Does a fungus afflicted enlarger lens have any value to anyone?

Leigh B said:

You're violating some laws of physics and chemistry here.

As I mentioned earlier, fungus excretes hydrofluoric acid, which etches glass.

If you catch it early enough you might clean it before it eats through the coating.
But those wouldn't be "totally spider-webbed".

- Leigh

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In my experience, I've had a pretty significant blob of webby fungus growth in an RB lens; it cleaned up and hadn't etched the coating. I'd say it's always worth a try (and I got that lens for free when buying a 65mm - now I have a mint-looking 127 with no fungus).

I also have a cheap Canon 100mm FL lens - those go for thirty bucks or so - that's badly fungus etched and cleaning didn't help it. But F me, I've shot 4K video with it and it's like god's own diffusion filter - details are sharp, but there's a glow and softness that's just amazing. Between that and the 1960's color and contrast rendering, it's a glorious "the gods just handed you a look that can't be duplicated" kind of thing. (Though not the look for the corporate CEO - I need a beauty/cosmetics or music video sort of project for it).

While that's a rare outcome, I do recall there's some famous celebrity-portrait guy out there who considers his fungus-trashed lens to be a secret weapon.

pentaxuser said:

Yes and sorry. I need to review all posts before asking the question. I remain curious about what success that member had with the lens however, if he/she would care to share it with us

pentaxuser

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I didn't got a report back from the member who took it so I don't know how it worked out for him.

Well, I managed the same thing; went to make a print, which looked slightly soft. I then noticed my 75mm Minolta enlarging lens had a small fungal growth on the internal surfaces of the elements. My darkroom is a converted brick-built coal outhouse that is unheated except when I'm in there. Luckily the lens comes apart easily and most of the fungus came off with a wipe. There's a bit between the two front elements, which are inseparable so It'll have to stay there. I'm now having fun putting the click-stop ball bearing back. This could take a while...

Note to self: don't leave lenses for months in the cold, damp darkroom! D'oh! :O

I have a dehumidifier running in my darkroom for just this reason. I use A/C in there in the summer to help keep it cool and dry.

Sounds like a good idea; I do have a small electric heater but it's not worth the fuel in my case and I can bring the lenses inside the house. I should have done that earlier but there didn't seem to be much of a problem. I lost the ball-bearing for the lens, oh well. Who needs click-stops anyway?

Edit; Useful link: https://petapixel.com/2016/09/29/remove-fungus-lens/ I didn't need the ammonia!