Is this fungus?

lr_photography_soflo · 07-25-2018, 06:55 PM

I'm new to lenses and I don't know exactly what this is and if it's something that can be cleaned out> Thank you

Attached Images

**jatrax** · 07-25-2018, 08:45 PM - **2 Likes**

Possibly, but it looks atypical for classic fungus. Try backlighting the photo, sometimes that makes it easier to identify.

Could possibly be de-lamination of one of the coatings.

Wild Mark · 07-25-2018, 09:24 PM - **1 Like**

It could be the very start of a fungal 'mass' infection - i.e. lots of infection nodes all simultaneously growing/ coalescing, hence looks atypical. Almost like some petri dishes I have played with in my university days - eeek

Craig66 · 07-25-2018, 09:59 PM - **1 Like**

Looks like it's fungus/mould. If you can open, get the lens apart, and of course put it back together again. it should be able to be cleaned.

HoutHans · 07-25-2018, 10:13 PM

I find it difficult to tell, but this seems to affect the front element only. That is generally fairly easy to remove, inspect and clean. If you have identification of the lens, there's probably someone out here who had taken one apart before you willing to share the best tips and trucks.

**clickclick** · 07-26-2018, 04:58 AM - **2 Likes**

Hard to tell, but I think the first question to answer is do you want to get into cleaning vintage lenses? It's not that hard once you get some basic tools. For a lens like this, it appears from your photo you will unscrew a ring that's holding the front element. You'll ned something to grip it. There are rubber lens tools for this purpose. I picked up this set and have found it good, but unfortunately, it's not listed as available, but this gives you an idea of what you're looking for:

amazon.com : 18 Sizes Lens Tool / Filter Wrench Set Rubber 37mm 43mm 49mm 52mm 55mm 58mm 62mm 67mm 72mm 77mm 82mm 86mm etc : Camera Lens Accessories : Camera & Photo?tag=pentaxforums-20&

here is another set that's similar - you need to figure out sizes:

amazon.com : Japan Hobby Tool Vacuum Pad Camera Parts Opener for Camera Lens Repair Made in Japan : Slr Camera Lenses : Camera & Photo?tag=pentaxforums-20&

Once apart, soaking in a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia will remove fungus, if that is what it is.

All that said though, the bottom of the element in the photo looks different from any fungus I've encountered, so not sure if you have some other separation or coating damage going on. You certainly don't have anything to loose by opening this up and checking it out.

dnas · 07-31-2018, 04:49 PM

I've seen fungus that looks like that. Most fungus starts as filaments near the edges, or one spot nearer the middle that radiates outwards.

But on one lens type, it always looks like this: Minolta AF 24-85mm.
I'm not sure why, but it always has multiple spots that looks just like your photos, and they are always in the inside of the front element.

**WillWeaverRVA** · 08-01-2018, 08:30 AM

The bottom of the element seems to resemble fungal growth, although not really anything typical, more like something I'd see on a petri dish. That or it might be haze, but either way you should be able to clean it if you remove the front element.

**carabez** · 08-07-2018, 06:27 AM

Originally posted by lr_photography_soflo

I'm new to lenses and I don't know exactly what this is and if it's something that can be cleaned out> Thank you

Ooops. It looks like balsam separation

pentax360 · 08-12-2018, 11:55 PM

I'm no expert (I was asking about lens fungus a while ago) but to me it looks like balsam separation and coating pealing.

**ChipB** · 08-13-2018, 10:36 AM

I've seen quite a few lenses with fungus and this doesn't look like any I've seen - so I suspect (as others have mentioned) that it's balsam separation. I'm not sure how you fix that, but I suspect the answer is to just shoot photos 'cause the cost to fix will outweigh the value of the lens.

**carabez** · 08-13-2018, 07:41 PM

Originally posted by ChipB

I've seen quite a few lenses with fungus and this doesn't look like any I've seen - so I suspect (as others have mentioned) that it's balsam separation. I'm not sure how you fix that, but I suspect the answer is to just shoot photos 'cause the cost to fix will outweigh the value of the lens.

You ment Dead Lens Club?

