Cleaning ef 50mm 1.4 USM front element.

[perry5]

My copy of this lens had fungus behind the front element. I have taken other lenses apart previously and have the tools to do so, but I can only find examples of people tearing this lens apart to fix the common focusing issue. Is it possible to remove the front element for cleaning?

Thanks

[ebiggs1]

" Is it possible to remove the front element for cleaning?"

It is! However cleaning fungus off the front element may not be possible without further damage. Fungus can attack the lens coating. Matter of fact that is what it lives on.If that coating is gone or compromised the lens will not perform like it is supposed to.

[MikeSowsun]

It is not easy to remove the front element for cleaning. You would need to completely disassemble the lens in order to gain access. Here is a video showing a complete disassembly of the lens. 

Final removal of the front element takes place at about the 14:00 part of the video.