P Pelican

I bought this lens used a few months ago and just noticed these lines just recently when I happen to look at the front of the lens at an angle in the direct sun. Has anyone seen this condition before? Can it be cleaned? I've taken front elements apart before, but this one is glued not screwed together.

MDI Mainer

Looks like lens fungus to me. The classic fix is to open and clean the lens with hydrogen peroxide (and/or vinegar or amonia), but some say exposing the lens to strong ultraviolet light will kill the fungus and prevent its further growth. May work if image quality is OK at present. You can Google "How to cure lens fungus" for a host of suggested remedies. Here's one: https://petapixel.com/how-to-remove-fungus-lens/

If there are no indents to hook a lens spanner, you should be able to unscrew the front element using a special rubber disk. I have no expertise with Nikon glass, but doubt that on a quality lens it would really be glued.

https://amazon.com/Japan-Vacuum-Camera-Opener-Repair/dp/B0013HFYKK/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3RPPOEKQQ8YG5&keywords=lens+suction+tool+camera&qid=1651036054&sprefix=lens+suction+%2Caps%2C64&sr=8-6

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

Looks like fungus, if it is, you had better check all your other lenses. Fungus shows storage or environmental issues, if it is fungus. I highly recommend you call Nikon at 1-800-645-6687 and ask the experts.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Fungus also moves among lenses. Do not store this with other as yet unaffected lenses.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Does anything show up in your photos. Anyway, I just came across (somewhere on you tube) a video where they show how to do some work on this lens. I pretty sure you have to peel back/fold-over the rubber grip that you use to extend the zoom of the lens & there is a scew or screws there & that is what you need to remove the front section & most likely to clean the inside front element. I would watch a vid first or call Nikon & see if they can get you instructions.
PS: When you peel back the rubber grip/cover, you will see 3 pieces of tape with a gold/copper looking section that are on the O.D. of the lens. If I remember correctly, the screw or screws are under the gold/copper sections. the person in the video peeled the tape off & when finished put it back on, maybe using a piece of electrical or scotch tape over the original.

Good luck, Tom

tcthome Loc: NJ

Looks like dryed up moisture to me! Any signs of it in your phots taken with this lens?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Fungus among us.

Arca

CHG_CANON

You have been helpful before, maybe you can do so again. What causes fungus to develop on or in lenses or any other camera equipment for that matter? Does it begin 'out of thin air', airborne such as a virus, or does it only spread from one infected object to another? Now I am curious, and wondering if I should be concerned. What preventive measures should one take to prevent a fungus from developing in the first place, if this is possible?

Arca

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Preventive actions:

Assure you wet lens(es) are thoroughly dried before storage. Use a dry and clean towel to dry off the outside. Place the lens in a open air location to dry thoroughly, over a multi-day period, before returning lens to longer-term storage / case. You don't need added-heat, just airflow of fresh air.

Consider the rice-bag approach to absorb moisture, placing the towel-dried lens in a large zip-lock back partially filled with rice. Remove lens and discard rice after 24-hours. Air-dry from there. Use cheap 'instant' rice that is designed to absorb water.

Consider a rain sleeve when shooting in inclement weather to better protect the camera equipment.

Never store your lens, any camera equipment, in anything leather.

Never place a wet / moist lens into an enclosed bag / case.

Never store a fungus-infected lens anywhere near your other camera gear. I wouldn't even keep a fungus lens inside the same building as other equipment, such as the lens in the garage with other fungus-free equipment inside the house.

To address fungus once it's started, I'll defer to the internet / utube for effective actions to stop the growth once it's started.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Cracking of the underside of the lens coating. There are different reasons for why this may occur, such as exposure to rapid temperature changes or simply defective coating.

DaveD65 Loc: Queen City, Ohio

Paul that is nearly a quote from an old 1950's horror movie which title I can not recollect at this time; " There is a fungus among us." We used it as a catch phrase for a while.

P Pelican

Thanks for the info. That sight was very helpful.
I did take the front element out of the lens, but it seems to be made of 3 pieces of glass that are set into a ring with silicone. I'm a little leery of digging out all the silicone, I don't know how much that has to do with the alignment of the individual pieces.
I bought the lens in Dec and it's been too cold here in MN until now to set up a target outside to adjust the auto-focus. None of the shots I took of the target seemed to be tack sharp anywhere. That's what made me look at the lens closer and I noticed all the lines inside the front element.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Contact Nikon and discuss, forwarding your picture of the issue.

MDI Mainer

I think the consensus is that disassembly of a glued-together, multi-element component is ill-advised as a DIY task for exactly the reason you mention.

MDI Mainer

Never store your lens, any camera equipment, in anything leather.

As I know from personal experience, this is especially important since it's a sleeper -- not something you would intuitively avoid such as putting a damp lens away!

You can also buy silica packs to put with a stored lens, similar to what the manufacturer originally supplied.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZ4ZQ3Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1