Lens internal fungus
Dec 7, 2019 10:27:56 #
B&H rejected my 300mm f2.8 Nikon lens because it has a bad case of internal fungus...their used department tells me. My question to Hoggers is who's had experience getting such a lens refurbished particularly by a Nikon authorized factory service?
1) Was it cost effective?
2) Which service did you use?
3) How long did it take.
4) Were you satisfied with the result?
I'm trying to decide whether to have the lens refurbished before trying to sell it privately or trying to trade it in with someone other than B&H or maybe even B&H. I've used the lens all over the world with no problems so it came as a surprise that B&H wouldn't take the lens as direct purchase or in trade because of internal fungus.
1) Was it cost effective?
2) Which service did you use?
3) How long did it take.
4) Were you satisfied with the result?
I'm trying to decide whether to have the lens refurbished before trying to sell it privately or trying to trade it in with someone other than B&H or maybe even B&H. I've used the lens all over the world with no problems so it came as a surprise that B&H wouldn't take the lens as direct purchase or in trade because of internal fungus.
Dec 7, 2019 10:47:54 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
Fungus grows. And is bad news for any lens. Caused mostly by humidity/condensation. Zoom lenses suck in dust, but that is tolerable, and generally does not affect images. I once saw a You Tube Video, some time ago, where a man had a special tool screwdriver kit, and carefully dismantled the lens, and cleaned the glass with water. And inside and outside the lens tube. You would truly have to know what you are doing to even attempt to dismantle a lens, and put it back together again. Surely, there must be someone, who can do that for pay. But, how much would it cost? That's a tedious job to do. Search for that video. It still may be available. Good luck.
Dec 7, 2019 11:13:15 #
Lens fungus is BAD NEWS. Think about it, to get at it the entire lens will (most likely) have to be taken apart. I had it done once. Wasn't cheap.
Never store your lens in a leather lens case.
Always save any silica packs you get. Refresh them and pack plenty around your lenses.
Keep the humidity down in your lens storage area.
Always clean your lenses of dust before you put them away.
A Nikkor 300mm 2.8 is a sweet lens. But I doubt any knowledgeable person will want to buy it if it has fungus. The fungus can spread to your other lenses, too. Quarantine it.
Never store your lens in a leather lens case.
Always save any silica packs you get. Refresh them and pack plenty around your lenses.
Keep the humidity down in your lens storage area.
Always clean your lenses of dust before you put them away.
A Nikkor 300mm 2.8 is a sweet lens. But I doubt any knowledgeable person will want to buy it if it has fungus. The fungus can spread to your other lenses, too. Quarantine it.
Dec 7, 2019 13:07:04 #
CaptainBobBrown wrote:
B&H rejected my 300mm f2.8 Nikon lens because ... (show quote)
It will work, but it is expensive. They have to completely dismantle the lens and treat each and every piece!
Dec 7, 2019 13:21:17 #
The only person I know who did this -- and did it well -- was John van Stelten at Focal Point Lens in Colorado. Unfortunately, he retired a couple of years ago.
I had him clean up a couple of older Leica lenses for me, both of which had some fungal growth. To clean the fungus up, he had to disassemble the lens and literally bake the lens in an oven to kill the fungus. Apparently, the fungus can migrate into the glass itself. I remember him telling me there really is no other way to effectively eliminate fungus from a lens once it gets in there.
He did a great job a saved a couple of classic lenses for me, but it wasn't cheap. Now that John's no longer in business, I don't know of anyone else who performs that service.
I had him clean up a couple of older Leica lenses for me, both of which had some fungal growth. To clean the fungus up, he had to disassemble the lens and literally bake the lens in an oven to kill the fungus. Apparently, the fungus can migrate into the glass itself. I remember him telling me there really is no other way to effectively eliminate fungus from a lens once it gets in there.
He did a great job a saved a couple of classic lenses for me, but it wasn't cheap. Now that John's no longer in business, I don't know of anyone else who performs that service.
Dec 7, 2019 13:29:29 #
CaptainBobBrown wrote:
B&H rejected my 300mm f2.8 Nikon lens because ... (show quote)
If the fungus is on the surface of a lens, it might be cleanable. However, if the fungus has attached itself to the glue that is often used to cement two elements together, it will likely have to be replaced, which would end up being very expensive, unless the repair shop has a donor lens that can be cannibalized.
Dec 8, 2019 00:16:46 #
Well, this morning I took some pictures with the returned 300mm lens and except for a couple of spots on by D500 sensor or mirror nothing showed up in the images. I know the spots are on the sensor or mirror because the same spots showed up when I took the same blue sky images using my 500mm lens. Now I'm wondering where the alleged fungus is. Thanks for all the replies to my questions about fungus fixing though. Here in Hawaii where one is never far from sea air or worse (periodic volcanic eruptions) keeping metal and glass clean is problematic. Price of living in paradise I guess.
Dec 8, 2019 02:53:40 #
Pistnbroke
Loc: UK
If its behind the front element its not usually a problem but between cemented elements you got no chance. Look into the lens through a 50mm lens ( used as a magnifying glass) to locate the fungus..may even be oil from the diaphragm. these lenses often sell well on ebay
Dec 8, 2019 05:29:30 #
Or take a lamp shade off of a tungsten light and look through the lens (sans camera) directly at the lit bulb. I always do this with every lens I buy.
Dec 8, 2019 06:18:49 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
CaptainBobBrown wrote:
B&H rejected my 300mm f2.8 Nikon lens because ... (show quote)
SORRY, internal FUNGUS? Your done man, you now own a proper paper weight.
Dec 8, 2019 06:45:11 #
You'd be better off buying a used lens to replace it. The cost of cleaning it would be on the high side.
Dec 8, 2019 06:52:08 #
CaptainBobBrown wrote:
B&H rejected my 300mm f2.8 Nikon lens because ... (show quote)
I would not want to buy a Lens with internal Fungus. If B&H does not want it, it must be an unexceptionable Lens, they seem to be the Photography Professionals, that Lens must not have been worth their time and effort to refurbish the lens.
Dec 8, 2019 06:53:23 #
Don't keep that lens anywhere near your other equipment or you'll have Fungus Amongus.
Dec 8, 2019 06:53:49 #
Hamltnblue
Loc: Springfield PA
You should check and clean the other lenses.
Also, make sure you aren't storing them in a basement.
If you don't use AC in the summer it might be time to start.
Good Luck
Also, make sure you aren't storing them in a basement.
If you don't use AC in the summer it might be time to start.
Good Luck
Dec 8, 2019 09:25:35 #
If the fungus is not affecting your images ... you're fine.
Take that lens outside and let the sun pour through it ... widest aperture.
Make sure to remove any UV filter you might have attached.
Sun will kill fungus.
If you can stop it now ... you don't have to do anything more than that.
Though, I'd suggest a small dry box for that lens ... keep it stored by itself.
Take that lens outside and let the sun pour through it ... widest aperture.
Make sure to remove any UV filter you might have attached.
Sun will kill fungus.
If you can stop it now ... you don't have to do anything more than that.
Though, I'd suggest a small dry box for that lens ... keep it stored by itself.
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