To avoid return of fungus, put your cleaned lens for a few hours in an hermetic box with 2 or 3 drops of formaldehyde, it'll kill all remaining fungus and spores still present in inside body of the lens.
@@kmoecub With the rear element of the Minolta Rokkor lenses extending to the edge of the lense, it's perfect for placing on the hot part of my gas stovetop for 20 minutes. Does the job. No effect on the focussing or blades.
I want to add a few notes if anybody is interested in cleaning and restoring manual lenses : 1. Make sure to clean that room thouroughly, and also to wear a shower cap if you have long hair. Also a mask that we now wear outside for covid is good to prevent you dropping saliva on you lens. 2. Make sure that you have researched how the lens is built and how it can be dismantled. If you find videos ,play them at 50% speed if necessary. 3. Primes are easier to clean than zooms. Some lenses will have glass elements cemented together and in time that "cement" will turn into weird spots. 4. Make sure that you fix the lens in a well lit room, that you have enough time to spare. Getting interrupted while fixing or cleaning a lens is the most frustrating thing. Do not let anybody touch that desk were you have the lens elements 5. Ponder if the lens worth the effort. Some lenses are cheap and can be found in very good shape. If you are a beginner it's best to practice on very cheap lenses. 6. Some lenses will need re-lubricating. Having a spray of WD40 and just putting one or two drops of this will make the helicoid turn easily. Spray into the cap of the spray can and then put the drop on the helicoid. DO NOT spray directly on the helicoid , it will spill on the lens assembly 7. Cleaning lenses is addictive and well rewarding. It can be a profitable venture. fix'em and flip'em if you are good at this
Great notes for sure! Thank you for adding that. I agree - cleaning vintage lenses can be definitely addictive. :) It's so satisfying once you clean a lens that people considered unusable or basically trash. The lens from the video was in a box full of spider webs and a bunch of junk. It looked so sad, but now it works like a charm.
Hi! Newbie here... I've been considering getting into fixing lenses since it is a very common issue in my area due to our climate. I've read in some video's comments that sometimes fungus is not fixable because it might affect the glass condition. They say that the fungus might "eat the glass" and affect it permanetly. Is this true and how can you decide wether is worht to buy a lens and try fixing it or simply buying one that is in good shape? Also, other than balsm separation, scratches and breaks, is there any other lens issue not fixable that is common in this vintage lenses? Thanks!! Links for the material necessary will be very much appreciated
Great video. Sadly these rubber front ring tools seem to no longer be available. Any suggestions. This seems like the most difficult to find tool for this.
This is the best lens cleaning video I've watched, and there are some excellent comments with additional tips, so this is a resource I'll return to for sure. Only the other day I was watching a photography channel, a big one at that, in which he ran his glass under a tap using washing up liquid, and proceeded to rub it with kitchen towel. You could hear half the viewers gasping in disbelief! It's important to leave those lenses to soak. We're fighting mold in our boat in the tropics all the time and the key thing is to spray and then leave for ten minutes. This ensures the mold is actually killed. If you don't leave it long enough, after wiping it either hangs in the air or settles and starts growing again. Fortunately I store my lenses in a dry box that runs off 12v (stepped down to 5v).
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your kind comment. I agree that there are some very helpful comments here with really good advice. I also live in a very humid environment (temperate rainforest), and just like you I store all my lenses in a dry cabinet. This is the only way that I can assure that fungus will not start growing again.
Thank you for your nice comment! Yeah cleaning fungus is not that difficult, but it ultimately depends on the lens. Some lenses are harder to dismantle, but others are super easy. I hope the video is helpful to people. It definitely takes some practice and I would recommend starting out with some super cheap lenses that you don't care about.
Thank you for the information on cleaning lenses. Recently, I purchased three Nikon lenses (35mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, and 85mm 2.8) which require cleaning which I will do myself. Thank you. FYI, I will be purchasing the items used in your video from Amazon.
You are welcome! I hope the video will be helpful with your cleaning process. Just be aware that many vintage lenses have their own quirks and some can be quite challenging to clean. There is a lot of information on the internet on how to disassemble many different vintage lenses, and I encourage to do some research before you proceed with your Nikon lenses. Thank you for using the Amazon links and good luck!
I bought numerous lenses with fungus and I cleaned them in a similar way how you described it. The only difference is that I used alcohol only (instead of hydrogenperoxide) which did the job always very well. That way I saved a lot of money and for best optical results I have to clean a newly purchased vintage lens so or so since most old lenses have some dust or light haze. But not all lenses can be disassembled. I have lenses where the front ring is stuck, so no luck here.
Yes, some lenses can be much harder to clean than others. Sometimes some of the elements are cemented together or you can’t unscrew some retaining rings, or some other problems arise. But for the most part I’ve cleaned many lenses without issues and the end result is very rewarding!
If you want to assure that fungus will never grow back after cleaning a lens, the key is storing it in a controlled environment. I have a dry cabinet that controls temperature and humidity and I store all my lenses in such a cabinet. That is the only way that you never have to worry about fungus growing again in your lens.
@@VintageOptiks Just read a blog where the guy fixed balsam separation in old lens by heating it using boiling water(boil,turn off,put lens in,let it cool completely,used same method in an oven at 500F,must let it cool slow/naturally to not shatter/warp glass). Said it caused the balsam to redistribute, correcting defects where 2 elements were "glued" with balsam,together. Said newer lenses use modern optical glue and it won't work on them.
Thanks for taking the time and sharing this very useful information! The video itself is excellent as well, a clear and comprehensible demonstration of the steps involved. And a thank you to the numerous users who provided excellent add-ons in the comments.
Fascinating video. Great to actually see the steps of disassembly and reassembly of a lens. I have an Olympus 50mm that bought used years ago that now has fungus appearing. Could be a good DIY project. Thanks for another great video!
You are welcome! Sorry to hear that your Zuiko has some fungus growing in it, but hopefully this video will be helpful when you want to clean it up. Cheers!
Thank you so much! I’m completely obsessed with vintage lenses and it’s always nice to hear from others who appreciate them as well. That’s great that you are putting together a collection! What are your favorites vintage lenses so far?
Brilliant ! It helped me very much as i recently been gifted with and old Lens with looooots of fungi in there ahah I Will try out to dismount It and clean It as soon as some tools arrive Subscribed !! Tank you so so much Keep up the good work
Hope I can reproduce or at least get close to the result here. A priceless content here and thanks for sharing. Oh and needless to say, checked the prices and your links are the best I could find, besides some being the only ones I could find! So I bought the needed tools via your link here. Hope you get a fraction of that for your great suggestion and again appreciate all the good things you do for all.
Thank you so much!! I appreciate you using the links. And I hope you will be able to fix whatever lenses you have that need some cleaning. Also each brand has its quirks, so if you have let's say Minolta lenses that you want to clean, try to pick up some super cheap, beat up Minolta lens to practice on, and get acquainted with how to disassemble and reassemble it. And another helpful tip is to actually film what you are doing when you are taking apart the lens. This way if you forget how things fit together you can check out your footage for reference. And if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Take care.
