Can fungus in a DSLR body spread to an attached lens?
Asked 7/24/2017
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One of my DSLR bodies has fungus. If I keep a lens attached and continue using it, can the fungus spread into the lens as well? I'm especially concerned about whether the camera body can contaminate the lens over time.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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As you know, the camera lens consists of multiple lens elements. Some are air-spaces apart. Some are glued together. The characteristic of the glue is critical. It must be transparent and it must have the proper density (index of refraction). For years, the optical industry used a resin made from the Canadian Balsam pine. Being organic, it is also feedstuff for mold, mildew and other microorganisms. Add moisture and an opportunity for spores to settle, a bloom can occur. In modern times, artificial resins replaced the Canadian Balsam. I say it’s unlikely that the affected lens will transmit this infection. Also, both the Canadian Balsam, and modern synthetic resin, is subject to separation and crazing. This is more likely than mold or mildew. It comes from the resin losing its plasticizer and becoming brittle. This is likely due to improper storage, say in a hot car. Once the resin becomes brittle, vibration does this nasty deed.
Originally by user44949. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user44949
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes, attaching a lens to a camera body that has fungus can increase the chance that spores reach the lens. The risk is higher with zooms or lenses that change internal volume while focusing, because they move air in and out.
That said, spores alone do not guarantee fungal growth. Fungus usually needs favorable conditions such as moisture/humidity and an organic food source. If those conditions are not present, spores may not develop into an active colony.
In lenses, actual fungus growth depends more on storage conditions than simple exposure. Older optical materials and some cements can be more vulnerable, but separation or aging of lens cement is also a separate issue and may be more common than fungal damage in some cases.
Practical takeaway: there is some transmission risk, but contamination does not automatically mean the lens will become infected. Keep gear dry, avoid humid storage, and if possible do not leave clean lenses mounted on a body known to have fungus until the body is cleaned or serviced.
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