Fungus?

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freddyg

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Freddy
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Hi everyone,

I'm quite new to photography but recently decided to get an extra lens for my camera. I have a Canon 550D (actually a Kiss X4 from Japan) and the 18-55 and 55-250 kit lenses.

I decided on a 50mm 1.8 as my budget is pretty limited these days and bought one from ebay.

In the advert it said "Minimal signs of wear on the body, glass is pristine." It arrived today, and while I wasn't expecting perfection, I am a bit concerned this lens might have some fungus on it.

When held up to the light there looked to be a faint smear on the surface of the lens, so I gave it a clean with my lenspen but that doesn't seem to have made any difference.

I've taken a flash photo of it.

new_lens.JPG


Do you think this is fungus or am I just not cleaning it properly or something?

Do you think I am being fussy, or should I ask for a refund?

Any help would be greatly appreciated by this slightly panicking newbie!
 
Hi,

Are the marks on the outside or inside of the element. If on the inside ask for a refund again if the marks are on the outside and can't be removed with cleaning ask for a refund.

Looking at the lens in your picture it looks like it has been sand blasted!!
 
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fungus is 'usually' noticeable by web-like filaments

that's damage on your lens not fungus IMO
 
Hi Grayo,

Thanks very much for your reply.

It really only shows up like that under flash. Under natural light it is really faint, but it does seem to cover the whole of the outside of the front of the lens.

I'm not sure what to try cleaning-wise other than my pen, and if it is fungus I'd rather try and get rid of it.. do you think that's what it might be?

Here's another flash shot:

new_lens_2.JPG
 
Yardbent said:
fungus is 'usually' noticeable by web-like filaments

that's damage on your lens not fungus IMO
Click to expand...

Thanks for your replies.

Will this damage have a big effect on photos do you think? Would you ask for a partial/full refund in this situation?

Freddy
 
I wouldn't put a lens that I suspected had fungus on my body or in the camera bag. I'm just too scared that it might jump from one to another!
 
personally, i'd give it a try with lens tissue and cleaning solution. you might need to apply a little bit of pressure (not too hard). perform circular motions from the centre to the edge (make sure you give your lens a blast with the rocket blower first though to ensure there isn't anything abrasive on the surface)

i've had similar stuff on my lenses which i assume to be pollen or something else horrible and sticky. it isn't easy to get off, but it does come off eventually.

if a couple of goes with a lens tissue don't move it, then it looks like the coating has been damaged somehow.
 
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In my opinion and experience with optics (not just photography) this doesn't look like fungal damage (dendritic patterns are more typical with fungus). It does look like something has possibly attacked (pitted) the coating though.

It may still be surface contamination, as Mark said try some Eclipse fluid on a Pec Pad or similar. If this doesn't shift it then I personally would be whinging to whoever sold it to me.
 
You could try using the lens cleaners you would get from the likes of Specsavers the type they use to clean classes, and as said above use circular motion.

I had a lens years ago that got sprayed with champaign, completly ruined the lens, and the front element looked a bit like yours but champaign should wipe off, does it feel sticky by any chance.
 
you can use 'opticron cleaning solution' from an optical shop for about £5-7 or as a last resort you can replace the front element (I charge £30 inc fitting) though if its just dirt it should come off easily enough. It wont show on the pics.
 
Inspect the lens against bright light. Can you see that 'stuff' from the rear element? Is it net like? If yes and yes it is definitely fungal. I doubt this is some dirt on the lens, but if it was lenspen is excellent at removing it.
 
daugirdas said:
Inspect the lens against bright light. Can you see that 'stuff' from the rear element? Is it net like? If yes and yes it is definitely fungal. I doubt this is some dirt on the lens, but if it was lenspen is excellent at removing it.
Click to expand...

Hi everyone, thanks so much for the suggestions. Sorry I didn't reply sooner.

When I look through the back I can see the stuff on the front; it doesn't seem net-like, more like just speckles. As my eye focuses it seems to become more and more dense until it seems to be covering the whole outer part of the surface - as in the middle of the lens seems to be clear of it now... not sure if I've cleaned it off, it wasn't ever there or I just can't see it.

I tried the lenspen a few times and it didn't shift it much as far as I can work out. This stuff really is barely visible except when I look very closely and I'm having difficulty getting any photos of it now..

I'd just like to rule out fungus if possible as the photos the lens takes seem to be as good as I had hoped...

Thanks again

Freddy
 
I don't get why have you decided on used glass from ebay?
You can now get new 50mm f/1.8 from ebay for about £70 buyitnow. I don't know how much you have paid for yours, but I can guess that you've paid about £50 on auction :/
 
Kamilbas said:
You can now get new 50mm f/1.8 from ebay for about £70 buyitnow.
Click to expand...

I was searching for a while and the cheapest I saw was about £75 buy it now but those were from Hong Kong and so possibly vulnerable to import tax.

The cheapest new UK lenses are £88 including postage. In retrospect (and as my wife has been saying) I should have just bought one of those but I'm always looking to save money where I can and I prefer buying things second hand..

I guess I'll learn to be a bit more wary of lens descriptions though It'd be very easy to take very nice looking photos of this lens that doesn't show the pitting in the coating.
 
I'v sold afew dozen 2nd hand nifty fiftys on ebay and not had a single problem or complaint. Looks like you got unlucky with that one freddy, what you do about it is up to you but it doesnt look like fungus.
 
Hi Sam. I've decided on keeping the lens because it is taking some nice pictures but it's nice to know that it is possible to buy quality second hand lenses on ebay; I probably won't be put off trying again in the future..
 
Mate get your count up to a 100 and use the classifies on hear

And you should have no more problems
 
Thanks for the advice Chad. I have had only good experiences from buying from specialist forums in the past, so hopefully that'll be the case here too!
 
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