Bugger!! - Lens Fungus

It was going to happen because of where I live.. I had a shoot on yesterday morning and while inspecting my Tamron 28-75 I noticed fungus behind the front element.. This lens is six years old..

I still shot with it without any ill effects..

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I purchased a 17-55 with a noticeable spot of mold, and trusted the seller when he told me that the spot had been there for a while and had dried and wouldn't expand or damage the lens, and he had no ill effects from it. Fortunately the seller was correct - the spot hasn't changed for as long as I've had the lens and doesn't affect the pictures at all. My experience isn't typical though... usually for most people, once any type of fungus is in the lens, it just gets worse.

What's the weather like in Laos?

At the moment warm and dry, until February.. Very hot and humid from March until October..

You been a dry cabinet then! =P Not sure what they are really called, but those things where you can control humidity!

A big patch Jurgen or just a spot or two?

It's called a humidor...never would of thought to use one for a lens though!!

themadman wrote in post #11324543
You been a dry cabinet then! =P Not sure what they are really called, but those things where you can control humidity!

robonrome wrote in post #11324615
A big patch Jurgen or just a spot or two?

Rob,, one big bit about 3mm square and a few dots..

vinnie6756 wrote in post #11324621
It's called a humidor...never would of thought to use one for a lens though!!

isnt a humidor what you use to keep cigars from drying out? that would do the opposite, well unless the 70% humidity in a humidor is still less than the outside which in that case yes you could use it.

i would suggest keeping it in one of those socks made for guns, that keeps the moisture out. or just buying the little trays and putting it in a sealed closet.

yogestee wrote in post #11324737
Rob,, one big bit about 3mm square and a few dots..

bugger... maybe you can halt it by keeping in a box filled with silica gel, but I expect it will get worse once you get into the wet season. You use anything by way of special storage? Obviously don't want that to spread to the 135L

robonrome wrote in post #11324783
bugger... maybe you can halt it by keeping in a box filled with silica gel, but I expect it will get worse once you get into the wet season. You use anything by way of special storage? Obviously don't want that to spread to the 135L

Or any other lens in my kit.. S'pose I'll put the 28-75mm into quarantine

No special storage Rob.. I keep all my gear in a wooden cupboard in the office.. The cupboard is well ventilated..

Couldn't you do the rice trick that people use for cell phones dropped in water?

Here in Taiwan electronics shops all sell a kind of humidity controlling box that looks like a little refrigerator with a glass door in front. They are quite cheap, 100-200 bucks (depending on the size). You can also buy a plastic box that seals tight (also sold here in department stores/camera shops) when you close it and put a "water collector" in it (I don't know what they are really called, but Costco sells them. Its like a big cup with a permeable membrane over the top and its full of charcoal pebbles. Somehow it slowly begins to fill with water it pulls from the air).

You want to be careful not to dry lenses out, their lubricant needs some moisture. If you put too many desiccant packets or something in a sealed bag or something it can have adverse effects on the lens. I remember hearing you don't want to get below 30% humidity or something along those lines.

themadman wrote in post #11324970
You want to be careful not to dry lenses out, their lubricant needs some moisture. If you put too many desiccant packets or something in a sealed bag or something it can have adverse effects on the lens. I remember hearing you don't want to get below 30% humidity or something along those lines.

That's a good point. I actually have two of the refrigerator boxes, but use them for a stamp collection mostly (It's two floors away from my camera gear and I'm lazy:o. I think I have them set at 40% or something like that, actually, but I don't remember where I came up with that number.