Lens mould/dust

blackfazer

blackfazer

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Martyn
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Hey All!

I took out my Sigma 150-500 today and noticed that the glass had a mould/dust kind of substance on the inside. The lens hasn't been used for six months prior to today.

My questions are; Is there a way of removing this substance easily? Is it a specialist job? If so, who are the best company to deal with?

Thanx. Happy New Year.

Martyn
 
Contact Sigma asap!
Mould can grow "into" the glass/coating and ruin it...
 
Thanks for that. I've emailed them about it.
 
Sometimes putting it in direct sunlight can help stop the mould growing any further, but in the end it will need a good cleaning, where about was it stored ?
 
In a camera bag with other lenses and a camera body under the stairs. I always keep it there without any issues until now.
 
i broke my 150-500 last year only cost £131 all in including parts. so would have thought a clean would be much less hth mike.
 
It would be interesting to monitor humidity levels in your storage area.
Apparently anything over 30% is potentially unsafe especially combined with warm temperatures.
I was a bit shocked that my usual cupboard was often well above 50% especially in the summer when there was no heating on for weeks.
I 'solved' it by keeping the main items in a large tupperware container with drying agent pellets inside.
I have a sensor in there intended to wirelessly send weather data from outdoors and the receiver is where I see it daily - gradually the drying stuff loses potency and need revitalising every month or so.
 
Thanks for all the imput. It's a lesson learned.
 
When i took my sigma in for repair i was told that some sigma lens were prone to this,mine completely cover the glass element,and like you it was kept in the same place as the rest of my stuff,and no problem with my Nikon lens :confused:
 
Oddly enough, the only lens to develop a fungus problem, among my many lenses, albeit a very tiny spot, is the Sigma.

Given the price we pay for quality lenses, its quite appalling that this should even happen.

It is the lens coating that attracts the formation of fungus, which then eats into the coating.

One would think that science had moved on by now, and that an anti-fungal coating could be created and used. That said, maybe the lens manufacturers don't want to prevent it happening, preferring you to bin the lens and buy a new one.

Silica Gel bags kept in the camera bag, would probably prevent the problem, but these need drying out (heated in an oven) at regular intervals to restore the desiccant properties. Much easier if the manufacturers sorted the problem in the first place :mad:

Dave
 
My Sigma 17-70 has a spider like fungus growing inside the element. Its getting larger fairly rapidly. Can't see any way to stop it.

Unfortunately here humidity is 80%+ constantly so nowhere i can put the glass to prevent growth. Don't think there are any lens repairers in the country either to fix it. Im slowly watching my lens die.
 
Hmm!!, yet another Sigma Lens growing fungus then (n).

I will certainly think long and hard, before buying another Sigma lens.

Dave
 
manualfocus-g said:
Any lens will likely get fungus if stored in unfavourable conditions. Has it got wet at any point?
Click to expand...

True however some seem more prone than others. I've got various Canon, Tamron and Tokina lenses here, all stored in unfortunately fairly dark, warm, very humid places and the sigma is the only one to actually have stuff growing in it.
 
I understand strong uv light can retard its growth. So much so I have taken a very lightly effected lens for a 'sunbed' session!! Didn't grow any more afterwards!
 
UV is a good idea - pretty lethal to most life forms, but do be VERY careful not to look at the UK source, even for a moment, as arc-eyes is quite unpleasant.
 
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