Lens with fungus

[Zenten]

My friend bought a new lens which shows slight fungus growth ( little hazy patches) on the inner lens elements. The manufacturer offered to clean it.

What is tendency of the fungus growing back after the lens is cleaned?

 

[besh]

it depend on how clean they cleared the fungus (i presume nikon/canon/original manifacturer can do a perfect cleaning job),
the fungus will come back if the humidity level is high.

I got friend running lenses/body cleaning/service shop in Johor,
according to his experience ( he took a lot of equitment fromt he major supplier from their respective customer) to repair....
he said, the lense SHOULD BE ok, if you keep them in low humidity environment,

 

[Zenten]

Thanks Besh. I will tell friend to make sure that lens is in Dry Cabinet most of the time.

Anyone else with this experience?

 

[Ah_Seng]

Not a very good idea to clean and take back the same lens. Since it's new and just bought, why not try asking if can exchange for another one. Of course, depends on the shop.

Reason being in the process of fungus cleaning, the lens coating over which the fungus has grown could be removed, depending on how bad the fungus is, how long it has been there and whether it has "eaten" into the coatings.

Henceforth, you could get the fungus and coating removed together in the process.

Take note to copy down the lens serial no. to ensure the shop exchange a new lens for you, if they do.......

 

[angy]

My friend bought a new lens which shows slight fungus growth ( little hazy patches) on the inner lens elements. The manufacturer offered to clean it.

What is tendency of the fungus growing back after the lens is cleaned?

Once fungus has grown on the lens, the multicoat is gone. The multicoat is basically food for the fungus.

So, ask your friend to change it

 

[doug3fflux]

Once fungus has grown on the lens, the multicoat is gone. The multicoat is basically food for the fungus.

So, ask your friend to change it

hello....would like to know...what is the multicoat for? the fungus lives off the multicoat which is on the inner lens element right?

 

[Kho King]

Once fungus has grown on the lens, the multicoat is gone. The multicoat is basically food for the fungus.

So, ask your friend to change it

half true. If the fungus is not dense, then you can still clean it away without affecting the multi-coating. So, fast fast clean the lens before it is too late

 

[Firefox]

hello....would like to know...what is the multicoat for? the fungus lives off the multicoat which is on the inner lens element right?

It reduces the amount of light dispersion and hence, increases the amount of light passing through.. It can also increase the contrast of the picture captured. A good example would be the T* multicoating of Carl Zeiss lenses.

Every cleaning with chemicals will remove a layer of the coating. For fungus ridden lenses, the number of coatings removed depends on how far the fungus has penetrated. Uneven removal can cause other problems as well..

 

[eric69]

Manufacturer offer to clean it? Hmm.. Or is it the shop who offered to clean it? To my knowledge, if you get access directly to the manufactuer, they would usually have the lens changed and disposed off the lens. For parallel import shop owners, they'll do "cleaning" themselves..

Anyway, have the lens changed. Once fungus grow on the lens, there is chances that the cleaning process may remove some of the multi-coating on the lens. And if done inproperly, there will be uneven coating on the lens. If you know about multi-coating sputtering, then you would want to have it exchanged for a new one.

Aiya, for sleeping peacefully at night and the thought of getting your money worth, ask for a new lens.

 

[KNIGHT ONG]

how long your friend brought the lens ?? if it is within a month then it shouldnt have grow fungus since it is new ... better check back.

 

[angy]

half true. If the fungus is not dense, then you can still clean it away without affecting the multi-coating. So, fast fast clean the lens before it is too late

I have to disagree. Fungus is fungus, once it is there, it there. There is no way out. Of course the slower one remove the fungus, it just means the fungus starts multiplying.

 

[doug3fflux]

can fungal growth on the lens be broken up into 3 stages? eg

1. slight hazey look, little change in contrast of picture
2. streaks cover most areas, observable change in contrast of picture
3. network of fungus is all over the front element, significant and severe change in contrast of picture....

accurate or not? those with experience can share?? =)