@@VintageOptiks Are Minoltas trickier than other brands? I have repeatedly been warned that some of the Minolta Rokkor coatings on the internal lens faces are absurdly delicate, and that (not kidding) literal "nose grease" is said to be the safest cleaner. H2O2 said to be far too aggressive. There even seem to be differing opinions as to whether (for example) the 3 different generations of Rokkor PG 58mm f/1.2 lenses have differing internal coatings, thus leaving it unknown as to which is which.
Excellent Superb and Amazing! I have 50mm f1.8 and 28mm f2.8 both are vintage lenses having fungus in it. I'll clean both lenses over this weekend. Thanks alot again :)
Probably better to put the cleaned lenses in a different spot. You put the cleaned lens on the spot where it was dirty with fungus previously. Might not make a big difference, but maybe put it on the cloth instead.
amazing! i had a lens, tokina a-tx 35-70 2.8 that served me 12 years. when i wanted to sell it was infested and nobody wanted to buy it. i wish i could have done this. it was really sad to let go such a great lens.
Sorry to hear that your Tokina zoom was infested with fungus and you hat to let it go. It's unfortunate that lenses have this problem but with proper storage this issue can be avoided. I have all my lenses in a dry cabinet. This way even during the humid summer I don't have to worry about fungus starting to grow.
If it's any consolation, zooms can be a lot more fiddly than primes to dismantle, and especially to reassemble accurately. Not the best lenses to start your cleaning journey, and I know from experience that you can end up with a box of bits you keep meaning to have another go at! ;0)
Thank you for making such a great video on the subject. I'm about to try cleaning a set of vintage binoculars with a light amount of fungus. I am curious about a few things to do with camera lenses. What effect, if any, will this process have on lens coatings? At what point does the presence of fungus permanently effect the coating and/or glass?
You are welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. According to what effect my method will have on lens coatings - it’s hard to say, because there are a ton of different lenses which have many different coatings. I’ve tested this method on many different vintage lenses and never had any issues, but of course I haven’t tried this on every lens ever made, so I can’t guarantee or predict how this might affect certain brands of lenses or binoculars in your case. I’ve suggested this to some other people who have a similar concern- try using a very diluted mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and water and only apply a small amount on the very corner of the lens. See if that has any effect, and then if it’s okay after a few minutes, you should be fine. Of course if you have some very expensive lens that you are worried about it’s best to send it to a professional. Cheers!
Really interesting, thanks a lot for sharing! One question: wouldn't it make sense to clean the retaining elements and possibly all non-glass elements, too? My idea is that on these elements there might also be tiny fungus nests which could be cores of future fungus infections of the optical elements. You possibly won't get all of these out of the lens body by simply blowing dust out of the lens housing.
@VintageOptiks great Video Thanks! Im a fan of the TLRs, have you ever messed with one of the Mamiya TLR lens? I see them around for cheap when they are full of fungus. If they are simple enough to clean like the barrel lens I would love to give it a try. I guess they would be about the same in construction.
Thank you! Yes, I did clean a couple of the Mamiya TLR lenses about two years ago. I used to have the C220. They are quite easy to clean in my opinion, but I have been doing this for a while. Not sure if you have experience cleaning lenses.
@@VintageOptiks Thanks, I have a C330. I never taken a lens apart but I am technically oriented and I work with small objects. You made it look easy so I my grab one of the cheap Lenses on eBay and give it a try.
Thanks for making this video. I've got a couple of lenses that need a good clean. Not looking forward to taking apart the helicoid on my Nikkor 105, it needs grease bad.
You are welcome! I totally understand how you feel - regreasing a helicoid can be a bit trickier. All those tiny screws and precise alignment. Good luck!
how could i find out if my point and shoot camera has fungus? (the photo is always grainy (grainier than the photos of the same camera i saw on insta) and just watched the video!! This is a great video. it's so informative!!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video. I hope its helpful if you run into some fungal issues. And thanks so much for subscribing to the channel! Cheers!
Good video, but why would you put your highly cleaned lens back on the table just where you picked it up from? Wouldn't there be spores and/or dirt on the table??
The hydrogen peroxide being corrosive wont damage the coatings? They say saliva is strong enough to break down the coating. I've used alcohol but never h2o2 and wondering if a dip in distilled water after cleaning would be a good idea to rinse off the h2o2?
Top job you almost succeed making it look fun! Of course nothing quite succeeds like a successfully completed CLA. There must be a whole flora of these mutant fungi out there just waiting for the opportunity to invade and diminish photographic lenses. I note some concern with the use of hydrogen peroxide on CZJ lenses which detrimentally altered the lens coating. In your experience are fungi capable of damaging the lens coating of the optical glass of camera lenses?
Thank you! I actually really enjoy cleaning vintage lenses. It’s a great feeling when a junky old lens is nice and clean again! Regarding your question if fungi can damage the coatings of vintage lenses - yes, they can. It’s what some people call “etching”. So even if you remove the fungus you can still have a trace on the coatings where fungi used to be. It happens when the fungus has been there for a long time. It’s more problematic if it’s on the rear elements.
@@0n596 I've recently cleaned up 2 Takumars, a 135mm f3.5 and a 55mm f1.8. Nearly all elements had fine, web-like fungus. Initially used Isopropyl Alcohol but this didn't remove fungus so used Hydrogen Peroxide on a cotton bud (the bud was just slightly damp) and this worked throughout lens. In my experience the coating appears undamaged, so I've managed to buy 2 excellent lenses for a grand total of £16 and have the satisfaction of getting them back into working order.
Hi, I just checked all the links and they all seems to work without any issues and all the items are in stock. Are you having issues finding certain tools?
Really, really enjoyed this video, you exposed a hidden mystery for me. My only "nitpick" would be maybe to suggest not sitting the clean lens where the old contaminated ones had rested, that is since fungus spores are so "contagious" but then again the spores might be still inside the barrel as well. Inside lens cleaning may be just have to become a part of long-term service requirements in today's harsh environments. I now have 4 cannon point and shoots I'd like to do the same to, You've inspired me to try this on at least one of them.
I'd have liked you to show the fungus on the element once disassembled, to appreciate the change after cleaning. One would think the fungus shown has already etched the glass and is uncleanable. I hope it is not, because I have some glass like that and need to have hope.
I've been taught that hydrogen peroxide is way, way too aggressive for some of the internal coatings. Especially for example, certain Minolta Rokkor lenses. Have you ever cleaned fungus from a Rokkor PG 58mm f/1.2 ?
