Is this separation or fungus or ..?

Matus Kalisky · Apr 23, 2010

Hello,

this is view of the rear element on the Pentax 33-55/4.5 Is this separation or fungus? The owner says it is not on the outer surface. What do you think?

Any idea how costly it could be to have this lens element exchanged/serviced?

thank you

R gould · Apr 23, 2010

It looks like fungus to me, personally I would leave it alone, gettimg anything done would certainly be costly and pentax standard zooms are plentyfull and reasonably priced,Richard

brucemuir · Apr 24, 2010

Yep looks like fungus to me.
I'd pass considering you probably can't get to the inner element surfaces too easily.
In my experience this stuff cleans up fairly easily if you can unscrew the elements.

John Koehrer · Apr 24, 2010

There's a fungus among us.
Unscrew the rear element & carefully wipe it clean.

MartinCrabtree · Apr 24, 2010

Ah that far too easy to be right.

Sirius Glass · Apr 24, 2010

As one toe said to another, when they had athlete's feet, "There is a fungus among-us!"

Forget the lens and move on.

Steve

Slixtiesix · Apr 25, 2010

Looks like fungus. I wouldn´t buy it.

Matus Kalisky · Apr 25, 2010

Thank you for your answers. Actually - the rear element can be replaced (should be around $150 including the work). So I am still considering it. However - what makes me unsure is what is the chance that the fungus attacked also deeper sitting elements ...

canonman · Apr 25, 2010

As some said: leave it by the owner - even as a gift I wouldn't take it...

Q.G. · Apr 25, 2010

slnce-z-gsi said:
Thank you for your answers. Actually - the rear element can be replaced (should be around $150 including the work). So I am still considering it. However - what makes me unsure is what is the chance that the fungus attacked also deeper sitting elements ...

You can't guess at the chance of that happening.
It may, or may not. You'll never know unless you have the thing and keep an eye out for it, see if it does or not.

Just like it may to lenses that as far as we know haven't been affected, yet. You never know. All we can do is store the things sensibly, and hope.

Already having fungus in a lens may increase our expectation that its spores could have reached other parts of it then the ones we know affected by fungus already. But know that they have, and that they will develop into a fungal growth if they have, we do not.

So if the price is right, and you can get the lens cleaned, worth a gamble.

On the other hand, if it is going to cost to clean it, and there are other lenses you could get, why bother?

Matus Kalisky · Apr 28, 2010

Hello, finally I did not get the lens, but as I informed myself about the possible repair (exchange) at the official german Pentax service I got a quote of 300 euro + TAX. They said that while the part itself is rather cheap (around 80 - comparable to the quote I have heard from elsewhere in USA) the work involved bring the price up.

thank you for your help

Rick A · Apr 28, 2010

Now you know what happens to equiptment when its left in cases and bags, out of the sun, for extended periods of time.

Jeff Kubach · Apr 28, 2010

That's the problem with older equipment. Age gets to us all!

Jeff

paul ron · Apr 28, 2010

You've got fungus etching the coating. Probably cheaper to get a new used lens instead of repairing that one.

Is this separation or fungus or ..?

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency