleaned in a repair shop?
http://www.cornbread.com/~buggz/Fungus-CropResized.jpg
Jul 02, 2011 at 08:49 AM
p.1 #2Would this be fungus?
Looks like DRIED condensation...I HOPE dried...since it's inside and if the spots don't move when shaking the lens it likely is...no fungus-like growth so far as I can see
...it should've been pointed out by the seller...and you should be compensated for the difference...
...it should've been pointed out by the seller...and you should be compensated for the difference...
Jul 02, 2011 at 09:03 AM
p.1 #3Would this be fungus?
Looks like condensation to me.
Fungus usually has a more spiderweb like pattern.
Fungus usually has a more spiderweb like pattern.
Jul 02, 2011 at 10:00 AM
p.1 #4Would this be fungus?
I had exactly the same problem a few days ago with a Leica Elmarit. The little dots looked identical to yours. From my experience with old lenses I thought as well that those are tiny spots from oil from the aperture blades and bought the lens as the price was really very good and thought that'll clean very easy as on other lenses I purchased.
After taking the element in question out of the lens I tried all the cleaning methods I had used in the past, but was not successful at all, all the dots stayed where they have been.
I took the lens to a very well know repair shop the next day, they are in business since over 50 years, and they clearly told me that those dots are air-bubbles introduced into the glass during production.
Before returning the lens to the seller (I had an agreement with him), I just tried the lens on the Nex. What shall I say, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the images and you could not see anything bad caused by the bubbles. I finally kept the lens as I liked its drawing stile a lot.
Hope this helps,
Heinz
After taking the element in question out of the lens I tried all the cleaning methods I had used in the past, but was not successful at all, all the dots stayed where they have been.
I took the lens to a very well know repair shop the next day, they are in business since over 50 years, and they clearly told me that those dots are air-bubbles introduced into the glass during production.
Before returning the lens to the seller (I had an agreement with him), I just tried the lens on the Nex. What shall I say, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the images and you could not see anything bad caused by the bubbles. I finally kept the lens as I liked its drawing stile a lot.
Hope this helps,
Heinz
Jul 02, 2011 at 10:27 AM
p.1 #5Would this be fungus?
Thanks for all the information!
From the responses, I'm now guessing dried condensation.
I kind of rule out the bubbles in the glass, as I will guess this is a lens from the 70's, and the particles of stuff is all over, in large number.
I am semi-local to KEH, I think I will schedule a meeting with one of their repair people.
From the responses, I'm now guessing dried condensation.
I kind of rule out the bubbles in the glass, as I will guess this is a lens from the 70's, and the particles of stuff is all over, in large number.
I am semi-local to KEH, I think I will schedule a meeting with one of their repair people.
Jul 02, 2011 at 03:15 PM
p.1 #6Would this be fungus?
"Bubbles", so called in Japan, like that are most commonly caused by doublet separation. And like Morfeus is saying it won't clean off. You can take the two completely apart and re-glue them though. It's usually more trouble than it's worth but I have done one like that myself. I though it was fun. But I like tedious work like that. 
It WILL affect your images too! High contrast edges will bloom and bright scenes will have reduced contrast (over what they would look like otherwise). You might even like the look (slightly soft and hazy)... but it will affect.
It WILL affect your images too! High contrast edges will bloom and bright scenes will have reduced contrast (over what they would look like otherwise). You might even like the look (slightly soft and hazy)... but it will affect.
Jul 03, 2011 at 05:11 AM