I wonder - when you put the elements back inside the barrel when do you know you've hit the correct position and should leave it and remove your hand? What's keeping them there? Friction? Indentation inside barrel wall? How's that work?
some questions: 1. shouldn't you NOT resuse the hydrogen peroxide between lens elements (thus avoiding potential fungal transfer from element to element as you clean). 2. should you also clean the non lens metal elements in the hydrogen peroxide too, as fungus can reside on those parts, not just on the glass lens elements...
1. Reusing the hydrogen peroxide hasn't been an issue. I've cleaned a lot of lenses and never had a problem with it. 2. I always wipe the rest of the lens with alcohol wipes which is quite sufficient. You are most likely never going to be able to get rid of all the fungal spores. But what you can do when you are done cleaning the lens is to store it in an environment that doesn't encourage fungal growth. I store all my lenses in a dry lens cabinet. Here is a link to the one I use: amzn.to/3T1Vgw4 It works great and I never have to worry about fungus coming back.
Make sure that the cleaning fiber cloths are either new or very well washed. If it will have just one piece of sand or other particle it could scratch your lens
Excllent tutorial, thx; i have a Tamron-SP 500 55BB 500/f8 mirror tele full of fungus. Paid under $60 inc postage & figured was worth learning 2 clean it. Have u had experience cleaning a mirror tele .. is the process similar? Intending 2 practise on grubby filters 1st, then a conventional lens per ur tutorial .. b4 tackling the Tamron mirror tele.
Thank you! Regarding your question - I haven't cleaned a mirror lens yet. But my guess is that the process will be a bit different since they have mirrors and not regular glass elements. But I'm sure you can find some tutorials on-line that will be helpful. Good luck!
Thank you! Regarding your question- I’ve never cleaned a scope, so I can’t say if my method will work or not. I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t, but then again I can’t guarantee that it will work since I don’t have any experience with scopes. Maybe check online if someone has experience cleaning scopes and what is their advice. Good luck.
Brilliant. I will clean my nikor AF. But first I have to search disassembly instructions for that lense. Fungus is on the back ( near the camera side) and looks very tight and refuses to open. Any tips?
If you have an auto focus (AF) lens, it will be more complicated to take it apart, because there are electronics inside it that communicate with the camera. I only disassemble vintage manual focus lenses, because they are much simpler and easier to take apart. If you don't have experience disassembling lenses, and if your lens is special, it's best to take it to a professional who can properly clean it for you.
It's much safer to disassemble the lens completely and rinse it in some alcohol/white spirit, and then wipe it. The whole lens body becomes a home to fungal spores, which have been hanging out in there for god knows how long, and they will definitely grow back after some time if not completely annihilated.
excellent video, but I would like to point out that you are re-contaminating the clean lens by setting it back in the place where the dirty ones came from.
Very good video for thorough lens cleaning. Thank you! Could you please tell me how to clean the front element group of a Minolta MD 50mm? It has fungus between the first and second element but the group capsule is sealed and glued. How can I remove the glue without damaging the plastic? Is there a way to separate the elements in the group to allow cleaning?
Thank you! Regarding your question - usually the group capsule is not glued - at least from the ones I've cleaned. You just have to unscrew it and then you'll gain access to the elements. And if it's hard to unscrew, apply some nail-polish remover to the threads. Hope this helps.
Personally, I wouldn't recommend heating the lens. The best thing to do after you have thoroughly cleaned the lens is to store it in a dry cabinet. That way there is no risk of the spores ever reaching optimal temperature and moisture for growth. My lenses live in a dry cabinet and I never have to worry about fungal growth! Here is a link for the dry cabinet I use: amzn.to/3hrHsq1
You are welcome. I’m glad it’s helpful. Regarding the lens coatings - there is no one simple answer. I’ve cleaned many different lenses with hydrogen peroxide and never noticed any issues with the coatings. That said, I haven’t cleaned all lenses ever made and can’t guarantee that there won’t be any issues with ALL lenses. There are probably some exceptions but I haven’t run into them yet. Cheers!
I know it's off topic, but do you have any suggestions for scratched front lens? I've read many things, from leaving it alone,using a black marker on it(evidently a vintage common practice), using an eraser, toothpaste,banana & baking soda, to using modern liquid glass protector. I'm considering buying a vintage 300mm Pentax star lens that has a small scratch on front element. Interestingly in the articles I read, you can actually take a piece of masking tape,put it on the front element, and still take pictures w/o it showing. Haven't tried that yet,so taking the pro who did the article 's word on that. Maybe a good topic for a video?
If you have scratches on the front element, I simply wouldn’t worry about it, because you’ll never see them in your images. The methods for “removing” scratches that some people recommend on-line are most likely going to make things worse, so I’ll simply leave the lens alone and shoot with it the way it is.
Great video! Do you have any suggestion on how to re-cement the back element? I have a Canon 24mm FD S.S.C Lens but the adhesive has come off quite a lot and apparently it is a pain in the bum to take care of. I have been told you can boil it apart to separate then reapply with an UV Adhesive, I'm just afraid I cannot align it well enough to get a sharp image.
Really helpful video. I have a haze on what I believe is the rear of the front element of my Pentax 6x7 90mm f/2.8. I want to attempt to take just the front element off to clean it. Do you know if my lens is difficult to get the front element off?
Sorry, I have no experience cleaning the Pentax 90mm f2.8, so I can't say how difficult it will be to take off the front element. But I'm sure you can find some info on the internet that will be helpful.
Great video👍 I've had fungus on one of my vintage lenses and seen a lot of videos on how to treat it. Many also mix ammonia with the hydrogen peroxide 🤔 just wondering if it is viable to save money by excluding that nasty ammonia?
Thank you! Regarding the ammonia, I’ve actually never used it to clean my lenses. And I get great results from just using the Hydrogen Peroxide solution. No need to buy that smelly ammonia 😁
Hi, Thanks for the informative video! Question; Does this method, with the hydrogen peroxide solution, effect the coating of the lens in any way? And should a lens coating be reapplied for it to have the same effect? I'm looking to add some vintage lenses to my collection and I would really like the original look to maintain. Thanks!
Hello! Glad to hear that you found the video informative. Regarding your question- for as long as I’ve used this method with the hydrogen peroxide solution, I haven’t had any issues with the coatings. And I’ve tried this on at least a hundred different lenses. However that doesn’t mean that there aren’t vintage lenses that could be affected by this method. I haven’t tried this on all vintage lenses that ever existed so I can’t guarantee that it will always be safe. So proceed with caution. And if you are ever not sure, it’s always best to consult with a professional.
I had what looked like lens rot on my Televue Barlow lens. No mechanical action or isopropanol would shift it, well the fluff was gone but looked like the coating was ‘eaten away’. Used ROR which has ammonia and it was gone, as in like new
Glad to hear that ROR worked for you and helped with the issue on your lens. I’ve heard very good things about it. Need to add it to my arsenal of cleaners.
That's the tricky part. Unfortunately I don't have an extractor so maybe some dust particles do end up back inside. But I am not worried about them, because I store all my lenses in a dry cabinet, which is temperature and humidity controlled. So even if some dust particles with fungal spores end up back inside they have no chance at growing again.
