fungus, bubbles, pollen?

**sergysergy** · 08-16-2011, 12:14 PM

Hi all,
I recently purchased a Sigma 70-200 from another forum member and I discovered some kind of particle in the inner lens. I am not sure what it is. I have cheked different threads and my guess is a bubble or some kind of pollen. The thing is that it is not just dust because there is some kind of ring/halo surrounding it. I am worried that it may grow even more...any thoughts?

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MysteryOnion · 08-16-2011, 01:51 PM

Can't tell with the picture, but my vote is fungus. Have you been in very humid environments for extended periods with this lens?

JeffJS · 08-16-2011, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by MysteryOnion

Can't tell with the picture, but my vote is fungus. Have you been in very humid environments for extended periods with this lens?

Since he 'recently' purchased the lens, I'm betting not. Not for 'extended' periods of time anyway.

MysteryOnion · 08-16-2011, 02:16 PM

How does it look through a polarizer filter. Does the halo part look to change with the rotation with rainbow effects? Might be oil.

**jatrax** · 08-16-2011, 03:19 PM

Hard to tell from the photo. It could be fungus but it looks more like oil. Possibly a bit of grease got dislodged in shipping and ended up there? Looks like what happens if you drop a bit of grease on something, it gradually spreads out in a near perfect circle.

Fungus should have tendrils growing out of the center although hard to tell in that photo.

**sergysergy** · 08-16-2011, 06:41 PM

Thanks for your replies guys,

As I said I just got the lens but the seller has told me it has not been in humid places. To me it looks like a small breadcrumb (so maybe Mystery Onion is right and it is oil). I checked other posts and none of the pictures/problems (i.e. fungus, bubbles, etc) looks like this...

PS-if there is somebody who has experience using long zooms while eating oily chips please let me know...maybe that person can confirm it is oil

**sergysergy** · 08-18-2011, 03:30 PM

any other thoughts?

Kaufeetime · 08-18-2011, 08:07 PM

Was this picture taken after you clean the lens? What methods were used to clean the lens?

**sergysergy** · 08-18-2011, 08:15 PM

Hi haven't cleaned the lens after I bought it, but I doubt it has to do with cleaning since whatever that is is inside. what are your thoughts?

bjake · 08-18-2011, 09:41 PM

Take some pictures with the lens including clean white clouds or white paper and see if the spot will affect pictures,good chance it won't.
Jake

**sergysergy** · 08-18-2011, 11:13 PM

As I told the seller it seems not to show up. I have seen a couple of spots but it is probably just dust on the sensor. my only concern is that it keeps growing. whatever it is seems to be growing, melting or spreading

**jatrax** · 08-19-2011, 08:41 AM

If it is growing or spreading that fast it is not fungus, it is oil or grease. Something got dislodged in shipping and ended up on the inside of the front element. Possibly a bit of grease from the helicoid, maybe a potato chip crumb.

Not sure how that lens comes apart but if the front element is accessible it should not be a major job to clean if you feel comfortable taking it apart.

**sergysergy** · 08-19-2011, 11:25 PM

Yep, it is frustrating seeing it so close...and so far

I am not sure if this lens can be dismantled that easily though

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08-16-2011, 01:51 PM	#2
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944	Can't tell with the picture, but my vote is fungus. Have you been in very humid environments for extended periods with this lens?

08-16-2011, 01:57 PM	#3
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by MysteryOnion Can't tell with the picture, but my vote is fungus. Have you been in very humid environments for extended periods with this lens? Since he 'recently' purchased the lens, I'm betting not. Not for 'extended' periods of time anyway.

08-16-2011, 02:16 PM	#4
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944	How does it look through a polarizer filter. Does the halo part look to change with the rotation with rainbow effects? Might be oil.

08-16-2011, 03:19 PM	#5
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,992	Hard to tell from the photo. It could be fungus but it looks more like oil. Possibly a bit of grease got dislodged in shipping and ended up there? Looks like what happens if you drop a bit of grease on something, it gradually spreads out in a near perfect circle. Fungus should have tendrils growing out of the center although hard to tell in that photo.

08-16-2011, 06:41 PM	#6
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,176 Original Poster	Thanks for your replies guys, As I said I just got the lens but the seller has told me it has not been in humid places. To me it looks like a small breadcrumb (so maybe Mystery Onion is right and it is oil). I checked other posts and none of the pictures/problems (i.e. fungus, bubbles, etc) looks like this... PS-if there is somebody who has experience using long zooms while eating oily chips please let me know...maybe that person can confirm it is oil

08-18-2011, 03:30 PM	#7
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,176 Original Poster	any other thoughts?

08-18-2011, 08:07 PM	#8
Kaufeetime Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kansas City,Mo. Photos: Albums Posts: 206	Was this picture taken after you clean the lens? What methods were used to clean the lens?

08-18-2011, 08:15 PM	#9
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,176 Original Poster	Hi haven't cleaned the lens after I bought it, but I doubt it has to do with cleaning since whatever that is is inside. what are your thoughts?

08-18-2011, 09:41 PM	#10
bjake Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Eastern Kentucky Posts: 416	Take some pictures with the lens including clean white clouds or white paper and see if the spot will affect pictures,good chance it won't. Jake

08-18-2011, 11:13 PM	#11
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,176 Original Poster	As I told the seller it seems not to show up. I have seen a couple of spots but it is probably just dust on the sensor. my only concern is that it keeps growing. whatever it is seems to be growing, melting or spreading

08-19-2011, 08:41 AM	#12
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,992	If it is growing or spreading that fast it is not fungus, it is oil or grease. Something got dislodged in shipping and ended up on the inside of the front element. Possibly a bit of grease from the helicoid, maybe a potato chip crumb. Not sure how that lens comes apart but if the front element is accessible it should not be a major job to clean if you feel comfortable taking it apart.

08-19-2011, 11:25 PM	#13
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,176 Original Poster	Yep, it is frustrating seeing it so close...and so far I am not sure if this lens can be dismantled that easily though