Should I buy a way underpriced lens with "emergence of fungus"?

[LowriderS10]

I just noticed this so I only have 40 minutes before the auction ends haha...

But there's a lens I've been wanting for a long time and it's cheap on eBay...BUT...it says 'There are small specs of dust and the emergence of some fungus in the elements themselves, though this doesn't effect the photographs. "

Should I stay away? How easy is fungus to get rid of? I just want a cheap walkaround lens...

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Probably too late for this case, but as a general rule, "It depends"...

Everyone will probably post their own personal anecdotes, but as a genral rule:
1) In the worst case, you'll have an irreparable lens (etched elements) and possibly introduce fungus spores into your previously unaffected home
2) In the best case, you just need to put the lens on a sunny windowsill for a while, or do an elementary disassembly & clean, to get a perfect or near perfect lens very cheaply.

My own anecdotes cover the two extremes and several things in between.

Depends how willing you are to gamble.

 

[blockend]

"though this doesn't effect the photographs"

Whenever I read this I wonder what specialist equipment the seller has to test the lens. Would you breathe on the front or back element and expect a sharp photo? Avoid like the plague.

 

[Pumalite]

I have an SMC Pentax Takumar (K) and a 200mm (the other;135mm) full of fungus and they take great pictures.