Sigma Mini-Wide 28mm with Fungus - repair or return?

[Neil Kelly]

Hi all
Firstly, apologies if this is off topic for being about a lens, but I'd really appreciate it if it could stay, as I've no idea where else to ask!

I bought this Sigma Mini Wide 28mm f/2.8 off eBay where the seller described it as excellent condition, and it is, mechanically at least. Looking directly through it, the glass seems to be clear, but when held up to the light there's a very obvious dusting of 'something' over the glass inside, which I'm guessing is fungus. When I put the lens on my camera, there's no obvious marks visible, but will it affect the image? If so, how? I don't own a digital camera with the minolta mount to check it unfortunately.
Would it be worth my trying to take it apart and clean it? Or should I just return it, or ask for a partial refund? It 'only' cost me £25, but that's a reasonable amount for a poor student, and I can't find another of the same lens in the same price range unfortunately - they seem to be £50 upwards from here (which obviously isn't that much at the same time, but I was just looking for a basic wide angle to play with and try out). I've attached a couple of pictures for you to take a look at, I'd really appreciate any input you have!

The speckling on the black parts seems to be marks on the paint, which I'm not entirely sure about too..

 

[Ian Grant]

Send it back.

Ian

 

[shutterfinger]

Send it back. Include your pictures of the defect so the jister seller will know what's wrong with it.

 

[gary in nj]

If you are comfortable disassembling a lens, and you like the lens, then I would clean it and keep it. I would also let the seller know about the condition and advise him that you will be leaving bad feedback - that might give him incentive to negotiate a price reduction.

If you are not comfortable cleaning the lens then I'd send it back.

 

[rthollenbeck]

If you are comfortable disassembling a lens, and you like the lens, then I would clean it and keep it. I would also let the seller know about the condition and advise him that you will be leaving bad feedback - that might give him incentive to negotiate a price reduction.

If you are not comfortable cleaning the lens then I'd send it back.

1+

Id contact the seller and negotiate before you clean it.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Ammonia

By the way, that does have something internal that needs cleaning.... but SOME of what you see maybe glue separation (which does not need to be addressed).

 

[Jeff Bradford]

Send it back. The Mini-Wide isn't rare or expensive, so good ones are readily available.

 

[mynewcolour]

I would also let the seller know about the condition and advise him that you will be leaving bad feedback - that might give him incentive to negotiate a price reduction.

Alternatively you could just suggest a price reduction. You'd achieve the same outcome, zero gamefication of eBay and it's a more honest way to conduct yourself.

 

[Leigh B]

Fungus cannot be cleaned.

What's worse, it's contagious, and will infect other lenses in your kit.

Fungus eats the magnesium fluoride coating that's applied to photographic lens elements.
After digesting that, it excretes hydrofluoric acid, which etches glass.

Regardless of what method you might use to remove the fungus, you cannot replace the etched glass.

Return it.

- Leigh

 

[Neil Kelly]

Hi all

Thanks for all the advice, on the basis of which I've decided to return the lens, as I'm not entirely confident in my abilities to get it right! Maybe when I can find a lens which I wouldn't mind getting wrong (a free one!). Sent a message to the seller asking for a return with pictures, and they've said that it won't affect the quality of photos.. this might be an interesting conversation! They don't seem to sell photographic equipment regularly so I suspect it's going to be an uphill battle. Hey ho, I'm sure it'll work out. Thanks again for all the help, and sorry it's been a few days since I've been able to reply!

 

[John Koehrer]

From ebay it's "not as described" and he won't have much choice. Even if they state "no returns"
in their text. It's not really "excellent condition" is it?

FWIW though it probably wouldn't have much if any visible effect. In theory it will
but maybe not VISIBLE.

 

[rthollenbeck]

I'd still have a go at having him refund you so it costs nearly nothing, if he will go for that in law of return.

Then you could clean as an experiment