Say Goodbye to Fungus in Your Lens: Proven Techniques for Spotless Results

Camera lenses, those prized possessions that capture the world through your lens, are undeniably pricey. Their cost can be a bitter pill to swallow. But imagine the shock and disappointment when you discover uninvited intruders like fungus lurking within your equipment. It’s a photographer’s worst nightmare, made worse by the fact that most warranties don’t cover this menace. Lens fungus can wreak havoc on your gear, hampering its performance and your creative vision.

Now, picture this: a lens that stands the test of time, delivering stunning images without any hindrance. Isn’t that the dream? In the following pages, we embark on a journey to unravel the enigma of lens fungus. We’ll not only delve into the art of fixing a damaged lens but also, and perhaps more crucially, explore preventive measures to ward off this invasive enemy.

Stay with us as we unlock the secrets to safeguarding your gear. It’s time to protect your investment and ensure that your lens remains a steadfast companion throughout your photographic adventures.

Key Takeaways:

Lens fungus can grow when dust containing fungus spores is present and favorable conditions of heat, moisture, and darkness are met.
Preventing lens fungus is possible by keeping your lens cool, dry, and regularly exposed to UV light.
If lens fungus occurs, professional repair services or DIY methods can be employed.
DIY methods to clean fungus from a lens without opening it include UV exposure and copper coin moisture removal.
Cleaning fungus from a lens involves dismantling the lens, using a cleaning solution, and carefully cleaning each glass element.
It’s important to work in a well-ventilated area, use proper tools, and document the disassembly process to ensure successful reassembly.

What is Lens Fungus?

Dust and similar particulates are everywhere. No matter how careful you are, it’s inevitable that at least a small amount will make it onto and into your equipment over the years. Fungus can start to grow if this dust contains any fungus spores.

The annoying thing about spores is that they can stay dormant for a very long time. They can sit undetected for months and years, waiting for favorable conditions to arrive. Once things are just right, they start to grow and ruin your expensive camera lenses.

How to Avoid Fungus on Lens – Can You Prevent Lens Fungus?

Absolutely. There’s no method that’s 100% sure to prevent all damage, but fungus can be avoided fairly easily if you keep a few basic principles in mind. In short, fungus relies on the following elements:

Heat
Moisture
Darkness

It stands to reason, then, that your main line of defense against lens fungus will be to keep these three conditions at bay. If your lens ever becomes damp for any reason, be sure to dry it out fully and as quickly as possible.

Consider silica gel packs to help with storing your equipment. Just remember that their effectiveness as a solution to water damage is questionable; they’re designed to absorb moisture from the air. For this reason, they’re best used as a preventative measure rather than something that can fix water damage.

Keeping things nice and cool won’t hurt either. Also be sure to wipe down your equipment regularly and use your lens caps as often as possible when you’re not taking photos. If your lens stays cool, dry, and is regularly exposed to UV light, the chances of lens fungus reduces dramatically.

How to Clean Fungus From Lens Without Opening it

So, is it possible to clean fungus from a camera lens without actually opening it up? There are a few things that can definitely help. Just keep in mind that the only way to completely remove fungus from a lens is to open it. If you’re not comfortable doing this, consider sending it in for repair.

Repair costs can be a tough pill to swallow, but when weighed against the cost of a new lens, they’re usually worth it in our opinion. That said, let’s get into a few ways to clean lens fungus without opening it up.

Fungus Cleaning Option One – UV Exposure

Be careful with this one – too much direct sunlight can damage camera lenses. However, UV exposure is a fungus spore’s worst nightmare. Shining some UV light on your lens can eliminate fungus invasions pretty effectively.

Lens Fungus Option Two – Copper Coin Moisture Removal

Check out this great YouTube tutorial here:

The driving principle behind this method is that copper has antifungal properties. You’ll be using some towels and copper coins to draw moisture from your lens and kill off any fungus that’s inside.

You’ll need the following:

Some copper coins – roughly 50-cents worth per towel
Some hand towels
A dryer

Follow these steps:

Put a good handful of copper pennies into a few small towels. Wrap them up tightly and secure with a rubber band.
Dry out the towels thoroughly in your dryer. Just a quick 10-minute cycle will do.
Place your lens and the towels in a sealed ziploc bag. This will eliminate moisture and hopefully kill your fungus.

As with method one, this option can be pretty effective at killing fungus but it won’t remove hardened residue from your glass.

Lens Repair Specialists

We wanted to mention that it really is only worth dismantling a lens if you’re absolutely sure you know what you’re doing. You can end up doing more damage if you’re not careful which can quickly turn a small repair job into a much larger one.