Any way, if the lens is really a gem:

Old Lenses can be restored by Re-cementing « SKGrimes

or find another "as is" lens to get the spare part

[edited to redirect to the Dead Lens Club]

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07-25-2018, 08:45 PM - 2 Likes	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Possibly, but it looks atypical for classic fungus. Try backlighting the photo, sometimes that makes it easier to identify. Could possibly be de-lamination of one of the coatings.

07-25-2018, 09:24 PM - 1 Like	#3
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	It could be the very start of a fungal 'mass' infection - i.e. lots of infection nodes all simultaneously growing/ coalescing, hence looks atypical. Almost like some petri dishes I have played with in my university days - eeek

07-25-2018, 09:59 PM - 1 Like	#4
Craig66 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sapphire Coast. NSW. Posts: 141	Looks like it's fungus/mould. If you can open, get the lens apart, and of course put it back together again. it should be able to be cleaned.

07-25-2018, 10:13 PM	#5
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,123	I find it difficult to tell, but this seems to affect the front element only. That is generally fairly easy to remove, inspect and clean. If you have identification of the lens, there's probably someone out here who had taken one apart before you willing to share the best tips and trucks.

07-26-2018, 04:58 AM - 2 Likes	#6
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,904	Hard to tell, but I think the first question to answer is do you want to get into cleaning vintage lenses? It's not that hard once you get some basic tools. For a lens like this, it appears from your photo you will unscrew a ring that's holding the front element. You'll ned something to grip it. There are rubber lens tools for this purpose. I picked up this set and have found it good, but unfortunately, it's not listed as available, but this gives you an idea of what you're looking for: amazon.com : 18 Sizes Lens Tool / Filter Wrench Set Rubber 37mm 43mm 49mm 52mm 55mm 58mm 62mm 67mm 72mm 77mm 82mm 86mm etc : Camera Lens Accessories : Camera & Photo?tag=pentaxforums-20& here is another set that's similar - you need to figure out sizes: amazon.com : Japan Hobby Tool Vacuum Pad Camera Parts Opener for Camera Lens Repair Made in Japan : Slr Camera Lenses : Camera & Photo?tag=pentaxforums-20& Once apart, soaking in a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia will remove fungus, if that is what it is. All that said though, the bottom of the element in the photo looks different from any fungus I've encountered, so not sure if you have some other separation or coating damage going on. You certainly don't have anything to loose by opening this up and checking it out.

07-31-2018, 04:49 PM	#7
dnas Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Japan (Australian expat) Posts: 179	I've seen fungus that looks like that. Most fungus starts as filaments near the edges, or one spot nearer the middle that radiates outwards. But on one lens type, it always looks like this: Minolta AF 24-85mm. I'm not sure why, but it always has multiple spots that looks just like your photos, and they are always in the inside of the front element.

08-01-2018, 08:30 AM	#8
WillWeaverRVA Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Richmond, VA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	The bottom of the element seems to resemble fungal growth, although not really anything typical, more like something I'd see on a petri dish. That or it might be haze, but either way you should be able to clean it if you remove the front element.

08-07-2018, 06:27 AM	#9
carabez Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Cinco de Mayo Photos: Gallery Posts: 810	Originally posted by lr_photography_soflo I'm new to lenses and I don't know exactly what this is and if it's something that can be cleaned out> Thank you Ooops. It looks like balsam separation

08-12-2018, 11:55 PM	#10
pentax360 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: OR Posts: 436	I'm no expert (I was asking about lens fungus a while ago) but to me it looks like balsam separation and coating pealing.

08-13-2018, 10:36 AM	#11
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,717	I've seen quite a few lenses with fungus and this doesn't look like any I've seen - so I suspect (as others have mentioned) that it's balsam separation. I'm not sure how you fix that, but I suspect the answer is to just shoot photos 'cause the cost to fix will outweigh the value of the lens.

08-13-2018, 07:41 PM	#12
carabez Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Cinco de Mayo Photos: Gallery Posts: 810	Originally posted by ChipB I've seen quite a few lenses with fungus and this doesn't look like any I've seen - so I suspect (as others have mentioned) that it's balsam separation. I'm not sure how you fix that, but I suspect the answer is to just shoot photos 'cause the cost to fix will outweigh the value of the lens. You ment Dead Lens Club? Any way, if the lens is really a gem: Old Lenses can be restored by Re-cementing « SKGrimes or find another "as is" lens to get the spare part [edited to redirect to the Dead Lens Club]