Is this fungus?

[mike kim]

I've recently noticed white dots that look like dust appearing in the rear element of a lens. I tried cleaning it with a air blower, then brush, then lens pen (the lens is not in very good condition so I wasn't too worried with cleaning) and it seems to be stuck there. I started thinking it may be the first stage of fungus, so, lacking a digital camera with macro capabilities , I scanned the lens to take a closer look at the dots (picture attached).

In my experience, fungus looks like spider webs... but I assume that it starts as spores, the webs being an advanced stage. But I'm not sure about this. Is it fungus? If it is, should I dispose the lens pen I used to try to clean it?

Also, I did a search on this site and read about some methods to kill/clean fungus... vinegar, saliva, etc. Would this be safe for the rear element?

 

[former member]

Well, it's not good! I've seen this before, and usually comes out with an ammonia based eye=glass cleaning fluid that I use. Try some lens cleaning fluid.

 

[Turtle]

does not look particularly like fungus (slime mould). Not sure what it could be. is it definitely on the outside surface?

 

[jonmanjiro]

Maybe condensation marks?

How do you store the lens?

 

[mike kim]

It's definitely in the outside lens. It was on a desk, in a well ventilated room with plenty of light and with its lens caps on. I thought that fungus was improbable in California's dry climate, but I may be wrong. By the way, it's a Rigid Summicron with a bad case of lens coating damage. It still takes really nice pictures in black and white though 😱

 

[mike kim]

Just for the record, I took the lens to Steve's Camera and he said it's not fungus; just coating damage.

 

[ferider]

That was my guess too. Stop cleaning, it gets worse with cleaning.

Had an Elmarit recoated due to marks like this (just many many more).