When is lens fungus not an issue?

benjiboy · Jan 1, 2016

"Lens fungus is not an issue" when you don't have it, otherwise it's deadly.

Bill Burk · Jan 1, 2016

Gerald C Koch said:
The following product is useful when mildew is a problem.

http://www.superslickstuff.com/lubricant/SunPac-Mildewcide.html.

They can't ship this to California, sadly... so they're refunding me my order.

What other choices are there?

Sirius Glass · Jan 1, 2016

marcmarc said:
Sadly true in some cases. Many years ago I purchased a Pentax lens off ebay that the seller described as perfect condition. When the lens arrived there was so much fungus it looked like a spider had gotten in there and spun a web. I sent the lens back and the seller took his time giving me a refund. That was the first and last time I ever bought a lens from an auction site.

That is why I avoid buying lenses or cameras from eBay. Actually I avoid buying anything important from eBay.

jjphoto · Jan 1, 2016

Ko.Fe. said:
When lens is sold.

+100

This thread ( http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1358142/0?keyword=fungus#12951135 ) is a survey of how the value of a lens affected by fungus is perceived by buyers. In short, 75% of people (of 182 respondents) say they would NOT even buy a lens with fungus. That is, only 25% would even consider buying it in the first place and at a reduced value.

Sirius Glass said:
That is why I avoid buying lenses or cameras from eBay. Actually I avoid buying anything important from eBay.

+100

I buy a lot of lenses from Ebay sellers and often receive lenses which are dramatically NOT as described, even after contacting the seller PRIOR to bidding and asking specific and detailed questions about lenses (and even telling them how to inspect or check the lens). The best you can do is judge from pictures provided but it is rare to find good quality pictures that actually show you everything you need to know.

Sirius Glass · Jan 1, 2016

I would rather skip the drama and buy through APUG, Large Format Photography, or pay a bit more and buy through KEH, B&H or Samys [I can see and handle them at Samys].

Poisson Du Jour · Jan 1, 2016

I have purchased 18 lenses from eBay and never ever have I had a bad experience with fungus. KEH is shut, but I will vouch solidly for B&H, both for their knowledge and service, especially for people outside the US.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

jjphoto · Jan 1, 2016

Poisson Du Jour said:
I have purchased 18 lenses from eBay and never ever have I had a bad experience with fungus. ..

My point was about descriptions on Ebay, not fungus alone.

Most of the lenses I buy are enlarging lenses and therefore used and stored in a relatively hostile environment (damp darkrooms), or, not used for a very long time. Certainly not all are affected with fungus although it is common, maybe a quarter or so. There are various common faults, haze, separation, chemical attack to glass elements, coating damage or scratches (from poor cleaning), sometimes dents or physical damage to threads, stuck, stiff or corroded aperture blades etc. These are all things a seller could see and describe, especially when specifically asked to do so and my point is that most times this has not happened in my experience. I'm glad that your experiences have been better than mine.

marcmarc · Jan 2, 2016

Bill Burk said:
marcmarc

As Ko.Fe. pointed out, it's not likely to be a big issue until you go to sell the camera.

So it can't be "cleaned". But there is a way to get it fixed.

If you have the budget to send it to CO to be re-surfaced and re-coated, and you want to do it... you could.

If this is going to be the one camera you use, it may be worth it.

But if Harry recommends against it (because it's minor) and if you don't see it in your pictures... you don't have to do it to make the camera "more valuable".

Just do the polish and recoat operation if you think it will make the camera "more useful".

Oh no, I'm not about to spend anything above and beyond what Harry is charging for his work.

marcmarc · Jan 2, 2016

pschwart said:
That would probably be John Stelten at Focal Point: http://www.focalpointlens.com/fp_intro.html

I'm sure the IV will perform well after Harry is done, but I'd probably find another Rollei before sinking a lot into this one. I wouldn't polish and recoat a IV -- just buy a Rollei in better condition and save a bundle.

Yes, I'm not putting out the money to have Harry send out the lens. I made some more prints from my test rolls and they look fine.

marcmarc · Jan 2, 2016

Richard S. (rich815) said:
Why? That was the seller's fault, not the site. What was the seller's feedback rating?

Oh goodness, I cannot recall, this was at the least 15 years ago. I guess just getting burned once was enough.

marcmarc · Jan 2, 2016

Sirius Glass said:
I would rather skip the drama and buy through APUG, Large Format Photography, or pay a bit more and buy through KEH, B&H or Samys [I can see and handle them at Samys].

True. I've purchased used lenses from KEH and B&H and have always been very pleased with what I received.

When is lens fungus not an issue?

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