Thanks for the video. What about when the cleaning doesn't remove anything you see? A couple pieces I thought were haze or fungus did not get any better with peroxide, alcohol or acetone. One might have even looked worse. Any idea why this might be?
before using any peroxide or isopropyl alcohol or whatever, better use distilled water. In most cases absolutely sufficient for removing fungus. I have cleaned dozens of lenses. Hydrogen peroxide is too agressive. If water doesnt do the job, then i use common glass cleaner.
Hi, great video, I'm about to purchase,cheaply, an old Pentax 400mm f/4 lens that has "haze", picture of it doesn't show much, hoping that's a good thing. Am I correct that 'haze" is usually caused by vapors from the grease used in the lens? If so, it should be able to be cleaned, like fungus, but was thinking if it's grease vapors, maybe I should use alcohol, acetone, or such. What's you thoughts on that?
Hello and thank you! First I’ll try using alcohol wipes (I use Zeiss alcohol wipes) , and if they don’t remove the haze I would use lighter fluid. It works really well on haze. But sometimes haze can be very persistent and really hard to get rid of. It depends on how long has it been there and what’s really causing it. Good luck and I hope you can fix your Pentax lens.
I have an old Pentax K2 with a 1.4 lens. The front lens seems to contain perhaps not fungus but like a cloud like smudge. Tested it on a canon and it produces very subtle coloured images. Yet scared to take it apart. It read somewhere that I can put the lens in the sun and that UV light micht clean it?
Hi, what you are describing on your lens sounds like haze, and not fungus. Exposing it to the sun is not going to do much if it's haze. You will need to take it apart and clean it. But if you are worried about doing that you can always bring it to a professional.
I have a Orion refractor with fungus in the objective. I'm concerned about the coatings. Will the microfiber cloth or the peroxide wash out the coatings? Is there anyway to get rid of the fungus and prevent from washing the coatings out
Hello. There is simply no way of knowing how the peroxide will affect the coatings on your lens. I’ve never had any issues with hydrogen peroxide, but at the same time I haven’t used it on every lens ever made so I can’t guarantee how it will affect lenses that I haven’t cleaned myself. I’ve mentioned this to others in the comments and my advice is this - if you are worried about messing up your lens, and don’t have experience with disassembling vintage lenses, it is best to let a professional clean it for you.
Thabk you for this video. Have you had any chance to clean a Tamron 70-200 2.8 Di macro? I don't see any way to remove the front element and it has a lot of fungus built up in it. Functions really well but cant even use it 😢
You are welcome. Unfortunately I have no experience with the Tamron lens you mentioned. This is a modern lens made for digital photography with lots of electronics inside, which is a lot more complicated to deal with than what I show in the video. It's probably best to send it to a pro for proper cleaning. Good luck.
@@VintageOptiks I just tried this method on my 28-70 2.8 Tamron today actually and the lense is clean as a whistle for the first time in over 5 years! I'm just a bit intimidated by the 70-200 lol. Thanks for replying and thank you for making this video. I really appreciate it.
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To avoid return of fungus, put your cleaned lens for a few hours in an hermetic box with 2 or 3 drops of formaldehyde, it'll kill all remaining fungus and spores still present in inside body of the lens.
Where do you get such a hazardous chemical these days? Hard to believe they exposed kids to it in labs just a few years ago.
@@Shaun-tx6lp are you saying pit lighter fluid on the glass lens?
Bad advice, formaldehyde is a carcinogen.
A long slow cook in an oven set to 150 degrees F will do the same thing, without the danger of using a chemical that damages human cells.
@@kmoecub With the rear element of the Minolta Rokkor lenses extending to the edge of the lense, it's perfect for placing on the hot part of my gas stovetop for 20 minutes. Does the job. No effect on the focussing or blades.
I want to add a few notes if anybody is interested in cleaning and restoring manual lenses :
1. Make sure to clean that room thouroughly, and also to wear a shower cap if you have long hair. Also a mask that we now wear outside for covid is good to prevent you dropping saliva on you lens.
2. Make sure that you have researched how the lens is built and how it can be dismantled. If you find videos ,play them at 50% speed if necessary.
3. Primes are easier to clean than zooms. Some lenses will have glass elements cemented together and in time that "cement" will turn into weird spots.
4. Make sure that you fix the lens in a well lit room, that you have enough time to spare. Getting interrupted while fixing or cleaning a lens is the most frustrating thing. Do not let anybody touch that desk were you have the lens elements
5. Ponder if the lens worth the effort. Some lenses are cheap and can be found in very good shape. If you are a beginner it's best to practice on very cheap lenses.
6. Some lenses will need re-lubricating. Having a spray of WD40 and just putting one or two drops of this will make the helicoid turn easily. Spray into the cap of the spray can and then put the drop on the helicoid. DO NOT spray directly on the helicoid , it will spill on the lens assembly
7. Cleaning lenses is addictive and well rewarding. It can be a profitable venture. fix'em and flip'em if you are good at this
Great notes for sure! Thank you for adding that. I agree - cleaning vintage lenses can be definitely addictive. :) It's so satisfying once you clean a lens that people considered unusable or basically trash. The lens from the video was in a box full of spider webs and a bunch of junk. It looked so sad, but now it works like a charm.
Please do not use WD40, better use oil of a sewing machine. It will be in place. WD40 also can evaporate and could produce some haze inside
@@renegrunwald2937 thank you for the suggestion. I actually have oil to lubricate sewing machines. I will try it
Thanks for taking the time to write this
Hi! Newbie here... I've been considering getting into fixing lenses since it is a very common issue in my area due to our climate. I've read in some video's comments that sometimes fungus is not fixable because it might affect the glass condition. They say that the fungus might "eat the glass" and affect it permanetly. Is this true and how can you decide wether is worht to buy a lens and try fixing it or simply buying one that is in good shape?
Also, other than balsm separation, scratches and breaks, is there any other lens issue not fixable that is common in this vintage lenses?
Thanks!! Links for the material necessary will be very much appreciated
I've watched five videos before yours on this topic and yours is the only method that worked, many thanks.
Glad to hear that! I’ve used this method for years and it’s worked great every time, which is why I wanted to share it with others. Cheers!
Great video. Sadly these rubber front ring tools seem to no longer be available. Any suggestions. This seems like the most difficult to find tool for this.
You should clean the retaining rings too, this is where fungal spores lurk if lenses are infected.
This is the best lens cleaning video I've watched, and there are some excellent comments with additional tips, so this is a resource I'll return to for sure. Only the other day I was watching a photography channel, a big one at that, in which he ran his glass under a tap using washing up liquid, and proceeded to rub it with kitchen towel. You could hear half the viewers gasping in disbelief! It's important to leave those lenses to soak. We're fighting mold in our boat in the tropics all the time and the key thing is to spray and then leave for ten minutes. This ensures the mold is actually killed. If you don't leave it long enough, after wiping it either hangs in the air or settles and starts growing again. Fortunately I store my lenses in a dry box that runs off 12v (stepped down to 5v).
