Can a CLA get rid of fungus?

[MenacingTourist]

Trying to decide if I can make an older lens servicable or not. I was told it had some fungus (waiting to hear just how much) and I'm not sure if a CLA can get that off the lens.

Have any of you been successful in getting rid of fungus by sending it out for service?

Thanks,

Alan.

 

[geraldatwork]

I don't have personal experience, just from reading the forums. But I had haze/fog successfully cleaned if that means anything. From what I understand it depends on how bad and how long. Fungus starts on the surface and after some time etches into the glass. So if caught early enough probably can be cleaned. Also it is less damaging if confined to an outer surface.

 

[jimgalli]

Lenses are built so that any inner air / glass surfaces can be cleaned with dis-assembly. I would dis-assemble the lens and let the glass cells sit in bleach for a while, rinse with warm water, and clean with Windex. If it's advanced the glass will be etched by the fungus but still better than doing nothing.

 

[dschneller]

I had my Sawyer's Mark IV serviced last week, the lens did have fungus on it. For $79 CAD he cleaned the entire camera, cleared the lens of fungus, and serviced the shutter. I would highly recommend his work.

Dave

Here's the plug:
Keno at www.camerarepaircanada.com

 

[rjr]

Alan,

Fungus comes easily off with dilute acetic acid - ordinary vinegar. I have cleaned three Durst/Schneider Componons from tiny Fungus spots with this.

I´d be careful with anything else but Vinegar, _clean_ Aceton (if there is no plastics used) or Rubbing Alcohol and a clean, soft cloth. So - no Windex.

 

[Dave Parker]

Alan,

It depends on where the fungas is sitting, if it is between the elements of the lens, the the process becomes a little more complicated, as the elements of the cell would have to be sepreated, cleaned and then re-glued or assemebled, if it is on the outside surface of the cells, then it should not be much of a problem.

Dave

 

[bobfowler]

Is there a fungus amongus?

I picked up a trick a few years back that really works well: Pond's Cold Cream. Put a blob on the lens with some lens tissue and let it sit for a half hour or so. Then carefully clean the goop off the lens and clean normally with lens cleaner/tissue as you normally would. You might need to repeat the process, but for minor fungus (the stuff that hasn't etched into the glass), it works quite well.

 

[Steve Hamley]

The fungus can be cleaned, but it can etch the glass - which cannot be removed.

The only way to know is to try I suspect.

Steve

 

[John Kasaian]

alan,

As mentioned, it all depends on if the glass was etched or not(unless you're into the Sally Mann thing) If I really liked the lens, I'd give it a shot---nothing to loose, right? If I were buying the lens, quite frankly I wouldn't touch it unless it was really (I mean really) cheap and I had another use for the shutter. There are simply too many good lenses around to bother with the fungus among us. My 2 cents YMMV

 

[Peter De Smidt]

I've heard of success, but I've also heard that it's impossible to get all of the spores, and there's a good chance that the fungus will come back. I don't know if this is true. In any case, I wouldn't buy a lens with visible fungus, as there are plenty of good lenses out their for reasonable amounts. Remember to never store your lenses in a high humidity area, such as in a darkroom. It's the high humidity that leads to fungal growth.

-Peter
www.desmidt.net

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Find the fungus in this picture--

Worst case--the lens is fungus ridden, coatings permanently damaged, glass etched--it still might not be too bad. I bought a Canon FD 400/4.5 S.S.C. in this condition but otherwise in excellent mechanical shape for around $125, and paid around $80 for a full CLA from the old Professional Camera Repair in New York. I use the lens all the time for bird photography now. There probably is a slight loss of contrast, but it's not too bad. Without the fungus, this lens usually goes for $600-750.

 

[Steve Hamley]

I agree with David - if it's cheap enough, give it a try. One reason is the lens may be fine even with some minor fungus etching. Another is that what someone thinks is fungus may not be. I've seen a lot of funky haze and junk on lenses that would only clean off with alcohol or a stronger solvent, not lens cleaner.

I would make sure it has a serviceable shutter - if you want one. Avoid getting a lens with visible fungus damage then sinking another $500 in a shutter and mounting as this would eliminate any return on your investment if you come across a better deal later (and you will) and want to sell it.

Steve

 

[WarEaglemtn]

http://www.lensn2shutter.com/index.html

Check out these guys. They can remove fungus and do the servicing as well.

 

[John Koehrer]

If the fungus is on the inner surface cleaning is usually no more difficult than outer.(vinegar) But, do not soak lens groups in a bath. The older lenses were usually cemented together with a balsam cement & can be separated with a water bath.

 

[MenacingTourist]

Thanks everyone. I learn so much here it's like I'm in school or something