lens fungus disappearing.

RobC · Sep 19, 2015

I have a zeiss lens which had/has fungus on an internal lens surface. This lens had a leather lens pouch which I now know is a big no no. I threw the lens pouch out a few years ago when I discovered this one particular lens(the only one with leather pouch) had very obvious tendrils of fungus inside it. I haven't used it since then (must get it seen to). I looked at it today and the tendrils have gone completely. All that is left is few small faint milky looking spots. I rekon it would be useable without cleaning but do you rekon all the spores will dead or alive after all this time?

Nodda Duma · Sep 19, 2015

Take it to the tanning salon and remove all doubt!

RobC · Sep 19, 2015

but I might come back looking like an oompa loompa

Alan Gales · Sep 19, 2015

RobC said:
I have a zeiss lens which had/has fungus on an internal lens surface. This lens had a leather lens pouch which I now know is a big no no. I threw the lens pouch out a few years ago when I discovered this one particular lens(the only one with leather pouch) had very obvious tendrils of fungus inside it. I haven't used it since then (must get it seen to). I looked at it today and the tendrils have gone completely. All that is left is few small faint milky looking spots. I rekon it would be useable without cleaning but do you rekon all the spores will dead or alive after all this time?

I owned 5 Zeiss lenses that I bought new back in the day. I'm not so sure that those pouches were real leather but I have seen fungus on some that were not mine. I kept all my lenses in a Tamrac camera bag without the leather or pleather bags.

I would say that if the tendrils have turned to dust the fungus is dead. Shoot a roll through it of various subjects and see how the film looks. If you have lost contrast in certain areas due to the milky spots then have the lens cleaned if it is cost effective.

Good luck to you.

RobC · Sep 19, 2015

sounds like a good common sense plan.

All my other contax zeiss lenses have the mock leather pouches. I bought this one new while working in germany and it was a real leather pouch.

Alan Gales · Sep 19, 2015

RobC said:
sounds like a good common sense plan.

All my other contax zeiss lenses have the mock leather pouches. I bought this one new while working in germany and it was a real leather pouch.

Two of my five lenses (25mm and the 180mm) were made in Germany. I got the leatherette pouch for the 25mm. I can't remember but the 180mm lens may have had a leather hard case. I did buy them all here in the U.S. though.

I sold them all though to help fund my 8x10 gear.

CMoore · Sep 20, 2015

Pardon my ignorance, but.....are you guys talking about these...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASAHI-PENTA...-MOUNT-LENS-/121760197098?hash=item1c597929ea

I store my lenses in these things when not in use. Is that a bad idea.?
Thank You

RobC · Sep 20, 2015

we're talking about anything that you use to put your lens in, soft like ours or hard like the ones in your link.

Lens fungus, like all fungus, needs the right conditions and food to grow. The food it reqiures is protein. Leather is full of protein. If fungus spores get onto leather they have a feast and when in close proximity to your lens they will get into your lens.
Use lens pouches which are fungus food free.

The ones you show may be OK becasue they're lined but by and large leather is a bad choice for keeping lenses in because of the risk of fungus.

CMoore · Sep 20, 2015

OK...so it would be "best" to store a lens in open air...just put them in a cabinet, on a shelf (with both caps) and only use the case when needed, for transport.?
Thanks Again

RobC · Sep 20, 2015

most lens pouches are not leather so no problem with them when storing. Just store somewhere which doesn't get humid.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/275-6636549-7625344?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=lens+pouches&rh=n%3A560798%2Ck%3Alens+pouches

Paul Jenkin · Sep 22, 2015

If a lens has (or has had) fungus, storing it with the lens elements exposed to sunlight is a good way of killing the fungus. Fungus, as already said, needs protein for food but it also needs darkness and, ideally, moisture to keep growing.

Unfortunately, fungus growth etches into glass and can be very destructive. In the 40+ years I've been photographing, I've had two lenses damaged badly by fungus - both kept in leather cases. The lost contrast / slight blurring, can be an interesting effect but it can also be vey expensive.

thuggins · Sep 22, 2015

Setting lenses out in the sun is a good way to keep them fungus free. Pick some time around the winter solstice and be careful where the focus point is. I've burned several holes in tabletops.

Sirius Glass · Sep 23, 2015

Nodda Duma said:
Take it to the tanning salon and remove all doubt!

RobC said:
we're talking about anything that you use to put your lens in, soft like ours or hard like the ones in your link.

Lens fungus, like all fungus, needs the right conditions and food to grow. The food it reqiures is protein. Leather is full of protein. If fungus spores get onto leather they have a feast and when in close proximity to your lens they will get into your lens.
Use lens pouches which are fungus food free.

The ones you show may be OK becasue they're lined but by and large leather is a bad choice for keeping lenses in because of the risk of fungus.

Paul Jenkin said:
If a lens has (or has had) fungus, storing it with the lens elements exposed to sunlight is a good way of killing the fungus. Fungus, as already said, needs protein for food but it also needs darkness and, ideally, moisture to keep growing.

Unfortunately, fungus growth etches into glass and can be very destructive. In the 40+ years I've been photographing, I've had two lenses damaged badly by fungus - both kept in leather cases. The lost contrast / slight blurring, can be an interesting effect but it can also be vey expensive.

thuggins said:
Setting lenses out in the sun is a good way to keep them fungus free. Pick some time around the winter solstice and be careful where the focus point is. I've burned several holes in tabletops.

Set the lenses in the sun.

RobC · Sep 23, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
Set the lenses in the sun.

That'll be next year then because autumn has kicked in big time this week.

Sirius Glass · Sep 23, 2015

RobC said:
That'll be next year then because autumn has kicked in big time this week.

What you do not get sun after the equinox?

RobC · Sep 23, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
What you do not get sun after the equinox?

No we get clouds and rain for 6 months.

Sirius Glass · Sep 23, 2015

RobC said:
That'll be next year then because autumn has kicked in big time this week.

Sirius Glass said:
What you do not get sun after the equinox?

RobC said:
No we get clouds and rain for 6 months.

So just like Rochester New York, Sceptered Isle is one of the world's largest natural darkrooms?

lens fungus disappearing.

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