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your kind comment. I agree that there are some very helpful comments here with really good advice. I also live in a very humid environment (temperate rainforest), and just like you I store all my lenses in a dry cabinet. This is the only way that I can assure that fungus will not start growing again.
Brilliant! I have a few ‘bargain’ lenses on the way from Japan that need treatment badly.
A really interesting video - I wasn't even aware you could clean fungus off of old lens. Thank you Vintage Optiks
Thank you for your nice comment! Yeah cleaning fungus is not that difficult, but it ultimately depends on the lens. Some lenses are harder to dismantle, but others are super easy. I hope the video is helpful to people. It definitely takes some practice and I would recommend starting out with some super cheap lenses that you don't care about.
Thank you for the information on cleaning lenses. Recently, I purchased three Nikon lenses (35mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, and 85mm 2.8) which require cleaning which I will do myself. Thank you. FYI, I will be purchasing the items used in your video from Amazon.
You are welcome! I hope the video will be helpful with your cleaning process. Just be aware that many vintage lenses have their own quirks and some can be quite challenging to clean. There is a lot of information on the internet on how to disassemble many different vintage lenses, and I encourage to do some research before you proceed with your Nikon lenses.
Thank you for using the Amazon links and good luck!
I bought numerous lenses with fungus and I cleaned them in a similar way how you described it. The only difference is that I used alcohol only (instead of hydrogenperoxide) which did the job always very well. That way I saved a lot of money and for best optical results I have to clean a newly purchased vintage lens so or so since most old lenses have some dust or light haze. But not all lenses can be disassembled. I have lenses where the front ring is stuck, so no luck here.
Yes, some lenses can be much harder to clean than others. Sometimes some of the elements are cemented together or you can’t unscrew some retaining rings, or some other problems arise. But for the most part I’ve cleaned many lenses without issues and the end result is very rewarding!
Interesting. Have the fungus ever grow back after such cleaning job?
If you want to assure that fungus will never grow back after cleaning a lens, the key is storing it in a controlled environment. I have a dry cabinet that controls temperature and humidity and I store all my lenses in such a cabinet. That is the only way that you never have to worry about fungus growing again in your lens.
You ever try liquid wrench(penetrating oil) on those stuck rings? Should work,just a little on the threads,then tapping will help it penetrate.
@@VintageOptiks Just read a blog where the guy fixed balsam separation in old lens by heating it using boiling water(boil,turn off,put lens in,let it cool completely,used same method in an oven at 500F,must let it cool slow/naturally to not shatter/warp glass). Said it caused the balsam to redistribute, correcting defects where 2 elements were "glued" with balsam,together. Said newer lenses use modern optical glue and it won't work on them.
Simple steps to follow, but will try with cheaper lenses first.
Thank you 😎
You are welcome. Definitely try cheaper lenses first until you feel comfortable disassembling them. Cheers!
Thanks for taking the time and sharing this very useful information! The video itself is excellent as well, a clear and comprehensible demonstration of the steps involved. And a thank you to the numerous users who provided excellent add-ons in the comments.
You are welcome! Glad that you find it useful. And I agree - a lot of excellent comments from this wonderful community.
Fascinating video. Great to actually see the steps of disassembly and reassembly of a lens. I have an Olympus 50mm that bought used years ago that now has fungus appearing. Could be a good DIY project. Thanks for another great video!
You are welcome!
Sorry to hear that your Zuiko has some fungus growing in it, but hopefully this video will be helpful when you want to clean it up. Cheers!
Wow - Quite a transformation! Great demonstration!
Thanks so much!!
Brilliant step-by-step instruction, very useful, thank you.
You are welcome! Thank you for the feedback.
That lens lives on. Thanks to you!
It’s always fun to be able to restore an old lens in poor condition and give it a new life. Cheers!
I live your channel. Very useful and stylish. I'm quickly falling in love with vintage lenses and building up quite a collection.
Thank you so much! I’m completely obsessed with vintage lenses and it’s always nice to hear from others who appreciate them as well. That’s great that you are putting together a collection! What are your favorites vintage lenses so far?
Thank you so much for this video. Really enjoyed it althogether, very well explained and even nice music
Thank you for the positive feedback. I appreciate it.
Nicely done, nicely done! Clear and clean visuals, excellent narration, job well done! Bravo!
Thank you so much!!
Excellent. Informative and clear, nicely paced with clear diction. A masterclass in how to present and produce a youtube video. Many thanks.
Thank you very much for the wonderful feedback! I appreciate it.
Amazing! Great video and very well explained!
Thank you!
Brilliant !
It helped me very much as i recently been gifted with and old Lens with looooots of fungi in there ahah
I Will try out to dismount It and clean It as soon as some tools arrive
Subscribed !!
Tank you so so much
Keep up the good work
Glad to hear the video has been helpful, and thank you for subscribing to the channel. Good luck with cleaning your old lens. Cheers!
Hope I can reproduce or at least get close to the result here.
A priceless content here and thanks for sharing.
Oh and needless to say, checked the prices and your links are the best I could find, besides some being the only ones I could find! So I bought the needed tools via your link here. Hope you get a fraction of that for your great suggestion and again appreciate all the good things you do for all.
Thank you so much!! I appreciate you using the links. And I hope you will be able to fix whatever lenses you have that need some cleaning. Also each brand has its quirks, so if you have let's say Minolta lenses that you want to clean, try to pick up some super cheap, beat up Minolta lens to practice on, and get acquainted with how to disassemble and reassemble it. And another helpful tip is to actually film what you are doing when you are taking apart the lens. This way if you forget how things fit together you can check out your footage for reference. And if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. Take care.
@@VintageOptiks Are Minoltas trickier than other brands? I have repeatedly been warned that some of the Minolta Rokkor coatings on the internal lens faces are absurdly delicate, and that (not kidding) literal "nose grease" is said to be the safest cleaner. H2O2 said to be far too aggressive. There even seem to be differing opinions as to whether (for example) the 3 different generations of Rokkor PG 58mm f/1.2 lenses have differing internal coatings, thus leaving it unknown as to which is which.
Excellent Superb and Amazing!
I have 50mm f1.8 and 28mm f2.8 both are vintage lenses having fungus in it. I'll clean both lenses over this weekend.
Thanks alot again :)
Thank you so much! I’m glad that the video is helpful. I hope your fungus cleaning project goes as smooth as possible!
Great video, I like the format of your videos. Straight to the point and no extraneous BS and very informative. Thanks for posting! Regards, Jimp
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback.
Super cool thank you for this
You are welcome.
great video, great comments and great music!!!!! thanks for including the name of the artist and the song title! very cool!
Thanks so much!
Very Informative, Thank you.
You are welcome! Thanks for the feedback.
