topic Re: mold or mildew in lens in EF & RF Lenses

mold or mildew in lens

mitchmcc — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 13:15:05 GMT

I own a Canon 400mm fixed lens, which has developed some mold or mildew. It is not obvious when looking

at images (perhaps it would be if magnified sufficiently), but it is bothersome. Is there any way to fix or clean

this without sending it back to Canon? And for that matter, would/could Canon fix/repair/refurbish a lens this way?
If so, does anyone know how much it would cost?

Thanks,

Mitch

Re: mold or mildew in lens

shadowsports — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 15:01:56 GMT

Mitch,

We cannot guess or estimate the cost of a repair we can't see. Once mold or fungus attacks the lens, it's probably only a matter of time before picture quality is affected. Starts on the surface, but eventually attacks the coating. If you like the lens and it has considerable life left, send it to Canon or take it to a local authorized service center. Canon can advise you on that.

I lost a lens to fungus when I was a teenager. Vivitar Series1 70-210 Macro focusing zoom. (Was using on an AE-1 body) Went to the beach, probably didn't clean it properly after and put it away. Was bummed. I was 15 yrs old. It took alot of summer work to replace it. It can't hurt for you to check on pricing. Good luck.

PS: Nice bird shots on your Flickr!

Re: mold or mildew in lens

mitchmcc — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 15:06:36 GMT

Thanks... I guess I will have to get it to a Canon service center, to see what the damage will be.

Re: mold or mildew in lens

ebiggs1 — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 17:40:29 GMT

If you don't get after it quickly it isn't repairable. Don't wait any longer.

Re: mold or mildew in lens

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 15:04:19 GMT

I suggest having your camera body cleaned and sanitized, too.

If the lens has visible mold and mildew, then any camera body that you mounted it on will be at a high risk to develop mold and mildew, too. For that matter, all of your gear is now at a higher risk. I would toss out all of my body caps and lens caps, and buy new ones after the gear is cleaned, too.

Re: mold or mildew in lens

mitchmcc — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 15:05:19 GMT

Thanks...

Re: mold or mildew in lens

RobertTheFat — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 20:15:11 GMT

,@Waddizzle wrote:
I suggest having your camera body cleaned and sanitized, too.

If the lens has visible mold and mildew, then any camera body that you mounted it on will be at a high risk to develop mold and mildew, too. For that matter, all of your gear is now at a higher risk. I would toss out all of my body caps and lens caps, and buy new ones after the gear is cleaned, too.

Really? I think that's an extreme reaction. There are surely ways to disinfect lens and body caps without throwing them out.

Also, mold is a serious problem when it's inside the lens, but not so much otherwise. Mold and mildew spores have lots of natural enemies (light and dry air, for example) in the outside world that they may not have to contend with in the interior of a lens.

Re: mold or mildew in lens

ebiggs1 — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 20:40:50 GMT

Well of course that is nuts Robert. That is why I don't read that guy anymore. Cameras don't generally get infected because there is little inside a camera body that fungus spores feed upon thus allowing them to grow. Lens fungus can't really spread at all. It needs moisture, warmth and to be left alone to grow.

Re: mold or mildew in lens

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 20:42:50 GMT

@RobertTheFat wrote:
,@Waddizzle wrote:
I suggest having your camera body cleaned and sanitized, too.

If the lens has visible mold and mildew, then any camera body that you mounted it on will be at a high risk to develop mold and mildew, too. For that matter, all of your gear is now at a higher risk. I would toss out all of my body caps and lens caps, and buy new ones after the gear is cleaned, too.
Really? I think that's an extreme reaction. There are surely ways to disinfect lens and body caps without throwing them out.

Also, mold is a serious problem when it's inside the lens, but not so much otherwise. Mold and mildew spores have lots of natural enemies (light and dry air, for example) in the outside world that they may not have to contend with in the interior of a lens.

Maybe. Maybe not. First of all, the caps are made of organic materials. Second, they are dirt cheap. Besides, i always have some spare caps laying around, anyway. In fact, I always carry a spare set with me, just in case one gets dirty. Don’t you?

Re: mold or mildew in lens

Waddizzle — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 20:49:15 GMT

“ ... Cameras don't generally get infected because there is little inside a camera body that fungus spores feed upon thus allowing them to grow. ...”

Cameras have just as much to feed on as a lens does. Mold and mildew can grow on the sensor assemblies.