Using a lens which used to have fungus..would you?

[StevieB]

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Hello there..If anyone has any knowledge regarding fungus in lenses I would be grateful for your advice.

 

I have a lens which had a small amount of fungus within it's optics and which was cleaned by Leica Solmes and given a clean bill of health.

Is it silly of me to worry about the fungus returning and spreading to my new Leica camera and onto other lenses?

 

Many Thanks.

 

 

 

 

[pgk]

I wouldn't worry unless you are going to keep the cleaned lens and other lenses in the same conditions which allowed fungus to grow on the cleaned lens in the first place. Fungus needs the 'right' conditions in which to thrive, deny it these and fungus won't be a problem. Ask yourself where the fungal spores came from which affected your cleaned lens - its not the spores which you should worry about, its the conditions under which they can thrive and grow which are the problem.

[StevieB]

That's good to know. I inherited the lens with the fungus so cannot be sure how it came about.

[250swb]

That's good to know. I inherited the lens with the fungus so cannot be sure how it came about.

 

You have fungal spores in your camera already, they are everywhere, in all your lenses and up your nose, everywhere you go and on everything you touch. Worried? Don't be, unless you provide the conditions for them to grow.

 

 

Steve

[Peter Kilmister]

Without fungus we wouldn't have wine, beer, bread, mushrooms, or Penicillin. However thrush would disappear which might make 50% of the population of the world happier. Never mind, let's open another bottle of wine and take another antibiotic.

[spydrxx]

As the saying goes "There's a fungus among us"; and indeed there are many of them...spores are everywhere. Just take reasonable precautions and don't give anything, your camera gear, sneakers, bath towels, the spaces between your toes, etc. a chance for those spores to flourish.

[dot-me-not]

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[pop]

You have fungal spores in your camera already, they are everywhere, in all your lenses and up your nose, everywhere you go and on everything you touch. Worried? Don't be, unless you provide the conditions for them to grow.

 

 

Steve

I'm afraid this is not entirely useful. There is a great number of different fungi, exactly as there is a great number of different germs. Some germs are beneficial, some are dangerous and most are perfectly irrelevant to our well-being. Of the same species, some varieties can be killed (using anti-biotics) and some can not. It seems entirely possible that the affected lenses were affected by some variety or species of fungus which is not as widely spread as those used for making wine. Does anyone here actually know?

[Ecar]

I wouldn't worry. Just a matter of common sense, really. I have had inherited/bought several lenses affected by (mild) fungus in the past. A good CLA takes care of it. My lenses are stored in a dry and reasonable ventilated place. If they get wet or if there's a risk of condensation (e.g., in tropical areas or after a stroll in the cold), I give them a quick wipe and allow them to dry on a shelf for a while. Fungus has never returned, let alone spread to other lenses.

[earleygallery]

Hello there..If anyone has any knowledge regarding fungus in lenses I would be grateful for your advice.

 

I have a lens which had a small amount of fungus within it's optics and which was cleaned by Leica Solmes and given a clean bill of health.

Is it silly of me to worry about the fungus returning and spreading to my new Leica camera and onto other lenses?

 

Many Thanks.

 

I've read - on here - a few times that Leica wouldn't touch any fungus affected lenses with a bargepole. Either it's an urban myth or your lenses weren't cleaned by Leica. Did you get them cleaned yourself or were you just told that by the person who sold it to you?

 

That said, if the lens has been cleaned and it's dead fungus then I wouldn't worry about it, assuming it hasn't damaged the glass enough to degrade the images.

[StevieB]

I've read - on here - a few times that Leica wouldn't touch any fungus affected lenses with a bargepole. Either it's an urban myth or your lenses weren't cleaned by Leica. Did you get them cleaned yourself or were you just told that by the person who sold it to you?

 

That said, if the lens has been cleaned and it's dead fungus then I wouldn't worry about it, assuming it hasn't damaged the glass enough to degrade the images.

The fungus was confirmed by Leica, a CLA carried out by them and the glass is now clear.