Probably better to put the cleaned lenses in a different spot. You put the cleaned lens on the spot where it was dirty with fungus previously. Might not make a big difference, but maybe put it on the cloth instead.
Another Great video!! I really enjoy your videos and I appreciate the time and effort you put into these. Very useful information.
Thank you so much! Glad to hear that the you enjoyed the video and that the information is helpful. Cheers!
subbed - cos youre pro and the vibe is right
Thank you!
Thanks for this! A most useful skill to have.
You are welcome!
amazing! i had a lens, tokina a-tx 35-70 2.8 that served me 12 years. when i wanted to sell it was infested and nobody wanted to buy it. i wish i could have done this. it was really sad to let go such a great lens.
Sorry to hear that your Tokina zoom was infested with fungus and you hat to let it go. It's unfortunate that lenses have this problem but with proper storage this issue can be avoided. I have all my lenses in a dry cabinet. This way even during the humid summer I don't have to worry about fungus starting to grow.
If it's any consolation, zooms can be a lot more fiddly than primes to dismantle, and especially to reassemble accurately. Not the best lenses to start your cleaning journey, and I know from experience that you can end up with a box of bits you keep meaning to have another go at! ;0)
Thank you for making such a great video on the subject. I'm about to try cleaning a set of vintage binoculars with a light amount of fungus. I am curious about a few things to do with camera lenses. What effect, if any, will this process have on lens coatings? At what point does the presence of fungus permanently effect the coating and/or glass?
You are welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
According to what effect my method will have on lens coatings - it’s hard to say, because there are a ton of different lenses which have many different coatings. I’ve tested this method on many different vintage lenses and never had any issues, but of course I haven’t tried this on every lens ever made, so I can’t guarantee or predict how this might affect certain brands of lenses or binoculars in your case. I’ve suggested this to some other people who have a similar concern- try using a very diluted mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and water and only apply a small amount on the very corner of the lens. See if that has any effect, and then if it’s okay after a few minutes, you should be fine. Of course if you have some very expensive lens that you are worried about it’s best to send it to a professional. Cheers!
"Fungus Among Us"
- U got me w/ that
😁
Really interesting, thanks a lot for sharing! One question: wouldn't it make sense to clean the retaining elements and possibly all non-glass elements, too? My idea is that on these elements there might also be tiny fungus nests which could be cores of future fungus infections of the optical elements. You possibly won't get all of these out of the lens body by simply blowing dust out of the lens housing.
Agreed.
Great Video!!!
Thank you for sharing your Time!!!
Thank you!
Great work. Would have been really nice see a before and after shot with and without the fungus.
Thank you.
@@VintageOptiks subscribed. Keep the good work and stay vintage
Thanks so much!! Cheered!
really good video, i followed every step and managed too clean lens. Thank you
Thank you! Glad you were able to clean your lens. Cheers!
Excellent video. Very clear and well illustrated explanation. Thank you.
Thank you so much!!
This is weird, I just opened youtube to search for videos on fungus removal from lenses, and there was your video on the front page of my recommended.
Amazing production quality (and good video)
Thank you so much!!
@VintageOptiks great Video Thanks! Im a fan of the TLRs, have you ever messed with one of the Mamiya TLR lens? I see them around for cheap when they are full of fungus. If they are simple enough to clean like the barrel lens I would love to give it a try. I guess they would be about the same in construction.
Thank you! Yes, I did clean a couple of the Mamiya TLR lenses about two years ago. I used to have the C220. They are quite easy to clean in my opinion, but I have been doing this for a while. Not sure if you have experience cleaning lenses.
@@VintageOptiks Thanks, I have a C330. I never taken a lens apart but I am technically oriented and I work with small objects. You made it look easy so I my grab one of the cheap Lenses on eBay and give it a try.
This is an awesome tutorial! I'll try it someday :)
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
Perfectly explain everything
Thank you!
Thanks for making this video. I've got a couple of lenses that need a good clean. Not looking forward to taking apart the helicoid on my Nikkor 105, it needs grease bad.
You are welcome! I totally understand how you feel - regreasing a helicoid can be a bit trickier. All those tiny screws and precise alignment. Good luck!
@@VintageOptiks thanks
how could i find out if my point and shoot camera has fungus? (the photo is always grainy (grainier than the photos of the same camera i saw on insta)
and just watched the video!! This is a great video. it's so informative!!
Excellent presentation, much appreciated! New subscriber. Cheers!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video. I hope its helpful if you run into some fungal issues. And thanks so much for subscribing to the channel! Cheers!
Great video. Well shot.
Thank you!
Good video, but why would you put your highly cleaned lens back on the table just where you picked it up from? Wouldn't there be spores and/or dirt on the table??
excellent point!
Amazing 😻 I love your vintage lens videos production
Thank you so much!!
Looks Beautiful.
Thank you!
Very good video, thank you!
Thank you!!
Pls make a tutorial of cleaning of fungus & disassembly Fujinon 18-55mm zoom lens for X-T2..thanks!
So satisfying!
Thanks!
I've been waiting for this one! Thanks!
You are welcome!
The hydrogen peroxide being corrosive wont damage the coatings? They say saliva is strong enough to break down the coating. I've used alcohol but never h2o2 and wondering if a dip in distilled water after cleaning would be a good idea to rinse off the h2o2?
Top job you almost succeed making it look fun! Of course nothing quite succeeds like a successfully completed CLA. There must be a whole flora of these mutant fungi out there just waiting for the opportunity to invade and diminish photographic lenses. I note some concern with the use of hydrogen peroxide on CZJ lenses which detrimentally altered the lens coating. In your experience are fungi capable of damaging the lens coating of the optical glass of camera lenses?
Thank you! I actually really enjoy cleaning vintage lenses. It’s a great feeling when a junky old lens is nice and clean again!
Regarding your question if fungi can damage the coatings of vintage lenses - yes, they can. It’s what some people call “etching”. So even if you remove the fungus you can still have a trace on the coatings where fungi used to be. It happens when the fungus has been there for a long time. It’s more problematic if it’s on the rear elements.
вас спросили, испортит ли перекись водорода покрытие или нет?
How about damage to coating of vintage Takumar lenses?
@@0n596 I've recently cleaned up 2 Takumars, a 135mm f3.5 and a 55mm f1.8. Nearly all elements had fine, web-like fungus. Initially used Isopropyl Alcohol but this didn't remove fungus so used Hydrogen Peroxide on a cotton bud (the bud was just slightly damp) and this worked throughout lens. In my experience the coating appears undamaged, so I've managed to buy 2 excellent lenses for a grand total of £16 and have the satisfaction of getting them back into working order.
Can you please post an updated list of tools and Amazon links? Please and thanks.
Hi, I just checked all the links and they all seems to work without any issues and all the items are in stock. Are you having issues finding certain tools?
Another great and informative video, this one will help loads of people.
Thank you so much!
