Is this separation or fungus or ..?

[Matus Kalisky]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Ah that far too easy to be right.

 

[Sirius Glass]

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]

Looks like fungus. I wouldn´t buy it.

 

[Matus Kalisky]

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]

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

 

[Q.G.]

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]

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]

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]

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

Jeff

 

[paul ron]

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