[earleygallery]

The fungus was confirmed by Leica, a CLA carried out by them and the glass is now clear.

 

Well that's quashed another silly internet myth then!

[M9reno]

It's a little more complicated:  an urban myth, and one perpetuated by Leica.  In correspondence with Solms a few years ago regarding my grandfather's IIIg, I was told (and I quote):  "As for your question about the fungus: we have noticed that the camera had a fungus like covering but it wasn´t real fungus. Otherwise we wouldn´t have let the camera go through our workshop as fungus can spread and could have infected other cameras and lenses."  But - surprise!  The camera was *later* sent to Malcolm Taylor, who in fact found fungus in the viewfinder (and cleaned it).

 

I currently keep that IIIg without any worry among all my other equipment.  For all the reasons given above I have become increasingly relaxed about fungus over the years.

[jaapv]

I'm afraid this is not entirely useful. There is a great number of different fungi, exactly as there is a great number of different germs. Some germs are beneficial, some are dangerous and most are perfectly irrelevant to our well-being. Of the same species, some varieties can be killed (using anti-biotics) and some can not. It seems entirely possible that the affected lenses were affected by some variety or species of fungus which is not as widely spread as those used for making wine. Does anyone here actually know?

Well as a matter of fact I think it is rather apt.

For instance Legionella bacteria can be found anywhere, even in the water in the tap in your house. However, they can never become harmful as long as the right conditions for infection are not created

1> Water not flushed through for more than 24 hours

2.>Water at temperatures between 25 and 65 degrees.

3> Water distributed by spray.

 

The same for lenses. The spores of the fungi that live on the coating and damage the glass by acid etching are always present but will not multiply to damage your lens.

However, if you breed them by the right temperature and humidity and allow them to  cluster in high concentrations in nearly stagnant air, they will infect  lenses.

[250swb]

I'm afraid this is not entirely useful. There is a great number of different fungi, exactly as there is a great number of different germs. 

 

 

We only need to talk about the type of fungi that eats lenses, and even if we don't know the specific name of it we know what to do about it and what causes it. What 'isn't entirely useful' is ramping up the increasing hand-wringing fear that is profligate in Leica photography by people who should know better. 

 

Steve

[pop]

We only need to talk about the type of fungi that eats lenses

Quite, and I think with the additional information supplied by Jaap the answer to the original question now becomes quite clear.

[geotrupede]

See here:

http://www.zeiss.co.uk/camera-lenses/en_gb/website/service/fungus_on_lenses.html

http://www.truetex.com/lens_fungus.htm

 

About Leica I have been told that in order to eliminate fungus a lens is sent to a university in Germany specialised in tropical deceases [*] where there are facilities for fungus killing (I guess a UV chamber and testing). Note that given the cost of the "operation" things are only sent in batches. It takes ages too! So in doubt avoid to locate your good lenses close to the dodgy one. It takes 1 day in the rain...  

 

 

 

[*] I purchased an expensive lens with a small growing fungus at some point, luckily after exploring all possible repair options the shop took it back. They were very honest with me. 

[earleygallery]

Interesting links.

 

"This dust typically gets pushed into the corners of a lens (ironically) from cleaning, where it collects, and these marginal heaps also tend to retain humidity" - this seems to suggest that using protective filters can potentially protect lenses from fungus too.

 

That said, I have cameras/lenses dating from 1900 to present, none of which have fungus.

 

It is comforting to know that a tropical disease research unit is being used to cure Leica lenses though - they have their priorities right!

[CheshireCat]

Some germs are beneficial

 

Definitely ! We just need to find out the ones that repair lenses and improve the coating performance 

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Hallo,

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[BjarniM]

On the other hand, what's the best way to protect lenses from fungus?

 

Which is the best way to store them, when not in use?

 

What's the best material a camera bag can be made of to protect lenses from fungus?

 

I read somewhere, that you shall not store leather cases and straps in a camera bag, because leather can be cause to fungus starting grow. Is this true?

 

Should i keep silica gel in my camera bag?