autcion Pentax lens has fungus

Michael Piziak · 12-19-2013, 03:16 PM

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I'm looking at a lens on the auction site that has fungus on inside of lens. I suppose that's why only 1 bid on it.
Is it possible to send a lens to a technician like United Camera and get fungus cleaned off? Or should one avoid such lens.

vonBaloney · 12-19-2013, 03:18 PM

It depends! Which lens, how bad is it, etc. Link?

Michael Piziak · 12-19-2013, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

It depends! Which lens, how bad is it, etc. Link?

Pentax M SMC Macro 100mm F 4 Lens Pleae Read K Mount 60 Day Guarrantee | eBay

**marcusBMG** · 12-19-2013, 03:43 PM

If the fungus is indeed just on the front element, or the element behind, on this prime lens thats the easiest to get at and clean. likely to need a lens spanner/substitute lens spanner tho
For me thats a DIY...but you never know a friendly techie might take it on and do it economically.

vonBaloney · 12-19-2013, 03:52 PM

Hard to tell but those whitish kind of things will often clean right off. And that shouldn't be a hard lens to take apart. I'd sent it to Eric Hendrickson, not United Camera. I'm guessing it would be about $70 to clean based on other work he's done for me, but of course that's just a guess. So there is always some risk with a lens like that, especially if you need to pay someone else to clean it (even if you can return the lens, you'll still have to pay for that labor successful or not). Most of the time they aren't that bad and can be made good as new. Other times the fungus will get in between sealed elements or start pitting the glass and then it isn't worth the bother. But even if you just kill the fungus and clean it best you can, the image quality will often not be degraded that you would notice. (Again, depends on which elements and how bad it is.) But I've got lenses with remnants of fungus and the images are the same as from a mint lens. (Make sure to keep the lens dry going forward.)

So, worth the gamble at the right price...

Michael Piziak · 12-19-2013, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

Hard to tell but those whitish kind of things will often clean right off. And that shouldn't be a hard lens to take apart. I'd sent it to Eric Hendrickson, not United Camera. I'm guessing it would be about $70 to clean based on other work he's done for me, but of course that's just a guess. So there is always some risk with a lens like that, especially if you need to pay someone else to clean it (even if you can return the lens, you'll still have to pay for that labor successful or not). Most of the time they aren't that bad and can be made good as new. Other times the fungus will get in between sealed elements or start pitting the glass and then it isn't worth the bother. But even if you just kill the fungus and clean it best you can, the image quality will often not be degraded that you would notice. (Again, depends on which elements and how bad it is.) But I've got lenses with remnants of fungus and the images are the same as from a mint lens. (Make sure to keep the lens dry going forward.)

So, worth the gamble at the right price...

I've never taken a lens apart. But with a lens at this price, I wouldn't worry about trashing the lens in the process. Are there any movies or pages on taking apart a Pentax smc lens.

**Just1MoreDave** · 12-19-2013, 04:06 PM

I will bid if I think I can clean it myself. Getting it done is not too costly but right now you're approaching the cost of a lens in better shape. It's $24 now, shipping, say $70 is right for cleaning, already over $100. If one of these was in great shape and $120, you wouldn't have any repair surprises and you could use it right away.

**arnold** · 12-19-2013, 04:07 PM - **1 Like**

This lens is prone to the cemented element being cloudy with age. As long as it is just slight, it has no noticeable effect. It may not be economical for repair though, even if parts are available. This is one of my most favoured lenses.

vonBaloney · 12-19-2013, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by Michael Piziak

I've never taken a lens apart. But with a lens at this price, I wouldn't worry about trashing the lens in the process. Are there any movies or pages on taking apart a Pentax smc lens.

Most of them are fairly easy (the M series with no electrical stuff in them), but that macro is probably slightly more complicated. Depends which elements you need to get to. If you send it to a guy like Eric, he'll clean everything, make sure aperture is working good, etc etc. Don't get too excited about the current price, I'm sure it will go for more, although the seller also has bad feedback so that will help keep it down as well. It's a gamble...

**Just1MoreDave** · 12-19-2013, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by Michael Piziak

I've never taken a lens apart. But with a lens at this price, I wouldn't worry about trashing the lens in the process. Are there any movies or pages on taking apart a Pentax smc lens.

There are several articles here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/114-maintenance-repair-articles/179884-pe...-database.html

Each lens might have its own quirks. Unfortunately no one has done an article on the M100/4. I have taken apart my M50/4 and it's different than I expected but not that hard. I usually look at the auction photos for warning signs that the lens has been taken apart before, filter ring dents that would make disassembly difficult, and an optical diagram to see where the elements are. In the M100/4, there are only 5 elements in 3 groups, so you only have 2 internal surfaces to clean.

tom1803 · 12-19-2013, 04:29 PM

arnold is correct.

Looking at the last picture in the listing, I can see that this is not a fungus and that it's aged cement that has gone cloudy. The affected cemented pair is the first group in this lens and very easy to get at. However, unless you know how to separate, clean and re-cement using proper optical glue yourself, it's not going to be economical to send it in for repair.

**jatrax** · 12-19-2013, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by tom1803

I can see that this is not a fungus and that it's aged cement that has gone cloudy. The affected cemented pair is the first group in this lens

I sent a similar lens (the A version) to Eric for repair of a separated lens pair. He did a wonderful job, cost was I think $150 about. If it's just fungus cleaning would be less. He told me he had to get the chemicals for the repair from Pentax.

I would carefully check sold listings on the auction site, not listings, sold listings. Then take an average, add in shipping to and from the repair shop plus the repair cost ($70 to $170?) and see if you get a number that makes sense.

For expensive or rarely seen lenses repair is very cost effective, for common ones like the M 100m f/4 it is often better to just find a good one and pay the going price rather than take a chance.

**patrick9** · 12-19-2013, 08:06 PM

I was the one bid. I lost did you win it. The pictures actually looked more like Haze. I figure for $24.00 I would try cleaning it myself. Or if lens separation I figured it might be worth sending to Eric to be repaired

**patrick9** · 12-19-2013, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

I'm sure it will go for more

It went for $25.00

Michael Piziak · 12-19-2013, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by patrick9

I was the one bid. I lost did you win it. The pictures actually looked more like Haze. I figure for $24.00 I would try cleaning it myself. Or if lens separation I figured it might be worth sending to Eric to be repaired

Yes I won it. I set auction sniper to bid $25.01 Someone else tried to bid $24.50 at the last second, but I guess my $25.01 took it.

You never know, the lens may work and show no impairment the way it is.

I'm pretty sure I can take a rubber stopper and press down hard on the front glass and screw it off, similar to the 50mm f4 macro (someone did that here). Even if I break it, I'll learn something and it won't be that much in a project.

12-19-2013, 03:16 PM	#1
Michael Piziak Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,815	autcion Pentax lens has fungus Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I'm looking at a lens on the auction site that has fungus on inside of lens. I suppose that's why only 1 bid on it. Is it possible to send a lens to a technician like United Camera and get fungus cleaned off? Or should one avoid such lens.

12-19-2013, 04:29 PM	#11
tom1803 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kokubunji, Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 465	arnold is correct. Looking at the last picture in the listing, I can see that this is not a fungus and that it's aged cement that has gone cloudy. The affected cemented pair is the first group in this lens and very easy to get at. However, unless you know how to separate, clean and re-cement using proper optical glue yourself, it's not going to be economical to send it in for repair. Last edited by tom1803; 12-19-2013 at 04:35 PM.

12-19-2013, 08:06 PM	#13
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	I was the one bid. I lost did you win it. The pictures actually looked more like Haze. I figure for $24.00 I would try cleaning it myself. Or if lens separation I figured it might be worth sending to Eric to be repaired Last edited by patrick9; 12-19-2013 at 08:13 PM.

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12-19-2013, 03:18 PM	#2
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	It depends! Which lens, how bad is it, etc. Link?

12-19-2013, 03:39 PM	#3
Michael Piziak Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,815 Original Poster	Originally posted by vonBaloney It depends! Which lens, how bad is it, etc. Link? Pentax M SMC Macro 100mm F 4 Lens Pleae Read K Mount 60 Day Guarrantee \| eBay

12-19-2013, 03:43 PM	#4
marcusBMG Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,868	If the fungus is indeed just on the front element, or the element behind, on this prime lens thats the easiest to get at and clean. likely to need a lens spanner/substitute lens spanner tho For me thats a DIY...but you never know a friendly techie might take it on and do it economically.

12-19-2013, 03:52 PM	#5
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Hard to tell but those whitish kind of things will often clean right off. And that shouldn't be a hard lens to take apart. I'd sent it to Eric Hendrickson, not United Camera. I'm guessing it would be about $70 to clean based on other work he's done for me, but of course that's just a guess. So there is always some risk with a lens like that, especially if you need to pay someone else to clean it (even if you can return the lens, you'll still have to pay for that labor successful or not). Most of the time they aren't that bad and can be made good as new. Other times the fungus will get in between sealed elements or start pitting the glass and then it isn't worth the bother. But even if you just kill the fungus and clean it best you can, the image quality will often not be degraded that you would notice. (Again, depends on which elements and how bad it is.) But I've got lenses with remnants of fungus and the images are the same as from a mint lens. (Make sure to keep the lens dry going forward.) So, worth the gamble at the right price...

