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Archive 2012Lens fungus?
p.1 #1Lens fungus?
Hello,
Looks like I'm having fun with some Mamiya glass recently. Posted a while back about strange dots on my 120, thankfully that seems to have no impact on my pictures and isn't something that will spread or get worse.
Recently picked up a kit with 4 lenses and noticed that in all of them what appeared to be fungus. I've never personally seen a lens with this issue but it looks like what I can find on the internet in a search. Just wondering if some of the people on the forum might have an opinion that can confirm this. I haven't had much luck finding a repair shop that I can drop into.
Image of the 80 1.9 that has the worst of the 4. Doesn't look terrible to me but not what i would call a 'lens in very good condition'. This pic only shows 1 of the patches, it has 2 others on this one and each of the other 3 has 1-2 similar patches in various elements within the lens.
Thanks,
James
Looks like I'm having fun with some Mamiya glass recently. Posted a while back about strange dots on my 120, thankfully that seems to have no impact on my pictures and isn't something that will spread or get worse.
Recently picked up a kit with 4 lenses and noticed that in all of them what appeared to be fungus. I've never personally seen a lens with this issue but it looks like what I can find on the internet in a search. Just wondering if some of the people on the forum might have an opinion that can confirm this. I haven't had much luck finding a repair shop that I can drop into.
Image of the 80 1.9 that has the worst of the 4. Doesn't look terrible to me but not what i would call a 'lens in very good condition'. This pic only shows 1 of the patches, it has 2 others on this one and each of the other 3 has 1-2 similar patches in various elements within the lens.
Thanks,
James
Aug 24, 2012 at 03:15 PM
p.1 #3Lens fungus?
Hi James,
The spider web pattern is a dead giveaway. The Camera Repair Centre in Halifax has worked on more than a dozen lenses with fungus for me. They've successfully repaired about 2/3 of them. Typical price is about $75. The others were too badly damaged to make it worthwhile. Etching of the multicoating is the typical 'kiss of death'. Unless it's in the cement between cemented elements, in which case the cost of repairs is very high (i.e if you can't return it, throw it away).
Anyway, they'll give you a free estimate for the repair attempt (not guaranteed to have complete success), or they'll tell you straight out that it's not worth the cost. I trust their judgement in all things related to lens and camera repairs. Based on what I see in your photo, it should be possible, at a reasonable price, not incl. shipping.
I can hook you up with CRC, if you like.
Cheers, Jim
P.S. I now store my lenses in a dry cabinet, to help eliminate new cases of fungus. Usually, it's really humid here in the Maritimes. Not quite the same as in Alberta.
The spider web pattern is a dead giveaway. The Camera Repair Centre in Halifax has worked on more than a dozen lenses with fungus for me. They've successfully repaired about 2/3 of them. Typical price is about $75. The others were too badly damaged to make it worthwhile. Etching of the multicoating is the typical 'kiss of death'. Unless it's in the cement between cemented elements, in which case the cost of repairs is very high (i.e if you can't return it, throw it away).
Anyway, they'll give you a free estimate for the repair attempt (not guaranteed to have complete success), or they'll tell you straight out that it's not worth the cost. I trust their judgement in all things related to lens and camera repairs. Based on what I see in your photo, it should be possible, at a reasonable price, not incl. shipping.
I can hook you up with CRC, if you like.
Cheers, Jim
P.S. I now store my lenses in a dry cabinet, to help eliminate new cases of fungus. Usually, it's really humid here in the Maritimes. Not quite the same as in Alberta.
Aug 24, 2012 at 03:25 PM
p.1 #4Lens fungus?
For what it's worth, that little patch of fungus will not degrade image quality in any way that could be measured, much less seen. What I would do is put it under a blacklight or high intensity LED for a week or so. It will shrink the fungus and kill it too. Otherwise, I'd send it back or try to negotiate a partial refund.
Aug 24, 2012 at 04:22 PM
p.1 #5Lens fungus?
Yes, it's fungus. Do as others have suggested.
I personally don't like to keep any lenses that either have or have had fungus, but that's just me. I know that some people like to buy lenses CHEAP because they have fungus in them and then clean and sell them at a higher price.
A lens with fungus is far less valueable than a clean one so you should have paid much less for it. If you can either return the items or get a partial refund then you certainly should do that, IMHO. The reality is that if you try to sell them, describing them honestly, then you will get far less than you would if they where fungus free.
