Fungus?

Mike.P

Mike.P

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I have a MKI Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 that is an excellent lens (and very hard to find in Pentax mount). It is rarely bought out as I normally use the DA* 60-250mm f4 on my K-5 but this morning I thought I would give it an airing.

Anyway, noticed this on the inside front element ... presuming it is fungus ? :(

Do you think Sigma will be able to sort it ?


Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr

Crop


Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 crop by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr
 
I cannot see any reason why sigma won't sort it for you ....at a price of course!! but does it have such a dramatic effect on the end result when you take a photo?

It looks to be such a small amount!

Btw, sunshine will kill off the fungal growth and help to stop it spreading further!
 
Agreed probably best to keep it seperate.

At least for the moment it is usable....Assuming that by exposing it to sunlight stops the problem becoming any worse, obviously the remnents of what is already there can only be removed by proffessional cleaning of the lens interior.....

I guess a return to sigma or other proffessional service is the only realistic long term solution.

At least in the meantime you can use it and have a chance to save for the repair not that i have a clue as to what it will cost...

Good luck!!
 
Adgreed with Asha,put it out in the sunshine to kill of the growth.

Happen to my Sigma,70-200mm F2.8,the bill came to £200 to have it cleaned :(
 
It doesn't look like fungus to me, more like some sort of debris that's got stuck inside. Fungus usually shows as hairs around the edges of elements or snowflake like patches which can be easily seen through. This looks more solid, but that could just be the effect of the flash I guess.
 
I wouldn't worry too much about keeping it away from other lenses, there are fungal spores all around us all the time, it's more important to keep it in a dry place as fungus needs moisture to grow. I have a couple of old film camera lenses with a bit of fungus but have left them in strong sunlight and since then kept them dry and it's not any worst now after a couple of years.
 
Quick follow up.

Sent it to a chap I have used before for a repair and he removed the front element and cleaned it properly. He then took out the next element and cleaned out a couple of other dust specks. On it's way back to me now ... total cost £50 incl return postage.

Result I would say :)
 
Mike.P said:
Quick follow up.

Sent it to a chap I have used before for a repair and he removed the front element and cleaned it properly. He then took out the next element and cleaned out a couple of other dust specks. On it's way back to me now ... total cost £50 incl return postage.

Result I would say :)
Click to expand...

Care to share the repairers details, could prove useful to others?
 
I'd recommend bags of silca gel stuff like you get when buying leather shoes from shops
I know quite a few people have a load in thier bags and lens cases to keep moisture out of thier lenses.

It's not a solution to your current problem, but its a preventative measure going forwards.
 
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