Really, really enjoyed this video, you exposed a hidden mystery for me. My only "nitpick" would be maybe to suggest not sitting the clean lens where the old contaminated ones had rested, that is since fungus spores are so "contagious" but then again the spores might be still inside the barrel as well. Inside lens cleaning may be just have to become a part of long-term service requirements in today's harsh environments. I now have 4 cannon point and shoots I'd like to do the same to, You've inspired me to try this on at least one of them.
Thank you. Glad to hear you enjoyed the video! I hope it will be helpful.
I'd have liked you to show the fungus on the element once disassembled, to appreciate the change after cleaning. One would think the fungus shown has already etched the glass and is uncleanable. I hope it is not, because I have some glass like that and need to have hope.
I've been taught that hydrogen peroxide is way, way too aggressive for some of the internal coatings. Especially for example, certain Minolta Rokkor lenses. Have you ever cleaned fungus from a Rokkor PG 58mm f/1.2 ?
great job 👏 n video
Thank you!
I wonder - when you put the elements back inside the barrel when do you know you've hit the correct position and should leave it and remove your hand? What's keeping them there? Friction? Indentation inside barrel wall? How's that work?
some questions:
1. shouldn't you NOT resuse the hydrogen peroxide between lens elements (thus avoiding potential fungal transfer from element to element as you clean).
2. should you also clean the non lens metal elements in the hydrogen peroxide too, as fungus can reside on those parts, not just on the glass lens elements...
1. Reusing the hydrogen peroxide hasn't been an issue. I've cleaned a lot of lenses and never had a problem with it.
2. I always wipe the rest of the lens with alcohol wipes which is quite sufficient.
You are most likely never going to be able to get rid of all the fungal spores. But what you can do when you are done cleaning the lens is to store it in an environment that doesn't encourage fungal growth. I store all my lenses in a dry lens cabinet. Here is a link to the one I use: amzn.to/3T1Vgw4
It works great and I never have to worry about fungus coming back.
I have saved this very useful article, thank you ! One question ; where can I get a lens spanner wrench ?
The tools are listed in the description at the top. Lens Spanner Wrench - amzn.to/37AbZxY
@@ncsmith1952 not all lens wrenches are equal. Get reviews from actual users on specific ones.
Excellent information, thank you very much
Thank you! I’m glad to hear that the video is helpful.
Make sure that the cleaning fiber cloths are either new or very well washed. If it will have just one piece of sand or other particle it could scratch your lens
Yes, very good point! I always have freshly washed microfiber cloths.
Have you ever tried to clean a larger / longer lens perhaps with middle elements?
Yes I have
How about uvc irradiation for killing the fungus (obviously not cleaning) before it can grow?
Excllent tutorial, thx; i have a Tamron-SP 500 55BB 500/f8 mirror tele full of fungus. Paid under $60 inc postage & figured was worth learning 2 clean it. Have u had experience cleaning a mirror tele .. is the process similar? Intending 2 practise on grubby filters 1st, then a conventional lens per ur tutorial .. b4 tackling the Tamron mirror tele.
Thank you! Regarding your question - I haven't cleaned a mirror lens yet. But my guess is that the process will be a bit different since they have mirrors and not regular glass elements. But I'm sure you can find some tutorials on-line that will be helpful. Good luck!
Is this method of cleaning suitable for a spotting scope with coated optics. Great video by the way.
Thank you! Regarding your question- I’ve never cleaned a scope, so I can’t say if my method will work or not. I don’t see a reason why it shouldn’t, but then again I can’t guarantee that it will work since I don’t have any experience with scopes. Maybe check online if someone has experience cleaning scopes and what is their advice. Good luck.
Brilliant. I will clean my nikor AF. But first I have to search disassembly instructions for that lense. Fungus is on the back ( near the camera side) and looks very tight and refuses to open. Any tips?
If you have an auto focus (AF) lens, it will be more complicated to take it apart, because there are electronics inside it that communicate with the camera. I only disassemble vintage manual focus lenses, because they are much simpler and easier to take apart. If you don't have experience disassembling lenses, and if your lens is special, it's best to take it to a professional who can properly clean it for you.
It's much safer to disassemble the lens completely and rinse it in some alcohol/white spirit, and then wipe it. The whole lens body becomes a home to fungal spores, which have been hanging out in there for god knows how long, and they will definitely grow back after some time if not completely annihilated.
I agree. Very good idea.
excellent video, but I would like to point out that you are re-contaminating the clean lens by setting it back in the place where the dirty ones came from.
Great video. Thank you veryy much. Learned a lot.
Thank you! Glad the video is helpful to others.
UV /bright sunlight light works too, just takes a while.
Yes, that’s another method for dealing with fungus but as you mentioned it takes awhile.
Very good video for thorough lens cleaning. Thank you!
Could you please tell me how to clean the front element group of a Minolta MD 50mm? It has fungus between the first and second element but the group capsule is sealed and glued. How can I remove the glue without damaging the plastic? Is there a way to separate the elements in the group to allow cleaning?
Thank you! Regarding your question - usually the group capsule is not glued - at least from the ones I've cleaned. You just have to unscrew it and then you'll gain access to the elements. And if it's hard to unscrew, apply some nail-polish remover to the threads. Hope this helps.
@@VintageOptiks thanks. But it is indeed a complete plastic capsule that I think all the elements are snapped in and sealed with a glue.
Could you heat the lens to an uncomfortable temperature over night to kill any spores that got inside during cleaning?
Personally, I wouldn't recommend heating the lens. The best thing to do after you have thoroughly cleaned the lens is to store it in a dry cabinet. That way there is no risk of the spores ever reaching optimal temperature and moisture for growth. My lenses live in a dry cabinet and I never have to worry about fungal growth! Here is a link for the dry cabinet I use: amzn.to/3hrHsq1
Thank you for the video, it helps a lot for newbie like me. Just wonder if the Hydrogen Peroxide/ Isopropyl Alcohol would damaging the lens coating?
You are welcome. I’m glad it’s helpful.
Regarding the lens coatings - there is no one simple answer. I’ve cleaned many different lenses with hydrogen peroxide and never noticed any issues with the coatings. That said, I haven’t cleaned all lenses ever made and can’t guarantee that there won’t be any issues with ALL lenses. There are probably some exceptions but I haven’t run into them yet. Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks Understood and i guess nothing can even worser than letting the fengus grow...hahahhaa :D Thanks again for the sharing
That is true :) Good luck!
I know it's off topic, but do you have any suggestions for scratched front lens? I've read many things, from leaving it alone,using a black marker on it(evidently a vintage common practice), using an eraser, toothpaste,banana & baking soda, to using modern liquid glass protector. I'm considering buying a vintage 300mm Pentax star lens that has a small scratch on front element. Interestingly in the articles I read, you can actually take a piece of masking tape,put it on the front element, and still take pictures w/o it showing. Haven't tried that yet,so taking the pro who did the article 's word on that. Maybe a good topic for a video?
