Lens Fungus
- Thread starter Majaz
- Start date
Blue439
New member
Well, if I ever develop a heart illness, I will probably deem it safe to have myself cut open by the heart surgeons at the National Heart Hospital! 
Who do you think could be more qualified to open a Nikon lens than an official Nikon Service Center? And why would we here be qualified to advise you about it? We're just a bunch of easygoing amateurs who happen to have bought a camera of the same make as yours...
And since you're asking: yes, it's perfectly safe. No big deal. It's happened to tons of people before, and they've lived to tell the tale. Their lenses, too. Go ahead and keep us posted.
Who do you think could be more qualified to open a Nikon lens than an official Nikon Service Center? And why would we here be qualified to advise you about it? We're just a bunch of easygoing amateurs who happen to have bought a camera of the same make as yours...
And since you're asking: yes, it's perfectly safe. No big deal. It's happened to tons of people before, and they've lived to tell the tale. Their lenses, too. Go ahead and keep us posted.
Clovishound
Senior Member
The only thing I would advise is to call and find out what the cost is likely to be. Then check out the price of a used copy of this lens. I had a 105mm micro with a problem. The estimated cost to have it repaired was more than the cost of a used in excellent to like new condition.
The other issue is if the fungus has progressed beyond a certain point, there may be damage to the lens coating. This may affect the performance of the lens after cleaning, although the picture you posted looks like it isn't too bad.
I would look to the storage of your equipment. Storing them in high humidity conditions can ultimately lead to this condition. My dad lived in coastal Florida, and stored some of his equipment in an un - air conditioned workshop. Actually, prior to the late 60s, there was no air conditioning in the house either. Anyway, many of his lenses suffered to varying degrees with fungus. I got all of his equipment when he passed in the late 80s. He had a really nice 50mm F1.4 lens that I had disassembled and cleaned by a local independent repairman. It was a great performer afterwards.
The other issue is if the fungus has progressed beyond a certain point, there may be damage to the lens coating. This may affect the performance of the lens after cleaning, although the picture you posted looks like it isn't too bad.
I would look to the storage of your equipment. Storing them in high humidity conditions can ultimately lead to this condition. My dad lived in coastal Florida, and stored some of his equipment in an un - air conditioned workshop. Actually, prior to the late 60s, there was no air conditioning in the house either. Anyway, many of his lenses suffered to varying degrees with fungus. I got all of his equipment when he passed in the late 80s. He had a really nice 50mm F1.4 lens that I had disassembled and cleaned by a local independent repairman. It was a great performer afterwards.
Blue439
New member
Right. When not using it, I store all my gear in a large safe (a gun safe, originally, so quite tall for rifles and roomy) with three bags of German-made Pingi XL dessicant. I find them on Amazon, and you can probably, too. The little pinguins on ’em turn brownish when they’re full of humidity, then you put them in the microwave for a few minutes, let them dry out in the kitchen, and when the pinguins are blue again, they’re like new and can go right back in the safe. "Re-charge" them like this maybe 2-3 times a year, more if you live in a very humid place (read: Eastern seaboard of the US...
).Add to that an absurdly cheap hygrometer (to be found on Amazon as well) that will tell you how humid it is in the enclosure where you keep your gear, and you're good to go.