The following online repair sites might be able to help for less money than you might think:

Many of the big lens manufacturers like Sony and Canon also offer their own in-house solutions. Check them out first before taking your lens apart

How to Clean Fungus from Lens – Our Guide

The first thing to mention is that every lens is a little different. It’s impossible for us to provide detailed instructions that will be exactly the same for every lens. That said, the same basic principles apply to most lenses, especially the older manual varieties.

The items you will need are listed below.

Cleaning Solution

We recommend using a solution of equal parts household ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. These can be picked up from your local pharmacy or online. You’ll be using this solution to clean the glass and metal elements of your lens and eliminate all those irritating fungus spores for good.

It doesn’t hurt to have a small dish around to help with soaking your different components. This could be a bowl you no longer need or anything else you can find.

Dismantling Equipment

You’ll most likely want a set of JIS screwdrivers (if your lens is Japanese-made) and a lens spanner to take your equipment apart. These tools are perfect for working with lenses and are much less likely to cause damage. Also make sure you have some very clean microfiber lens cloths to hand as well as some decent tweezers.

The Right Environment

You will need plenty of bright light and ventilation in equal measure. Your cleaning solution isn’t something you want to breathe in directly. Finicky projects like lens repair demand plenty of light so you can see things clearly while you work. Consider a good lamp if you haven’t already.

A pair of protective gloves and glasses won’t go amiss either. Pick some up if you haven’t already.

Lens Air Blaster

A “poofer” or blaster like will make it much easier to remove solution and debris from your equipment without rubbing it too much.

The Dismantling Method

If you value your lens, keep the following in mind:

Any step you take will have to be reversed when putting your lens back together. Keep a record of each step so that you know which way everything fits in place.
Be very careful with the smaller glass elements – they can be super fragile
Find specific dismantling instructions for your lens if at all possible
Work slowly, patiently, and with certainty

In a Nutshell

In short, you’ll be doing the following:

Carefully dismantling your lens
Soaking the ‘infected’ elements and carefully removing debris
Cleaning the rest of the unit if required
Drying off each element
Putting everything back together

Remove the Lens Mount

Use your JIS screwdrivers to remove the screws holding your lens mount in place. The number of screws you’ll be dealing with will vary but it should be at least 4 or 5. Put them in a safe place and remember where you removed them from.

Remove the Aperture Ring (Watch Out!)

When doing this step, look for a series of notches somewhere on the aperture ring. This shows you where you’ll need to be extra cautious. Behind these notches is a tiny ball and a tightly wound spring that will shoot it across the room if you’re not careful. Be ready to catch this ball when you take the ring out.

Take Out the Rear Element

Use your lens spanner for this and very carefully remove the rear element from your lens. Be sure to set your spanner to the appropriate width when doing this. Refer to your tool’s user manual if you’re unsure. Place all your elements that you’ve removed so far onto one of your very clean microfibre cloths.

Remove Each Glass Element and Clean

You’ll now be able to carefully remove each glass element from your lens. Pay close attention to the correct orientation for when you’ll be putting it back together. Soak each ‘infected’ element in your cleaning solution and then gently rub it with some cotton wool.

This shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes per element, but some heavier invasions can take a fair bit longer. Rinse each element under clean water once the fungus has gone. Then use your air blaster to blow away the remaining water droplets before finally drying with a microfiber cloth.

Reassemble

Carefully reassemble your lens following the photos or notes you took while working. Well done – you did it!

Lens Fungus Cleaning Conclusion

As we conclude this enlightening journey, we sincerely hope that the information shared on this page has proven valuable to you. Remember, when it comes to dismantling a lens, it’s crucial to tread carefully and possess a deep understanding of the task at hand. If doubts linger and uncertainty prevails, there’s no shame in seeking the expertise of a professional. After all, safeguarding your precious gear and preserving its optimal performance should be your top priority.

Now, we invite you to reflect on the significance of this topic. How does the presence of lens fungus impact your photography? Have you encountered any challenges in this regard? Feel free to share your experiences and insights with fellow enthusiasts, igniting a discussion that fosters knowledge and camaraderie.

Lastly, we implore you to take action. Whether it’s practicing preventive measures, seeking professional assistance, or honing your lens maintenance skills, make a conscious effort to protect your investment. Embrace the responsibility of preserving your gear’s longevity and capturing breathtaking images unhindered by the invasion of unwanted fungus.

Remember, the power to shield your lens lies in your hands. Together, let’s ensure that the beauty you perceive through your lens is flawlessly translated into extraordinary photographs.