Can fungus inside a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 front lens group be cleaned by disassembly?
Asked 5/12/2024
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I have a Nikon/Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 lens that appears to have fungus inside the glass, likely in the front group. Can this section be disassembled for cleaning, or is it effectively sealed and not serviceable? I'm trying to understand whether this is a realistic DIY repair or if the lens is likely a write-off.
Originally by Tiago Cardoso. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Tiago Cardoso
2y ago
2 Answers
3
assuming this is the same lens (I think it is) https://high5cameras.com/all-articles/repair/nikon-50mm-repair-guide/
the unfortunate line from the linked guide however is:"If the fungus is between lenses in the front group it’s a write off. The front group is a sealed group and cannot be disassembled."
If it were my lens, other than finding a donor with irreparable damage elsewhere, I'd work on the basis that they were able to put it together so it must be possible to take it apart, albeit maybe destructively. I'd be trying some combination of heat, and prying anywhere that looks like it might be where 2 parts are fitted together, based on assuming retaining ring for at least one side is probably an interference fit or glued in place. Of course there's a real risk of completely destroying it in the process, so only attempt if nobody else has a better suggestion, and you don't care about losing the lens.
Originally by Ryan Callaghan. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Ryan Callaghan
2y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For this lens, the front lens group is commonly described as a sealed assembly. If the fungus is between the elements in that front group, it generally is not meant to be disassembled for normal cleaning. In practice, that makes it very difficult to repair and often not worth attempting.
A destructive approach might be physically possible, but it carries a high risk of permanently damaging the lens, misaligning optics, or making reassembly impossible. So as a DIY repair, it’s usually not recommended.
The realistic options are:
- confirm the fungus is actually inside the sealed front group,
- look for a donor lens or replacement front group if available,
- or replace the lens if the fungus is between sealed elements.
If the contamination is only on an accessible surface, cleaning may be possible, but if it’s inside the sealed group, it’s effectively a write-off for most users.
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