Lens Fungus + Body = Garbage?

[Dave S.]

I recently picked up a Pentax Super Program body with a Promaster Spectrum 7 MC Auto Zoom Macro 1:4.5-5.6 f=70-210mm lens on it. I planed to donate the lens back to the local thrift store and keep the body, but when I got home and removed the lens I discovered 3 splotches of fungus on the rear element of the lens. 😡

I have some nice Pentax lenses and I'm concerned they could pick up fungus from my "new to me" Super Program body. Am I at risk for spreading fungus to my Pentax SLR system by keeping this Super Program body?

 

[pvdhaar]

Personally, I'd be very wary of mixing something that's been exposed to fungus with the other gear I have.

But I know it's not rational, the atmosphere is filled with fungus spores all the time. It's only a matter of providing the right circumstances (moist, warmth) for the spores to get a foothold. In theory, (but that's theory of course) if you make sure the right circumstances aren't there, there should be no problem.

Just to be perfectly clear though, no matter the theory, I would not risk testing it myself.

 

[sreed2006]

I would be interested to hear from anyone who had fungus spread from purchased equipment that has fungus to camera equipment that has never had fungus.

None of my camera equipment has ever developed fungus, though an SLR that I acquired recently did have fungus on the mirror. The fungus came right off using cotton swabs and denatured alcohol. Since I've never had a problem with fungus on lenses or cameras before, I feel pretty confident that whatever fungus remains on the camera will not spread.

If it does, there are ways to get it off. I'm just going to keep an eye on it.

 

[_mark__]

But I know it's not rational, the atmosphere is filled with fungus spores all the time. It's only a matter of providing the right circumstances (moist, warmth) for the spores to get a foothold.

Absolutely 100% correct!