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/General/g_015_400.jpg
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/General/g_019_400.jpg
I personally don't like to keep any lenses that either have or have had fungus, but that's just me. I know that some people like to buy lenses CHEAP because they have fungus in them and then clean and sell them at a higher price.
A lens with fungus is far less valueable than a clean one so you should have paid much less for it. If you can either return the items or get a partial refund then you certainly should do that, IMHO. The reality is that if you try to sell them, describing them honestly, then you will get far less than you would if they where fungus free.
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/General/g_015_400.jpg
http://photocornucopia.com/images/Lenses/General/g_019_400.jpg
Aug 24, 2012 at 04:56 PM
p.1 #7Lens fungus?
Thanks for the replies. The seller didn't know about the fungus issue and has offered to take them back. I'm more comfortable with that, I didn't pay a bargin/damaged price so I'd rather look for some clean lenses through KEH maybe.
Aug 24, 2012 at 06:00 PM
p.1 #8Lens fungus?
Hmmm, that would be extremely hard to miss actually. As in; he would have had to purposely not look. 
Still, he's coming clean in the end so it's not all bad I suppose.
Still, he's coming clean in the end so it's not all bad I suppose.
Aug 24, 2012 at 06:24 PM
p.1 #9Lens fungus?
Bifurcator wrote:
Hmmm, that would be extremely hard to miss actually. As in; he would have had to purposely not look.
Still, he's coming clean in the end so it's not all bad I suppose.
My thoughts exactly. You can see it without using a light or even looking that closely. In the other 3 you need to search for it but not on that lens.
Hmmm, that would be extremely hard to miss actually. As in; he would have had to purposely not look.
Still, he's coming clean in the end so it's not all bad I suppose.
My thoughts exactly. You can see it without using a light or even looking that closely. In the other 3 you need to search for it but not on that lens.
Aug 24, 2012 at 06:27 PM
p.1 #10Lens fungus?
Yeah it's fungus. 
My recent purchase of a 50/2 ML was infested, and sadly the lens can't be fixed because the elements are glued. was only $9 so I'm not too distraught, your's looks to be early in it's infestation so they should be salvageable, if they are in otherwise good condition, and their price was good, you could ask for the seller to pay for the cleaning, then you just need to store them correctly.
My recent purchase of a 50/2 ML was infested, and sadly the lens can't be fixed because the elements are glued.
was only $9 so I'm not too distraught, your's looks to be early in it's infestation so they should be salvageable, if they are in otherwise good condition, and their price was good, you could ask for the seller to pay for the cleaning, then you just need to store them correctly.Aug 24, 2012 at 06:49 PM
p.1 #11Lens fungus?
jcolwell wrote:Typical price is about $75.
In SE Asia area, this type of lens damage is usually met due to humidity as high as to 90% or up.Thanks God the cost of fungus erasing in repairshop costs about less than 5 US$ here.Now with new IC generation of Drycabinet, I am no longer worrying about fungi.
In SE Asia area, this type of lens damage is usually met due to humidity as high as to 90% or up.Thanks God the cost of fungus erasing in repairshop costs about less than 5 US$ here.Now with new IC generation of Drycabinet, I am no longer worrying about fungi.
Aug 24, 2012 at 07:18 PM
p.1 #12Lens fungus?
Wow. I need to start sending my lenses to se Asia for repair! I normally clean them myself if the lens isn't too valuable.
Aug 24, 2012 at 08:16 PM
p.1 #13Lens fungus?
@flashinm: if you are on trip here or you have someone bring it here it's OK, but if you send it through the DHL, UPS or so the Custom Office will tax it 10% of the highest price of newest brand of that sort, for example, bought N 70-200mm, an extinct Zeiss lens , Custom office taxed on the price of new Sony Zeiss lens .It's stupidity, but it exists, here and everywhere I guess. 
Aug 24, 2012 at 08:29 PM
p.1 #14Lens fungus?
One of my Mamiya lenses (ULD) came down with a dose of fungus on 1/2 of the front element. Tried everything - nada.
For laughs, I tried 5% white vinegar - which worked like a charm. Applied to the front element liberally with a Q-tip and let set for 15 minutes - completely gone!
For laughs, I tried 5% white vinegar - which worked like a charm. Applied to the front element liberally with a Q-tip and let set for 15 minutes - completely gone!
Sep 18, 2012 at 06:15 PM