urban_alchemist
Well-known
To all - thanks so much for all the help. I'm headed back to London tomorrow, and will give Ed a call in the coming days to discuss sending the camera to him (thanks D'O.K).
I'm just sorry this all didn't happen a few months ago: I'm heading to Argentina next week - it would have been nice to take the camera 'home' as that's where my grandfather lived and died.
I'm just sorry this all didn't happen a few months ago: I'm heading to Argentina next week - it would have been nice to take the camera 'home' as that's where my grandfather lived and died.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Oh oh! I'm hoping that isn't what it looks like.
Urban_alchemist, You need to get to a grocery store or a chemist in the near future. Get a bottle of household ammonia and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide solution. Make a 50/50 mix of these two chemicals, remove the lenses, and swab them down thoroughly with the mixture, on cotton swabs. I am hoping that isn't lens fungus, but it looks an awful lot like it is. The mix should remove the fungus.
Unfortunately, some types of lens fungus secrete an acid that is strong enough that it can etch glass over time. The bad news is that the type that is really infamous for doing this is a kind that produces fine threadlike growths, which is what I am seeing in your photo. Anyway, after removing the fungus (if it isn't just some weird reflection -- I doubt it is), you will be able to see whether the glass is etched. The good news is that it takes a long time for even the worst type of fungus to actually eat into the glass and the odds are pretty fair that this hasn't happened yet. Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse though and it needs to be taken care of soon.
Edit: Be sure to use the mix. Do not attempt to clean it with just water or lens cleaner. You can scrub it with water until doomsday and that will not work. A great many of the lenses that people who attempt to clean this kind of thing off of with standard lens cleaners or water get junked, because not all the fungus comes off and they mistakenly assume the glass is etched. The mix I have recommended will dissolve the fungus though and you will be able to see the true extent of the damage, if any.
Another edit: Also, it looks like the lens/shutter has taken a hit. Note how the ring that indicates f/stops has been dented right at f/22. This can be straightened out with no problem, if that is the extent of the damage. It needs to be checked though.
Last edited:
urban_alchemist
Well-known
Duly noted. However there is NO way I'm gonna be doing any of this work myself. I don't trust my own abilities not to bugger up the thing! If there's something I've learned: leave certain jobs to the experts!
I'll keep you posted...
FallisPhoto
Veteran
I prefer doing my own work. If something goes wrong, at least I know who to blame. That is becoming a pretty rare occurrance these days though.