FA 50mm 2.8 MACRO

beales1986 · 06-13-2012, 10:35 PM

Hello, I just bought a FA 50mm f2.8 MACRO lens from a thrift store. it cost almost nothing, however it has a little bit of fungus on the inside of the back element, and on the back of the second to back element. I was wondering if anyone knew how to clean it out, and would be willing to share the knowledge

Vylen · 06-14-2012, 12:54 AM

You can't really clean it out - not without completely disassembling the lens and removing the elements as far as i know.

And even if you did, chances are the fungus etched into the glass elements.

The fungus is most likely dead, though, and shouldn't cause any further harm... and there's also a good chance it won't affect image quality - have you tried using it?

radium · 06-14-2012, 02:10 AM

I have a Pentax M 75-150 F4.0 zoom lens which had a little bit of fungus growing inside this zoom lens at the rear element. I took off the front and back caps and exposed this zoom lens for a couple of hours or so in direct bright sun light and I have never seen this fungus grow or further develop. I hope this helps out.

Jüri · 06-14-2012, 03:44 AM

UV light can be used to kill fungus.

Treating fungus with UV stunning finding

RioRico · 06-14-2012, 06:13 AM

The classic fungus-killing technique: Leave the lens in sunlight for a few days. Solar UV is free and often effective. Given your location, you probably don't have to worry about the lens overheating too much. If you have access to high-powered UV light, a quick zap may do the trick also.

We've had much discussion of fungi. Just search on FUNGUS in thread titles and you'll find tons of suggestions. Good luck!

beales1986 · 06-14-2012, 12:03 PM

Thank you guys, The lens works wonders the only issue I am having with the Fungi is when I am shooting in areas with lots of light, the light fungi causes a fuzzy image when there is lots of light, in lower light settings the images are super sharp though

alphanerd · 06-14-2012, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by beales1986

Hello, I just bought a FA 50mm f2.8 MACRO lens from a thrift store. it cost almost nothing, however it has a little bit of fungus on the inside of the back element, and on the back of the second to back element. I was wondering if anyone knew how to clean it out, and would be willing to share the knowledge

Enjoy it:

FrancisK7 · 06-14-2012, 08:03 PM

Perhaps you could send it to Eric to have it cleaned and serviced? It costs 38$ last I checked. Money well spent if you like your glass.

radium · 06-14-2012, 08:28 PM

Originally posted by beales1986

Thank you guys, The lens works wonders the only issue I am having with the Fungi is when I am shooting in areas with lots of light, the light fungi causes a fuzzy image when there is lots of light, in lower light settings the images are super sharp though

Hi,
It sounds like you need a lens cleaning service from the fungus on your lens. I would suggest you bring your lens to be cleaned by a specialist. My lens just had a couple of very small lines of mold and it was just starting to grow and the baking it out in the direct sun saved me the trip to the lens doctor. I caught it in time the fungus growth. It's been about 4 years since I treated my zoom lens with the sun UV treatment and there has been no further growth thankfully.

beales1986 · 06-17-2012, 05:13 PM

I will do that asap thanks guys I am in Victoria BC any recomendations? I am between sending it to Victoria Camera service, or The pentax authorized repair service in Vancouver BC

DaveHolmes · 06-18-2012, 06:00 AM

Leave both caps off and stick it on your sunniest windowledge for a week first... If it is just a 'little bit' as you first stated it may just dry out and turn to dust...

beales1986 · 06-18-2012, 01:43 PM

I will do that I guess before sending it out, should I put it in a clear plastic bag before? so it doesn't collect too much dust?

Vylen · 06-19-2012, 12:37 AM

Originally posted by beales1986

I will do that I guess before sending it out, should I put it in a clear plastic bag before? so it doesn't collect too much dust?

No that could make things worse.

DaveHolmes · 06-19-2012, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by beales1986

should I put it in a clear plastic bag before?

No... That would help incubate any active fungal spores... Just leave both caps off and rest on its side... Let mother-sun do her thing and see what happens... Hopefully she'll kill off and dry out the fugus some... Just a little and it could dust up and vanish inside your lens (all lenses have a bit of dust and lots of the dust in lenses 'is' or 'was' fungal in origin)...

creampuff · 06-19-2012, 06:16 PM

The best way to keep your lens fungus free is to use it frequently and store it in a cool, dry place like a humidifier box after use. If fungus is already present, exposing it to UV or bright sunlight might kill it but the telltale effects remain on the lens elements. This can only be removed by getting the lens opened up by a qualified technician and having the affected elements cleaned. Leaving the fungus on the lens (dead or not) will over time result in actual damage to the internal lens coating and permanently leave a mark on the glass. Trust me, I live in the tropics and I've had a box full of NOS lenses some of which had this problem.