If you have scratches on the front element, I simply wouldn’t worry about it, because you’ll never see them in your images. The methods for “removing” scratches that some people recommend on-line are most likely going to make things worse, so I’ll simply leave the lens alone and shoot with it the way it is.
Great video! Do you have any suggestion on how to re-cement the back element? I have a Canon 24mm FD S.S.C Lens but the adhesive has come off quite a lot and apparently it is a pain in the bum to take care of. I have been told you can boil it apart to separate then reapply with an UV Adhesive, I'm just afraid I cannot align it well enough to get a sharp image.
Re-cementing glass elements should be done by professionals. I wouldn't advise doing it yourself.
Really helpful video. I have a haze on what I believe is the rear of the front element of my Pentax 6x7 90mm f/2.8. I want to attempt to take just the front element off to clean it. Do you know if my lens is difficult to get the front element off?
Sorry, I have no experience cleaning the Pentax 90mm f2.8, so I can't say how difficult it will be to take off the front element. But I'm sure you can find some info on the internet that will be helpful.
Great video👍 I've had fungus on one of my vintage lenses and seen a lot of videos on how to treat it. Many also mix ammonia with the hydrogen peroxide 🤔 just wondering if it is viable to save money by excluding that nasty ammonia?
Thank you! Regarding the ammonia, I’ve actually never used it to clean my lenses. And I get great results from just using the Hydrogen Peroxide solution. No need to buy that smelly ammonia 😁
Hi, Thanks for the informative video! Question; Does this method, with the hydrogen peroxide solution, effect the coating of the lens in any way? And should a lens coating be reapplied for it to have the same effect? I'm looking to add some vintage lenses to my collection and I would really like the original look to maintain.
Thanks!
Hello! Glad to hear that you found the video informative. Regarding your question- for as long as I’ve used this method with the hydrogen peroxide solution, I haven’t had any issues with the coatings. And I’ve tried this on at least a hundred different lenses. However that doesn’t mean that there aren’t vintage lenses that could be affected by this method. I haven’t tried this on all vintage lenses that ever existed so I can’t guarantee that it will always be safe. So proceed with caution. And if you are ever not sure, it’s always best to consult with a professional.
@@VintageOptiks Thank you! Great to hear that you didn’t run into problems on lens coatings with your experience! I think it’s worth giving it a try.
I had what looked like lens rot on my Televue Barlow lens. No mechanical action or isopropanol would shift it, well the fluff was gone but looked like the coating was ‘eaten away’. Used ROR which has ammonia and it was gone, as in like new
Glad to hear that ROR worked for you and helped with the issue on your lens. I’ve heard very good things about it. Need to add it to my arsenal of cleaners.
One suggestion I'd like to add is after you clean the lens, don't put it back down where you had it when it was contaminated.
How do you avoid dust floating straight back in the lens as soon as you clean? Do you have any kind of extractor going above the work area?
That's the tricky part. Unfortunately I don't have an extractor so maybe some dust particles do end up back inside. But I am not worried about them, because I store all my lenses in a dry cabinet, which is temperature and humidity controlled. So even if some dust particles with fungal spores end up back inside they have no chance at growing again.
Great music between chapters!
Thank you!
Thanks for this video
You are welcome.
Thanks for the video. What about when the cleaning doesn't remove anything you see? A couple pieces I thought were haze or fungus did not get any better with peroxide, alcohol or acetone. One might have even looked worse. Any idea why this might be?
Over time fungus can damage the glass.
I hope this’ll work on contax 645 80mm f/2.0 lens... i have a coating of what looks like fungi on a lot of the surface on the inside of the glass
I hope you’ll manage to clean it. The Hydrogen Peroxide works like a charm for cleaning fungus, dirt and smudges. Take care and good luck!
before using any peroxide or isopropyl alcohol or whatever, better use distilled water. In most cases absolutely sufficient for removing fungus. I have cleaned dozens of lenses. Hydrogen peroxide is too agressive. If water doesnt do the job, then i use common glass cleaner.
Hi, great video, I'm about to purchase,cheaply, an old Pentax 400mm f/4 lens that has "haze", picture of it doesn't show much, hoping that's a good thing. Am I correct that 'haze" is usually caused by vapors from the grease used in the lens? If so, it should be able to be cleaned, like fungus, but was thinking if it's grease vapors, maybe I should use alcohol, acetone, or such. What's you thoughts on that?
Hello and thank you!
First I’ll try using alcohol wipes (I use Zeiss alcohol wipes) , and if they don’t remove the haze I would use lighter fluid. It works really well on haze. But sometimes haze can be very persistent and really hard to get rid of. It depends on how long has it been there and what’s really causing it. Good luck and I hope you can fix your Pentax lens.
I have an old Pentax K2 with a 1.4 lens. The front lens seems to contain perhaps not fungus but like a cloud like smudge. Tested it on a canon and it produces very subtle coloured images. Yet scared to take it apart. It read somewhere that I can put the lens in the sun and that UV light micht clean it?
Hi, what you are describing on your lens sounds like haze, and not fungus. Exposing it to the sun is not going to do much if it's haze. You will need to take it apart and clean it. But if you are worried about doing that you can always bring it to a professional.
I have a Orion refractor with fungus in the objective. I'm concerned about the coatings. Will the microfiber cloth or the peroxide wash out the coatings? Is there anyway to get rid of the fungus and prevent from washing the coatings out
Hello. There is simply no way of knowing how the peroxide will affect the coatings on your lens. I’ve never had any issues with hydrogen peroxide, but at the same time I haven’t used it on every lens ever made so I can’t guarantee how it will affect lenses that I haven’t cleaned myself. I’ve mentioned this to others in the comments and my advice is this - if you are worried about messing up your lens, and don’t have experience with disassembling vintage lenses, it is best to let a professional clean it for you.
Meyer Optik did not complain yet about you using their catalogue image?
Catalogue image? I am not sure what you are referring to.
zzzzzzzzzzzz
Nice video!
What song have you used in the transitions of chapters? Where can I get it?
Thank you. Unfortunately I don’t know the name of the song or who made. I found it on Internet Archive.
@@VintageOptiks that's okay! thanks!
Thabk you for this video. Have you had any chance to clean a Tamron 70-200 2.8 Di macro? I don't see any way to remove the front element and it has a lot of fungus built up in it. Functions really well but cant even use it 😢
You are welcome. Unfortunately I have no experience with the Tamron lens you mentioned. This is a modern lens made for digital photography with lots of electronics inside, which is a lot more complicated to deal with than what I show in the video. It's probably best to send it to a pro for proper cleaning. Good luck.
@@VintageOptiks I just tried this method on my 28-70 2.8 Tamron today actually and the lense is clean as a whistle for the first time in over 5 years! I'm just a bit intimidated by the 70-200 lol. Thanks for replying and thank you for making this video. I really appreciate it.