Fungus in a Canon 35-80 lens: I found a video on the disassembly of this lens. It, unfortunately, covered ver 1. I have ver 3. How do I remove the front element once I remove the 3...

vince39426 Loc: Mississippi

I found a video on the disassembly of this lens. It, unfortunately, covered ver 1. I have ver 3. How do I remove the front element once I remove the 3 screws I assume hold it place? Someone gave it to me. I think I know why it was free.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

If it is fungus inside your lens it has probably already done irreparable damage to any coatings on the elements. Clean it as a learning exercise but don't be surprised if the lens is ruined.

vince39426 Loc: Mississippi

If I can get the front element off, I'll give it a shot. I can get another one from a local pawn shop for 20 dollars.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Fungus is bad for any lens. Improper storing in a hot, high humidity area doesn't help either.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

vince39426 wrote:

I found a video on the disassembly of this lens. It, unfortunately, covered ver 1. I have ver 3. How do I remove the front element once I remove the 3 screws I assume hold it place? Someone gave it to me. I think I know why it was free.

You have answered your own question by stating it was free. You have an impossible fix on your hands, realignment of the lens elements on your own is just as impossible. Fungus in a lens is a death sentence.

vince39426 Loc: Mississippi

I thank you all for your advice. I never knew that lenses could get a fungus in them. I kind of thought that they were sealed in some fashion. Thanks to your replies, I know how to store my cameras and lenses. Thanks all of you

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Get the one at a local pawn shop and dump the old one.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Fungus is a living thing. It has to eat. What does it find to eat inside a lens? There has to be some kind of organic contaminant preceding the fungus. I would think there is no hope of recovering a useful lens in this case.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

vince39426 wrote:

I found a video on the disassembly of this lens. It, unfortunately, covered ver 1. I have ver 3. How do I remove the front element once I remove the 3 screws I assume hold it place? Someone gave it to me. I think I know why it was free.

Whatever you do with that lens, just make sure to keep it away from all your others!!

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

That lens is 24 years old. Take a look at the one in the local pawn shop, but remember it is also 24 year old technology. I think you could do much better, photographically to buy a newer model, like maybe a used 28-70mm. The EF 35-80mm f4-5.6 was one of the first of the EOS line of lenses, from April 1992. Parts for this lens will be non-existent. It will be hard to find, even the pawn shop copy, that does not have some sort of flaw over the 24 years since manufacture.

B

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

CatMarley wrote:

Fungus is a living thing. It has to eat. What does it find to eat inside a lens? There has to be some kind of organic contaminant preceding the fungus. I would think there is no hope of recovering a useful lens in this case.

Funguses eat the lubricants used to lubricate the shutter iris and focusing helicoid, lenses can be repaired quite successfully, contrary to popular belief only a few funguses actually etch the glass. Having said that I am not so sure that I would take the time to try and clean an old Canon 35-80, I am sure that for around $50 to $75 you can purchase a better lens on ebay.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Blurryeyed wrote:

Funguses eat the lubricants used to lubricate the shutter iris and focusing helicoid, lenses can be repaired quite successfully, contrary to popular belief only a few funguses actually etch the glass. Having said that I am not so sure that I would take the time to try and clean an old Canon 35-80, I am sure that for around $50 to $75 you can purchase a better lens on ebay.

I can't believe edible oils would be used as lubricants. Petroleum products can be used by a very limited range of microrganisms - mainly salt water species. The molds are a much more advanced life form. And if that is the case - that molds can use petroleum based lubricants, - why are not more lenses affected? Water is also a necessary ingredient for fungal growth, so the lens in question had at least also been contaminated with water vapor.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

CatMarley wrote:

Fungus is a living thing. It has to eat. What does it find to eat inside a lens? There has to be some kind of organic contaminant preceding the fungus. I would think there is no hope of recovering a useful lens in this case.

It eats the glue used to attach lenses to each other in some groups, and to secure them in their mounts. Mold is very ugly, indeed. And it will affect other lenses that are stored with it in short order if you are not careful.

rjriggins11 Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

Hi. My name is Rick. I’m the owner and lead technician at Discount Camera Repair and a member in good standing here at the UHH. I’ve been doing repairs for other members here at greatly discounted rates and would be glad to help.

I'd be more than happy to repair your camera equipment for you and keep the cost as low as possible. If you’re interested, please respond by private message.

vince39426 wrote:

I found a video on the disassembly of this lens. It, unfortunately, covered ver 1. I have ver 3. How do I remove the front element once I remove the 3 screws I assume hold it place? Someone gave it to me. I think I know why it was free.