06-13-2012, 10:35 PM	#1
beales1986 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Victoria B.C. Photos: Albums Posts: 59	FA 50mm 2.8 MACRO Hello, I just bought a FA 50mm f2.8 MACRO lens from a thrift store. it cost almost nothing, however it has a little bit of fungus on the inside of the back element, and on the back of the second to back element. I was wondering if anyone knew how to clean it out, and would be willing to share the knowledge

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06-14-2012, 12:54 AM	#2
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	You can't really clean it out - not without completely disassembling the lens and removing the elements as far as i know. And even if you did, chances are the fungus etched into the glass elements. The fungus is most likely dead, though, and shouldn't cause any further harm... and there's also a good chance it won't affect image quality - have you tried using it?

06-14-2012, 02:10 AM	#3
radium New Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hong Kong Photos: Albums Posts: 16	I have a Pentax M 75-150 F4.0 zoom lens which had a little bit of fungus growing inside this zoom lens at the rear element. I took off the front and back caps and exposed this zoom lens for a couple of hours or so in direct bright sun light and I have never seen this fungus grow or further develop. I hope this helps out.

06-14-2012, 03:44 AM	#4
Jüri Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tartu, Estonia Posts: 83	UV light can be used to kill fungus. Treating fungus with UV stunning finding

06-14-2012, 06:13 AM	#5
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	The classic fungus-killing technique: Leave the lens in sunlight for a few days. Solar UV is free and often effective. Given your location, you probably don't have to worry about the lens overheating too much. If you have access to high-powered UV light, a quick zap may do the trick also. We've had much discussion of fungi. Just search on FUNGUS in thread titles and you'll find tons of suggestions. Good luck!

06-14-2012, 12:03 PM	#6
beales1986 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Victoria B.C. Photos: Albums Posts: 59 Original Poster	Thank you guys, The lens works wonders the only issue I am having with the Fungi is when I am shooting in areas with lots of light, the light fungi causes a fuzzy image when there is lots of light, in lower light settings the images are super sharp though

06-14-2012, 01:59 PM	#7
alphanerd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 119	Originally posted by beales1986 Hello, I just bought a FA 50mm f2.8 MACRO lens from a thrift store. it cost almost nothing, however it has a little bit of fungus on the inside of the back element, and on the back of the second to back element. I was wondering if anyone knew how to clean it out, and would be willing to share the knowledge Enjoy it:

06-14-2012, 08:03 PM	#8
FrancisK7 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 474	Perhaps you could send it to Eric to have it cleaned and serviced? It costs 38$ last I checked. Money well spent if you like your glass.

06-14-2012, 08:28 PM	#9
radium New Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Hong Kong Photos: Albums Posts: 16	Originally posted by beales1986 Thank you guys, The lens works wonders the only issue I am having with the Fungi is when I am shooting in areas with lots of light, the light fungi causes a fuzzy image when there is lots of light, in lower light settings the images are super sharp though Hi, It sounds like you need a lens cleaning service from the fungus on your lens. I would suggest you bring your lens to be cleaned by a specialist. My lens just had a couple of very small lines of mold and it was just starting to grow and the baking it out in the direct sun saved me the trip to the lens doctor. I caught it in time the fungus growth. It's been about 4 years since I treated my zoom lens with the sun UV treatment and there has been no further growth thankfully.

06-17-2012, 05:13 PM	#10
beales1986 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Victoria B.C. Photos: Albums Posts: 59 Original Poster	I will do that asap thanks guys I am in Victoria BC any recomendations? I am between sending it to Victoria Camera service, or The pentax authorized repair service in Vancouver BC

06-18-2012, 06:00 AM	#11
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Leave both caps off and stick it on your sunniest windowledge for a week first... If it is just a 'little bit' as you first stated it may just dry out and turn to dust...

06-18-2012, 01:43 PM	#12
beales1986 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Victoria B.C. Photos: Albums Posts: 59 Original Poster	I will do that I guess before sending it out, should I put it in a clear plastic bag before? so it doesn't collect too much dust?

06-19-2012, 12:37 AM	#13
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Originally posted by beales1986 I will do that I guess before sending it out, should I put it in a clear plastic bag before? so it doesn't collect too much dust? No that could make things worse.

06-19-2012, 08:46 AM	#14
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	Originally posted by beales1986 should I put it in a clear plastic bag before? No... That would help incubate any active fungal spores... Just leave both caps off and rest on its side... Let mother-sun do her thing and see what happens... Hopefully she'll kill off and dry out the fugus some... Just a little and it could dust up and vanish inside your lens (all lenses have a bit of dust and lots of the dust in lenses 'is' or 'was' fungal in origin)...

06-19-2012, 06:16 PM	#15
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	The best way to keep your lens fungus free is to use it frequently and store it in a cool, dry place like a humidifier box after use. If fungus is already present, exposing it to UV or bright sunlight might kill it but the telltale effects remain on the lens elements. This can only be removed by getting the lens opened up by a qualified technician and having the affected elements cleaned. Leaving the fungus on the lens (dead or not) will over time result in actual damage to the internal lens coating and permanently leave a mark on the glass. Trust me, I live in the tropics and I've had a box full of NOS lenses some of which had this problem.