12-19-2013, 04:03 PM	#6
Michael Piziak Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,815 Original Poster	Originally posted by vonBaloney Hard to tell but those whitish kind of things will often clean right off. And that shouldn't be a hard lens to take apart. I'd sent it to Eric Hendrickson, not United Camera. I'm guessing it would be about $70 to clean based on other work he's done for me, but of course that's just a guess. So there is always some risk with a lens like that, especially if you need to pay someone else to clean it (even if you can return the lens, you'll still have to pay for that labor successful or not). Most of the time they aren't that bad and can be made good as new. Other times the fungus will get in between sealed elements or start pitting the glass and then it isn't worth the bother. But even if you just kill the fungus and clean it best you can, the image quality will often not be degraded that you would notice. (Again, depends on which elements and how bad it is.) But I've got lenses with remnants of fungus and the images are the same as from a mint lens. (Make sure to keep the lens dry going forward.) So, worth the gamble at the right price... I've never taken a lens apart. But with a lens at this price, I wouldn't worry about trashing the lens in the process. Are there any movies or pages on taking apart a Pentax smc lens.

12-19-2013, 04:06 PM	#7
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	I will bid if I think I can clean it myself. Getting it done is not too costly but right now you're approaching the cost of a lens in better shape. It's $24 now, shipping, say $70 is right for cleaning, already over $100. If one of these was in great shape and $120, you wouldn't have any repair surprises and you could use it right away.

12-19-2013, 04:07 PM - 1 Like	#8
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,293	This lens is prone to the cemented element being cloudy with age. As long as it is just slight, it has no noticeable effect. It may not be economical for repair though, even if parts are available. This is one of my most favoured lenses.

12-19-2013, 04:16 PM	#9
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by Michael Piziak I've never taken a lens apart. But with a lens at this price, I wouldn't worry about trashing the lens in the process. Are there any movies or pages on taking apart a Pentax smc lens. Most of them are fairly easy (the M series with no electrical stuff in them), but that macro is probably slightly more complicated. Depends which elements you need to get to. If you send it to a guy like Eric, he'll clean everything, make sure aperture is working good, etc etc. Don't get too excited about the current price, I'm sure it will go for more, although the seller also has bad feedback so that will help keep it down as well. It's a gamble...

12-19-2013, 04:16 PM	#10
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by Michael Piziak I've never taken a lens apart. But with a lens at this price, I wouldn't worry about trashing the lens in the process. Are there any movies or pages on taking apart a Pentax smc lens. There are several articles here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/114-maintenance-repair-articles/179884-pe...-database.html Each lens might have its own quirks. Unfortunately no one has done an article on the M100/4. I have taken apart my M50/4 and it's different than I expected but not that hard. I usually look at the auction photos for warning signs that the lens has been taken apart before, filter ring dents that would make disassembly difficult, and an optical diagram to see where the elements are. In the M100/4, there are only 5 elements in 3 groups, so you only have 2 internal surfaces to clean.

12-19-2013, 04:53 PM	#12
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by tom1803 I can see that this is not a fungus and that it's aged cement that has gone cloudy. The affected cemented pair is the first group in this lens I sent a similar lens (the A version) to Eric for repair of a separated lens pair. He did a wonderful job, cost was I think $150 about. If it's just fungus cleaning would be less. He told me he had to get the chemicals for the repair from Pentax. I would carefully check sold listings on the auction site, not listings, sold listings. Then take an average, add in shipping to and from the repair shop plus the repair cost ($70 to $170?) and see if you get a number that makes sense. For expensive or rarely seen lenses repair is very cost effective, for common ones like the M 100m f/4 it is often better to just find a good one and pay the going price rather than take a chance.

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12-19-2013, 08:11 PM	#14
patrick9 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Murfreesboro Tennessee Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,458	Originally posted by vonBaloney I'm sure it will go for more It went for $25.00

12-19-2013, 08:13 PM	#15
Michael Piziak Closed Account Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,815 Original Poster	Originally posted by patrick9 I was the one bid. I lost did you win it. The pictures actually looked more like Haze. I figure for $24.00 I would try cleaning it myself. Or if lens separation I figured it might be worth sending to Eric to be repaired Yes I won it. I set auction sniper to bid $25.01 Someone else tried to bid $24.50 at the last second, but I guess my $25.01 took it. You never know, the lens may work and show no impairment the way it is. I'm pretty sure I can take a rubber stopper and press down hard on the front glass and screw it off, similar to the 50mm f4 macro (someone did that here). Even if I break it, I'll learn something and it won't be that much in a project.