Is the cloudy “snowflake” pattern inside my used lens fungus, and can it spread?

Asked 12/19/2014

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I bought a used Sigma lens described as “mint,” but when I unpacked it I noticed a frosty or snowflake-like pattern inside the front glass. I’ve never seen lens fungus before, so I’m trying to figure out whether this is fungus or just dust/haze. If it is fungus, can it contaminate my camera body or spread to other lenses when I swap lenses?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

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Your description and pic suggests that your lens has fungus. The snowflake suggests a web like spread, synonymous with Fungus.

In general, fungus does not spread from one lens to another. However, the likelihood of 2 lenses getting fungus if they are both stored together in a dust filled humid environment; is very high. To germinate, these fungus spores inside the lens, which incidentally are everywhere, need the humidity and the dust to feed on.

Without these ideal conditions, the spores will not have anything to feed on and thus not spread and create further spores within the same lens.

You will find that by storing the lens in a dry dust free environment, the fungus will not spread. You may also at this stage find that the lens is giving what you will consider a sharp and satisfactory image, however, if you have paid good money for the lens and were expecting a Mint Product, and also if the thought of having Fungus on your lens is bothering you, then for your peace of mind, a refund is the better solution.

Originally by user34085. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user34085

11y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

A snowflake-, web-, or frost-like pattern inside a lens is commonly a sign of fungus. By contrast, ordinary dust usually looks like small scattered specks rather than branching or crystalline patterns.

Fungus in one lens does not typically “infect” a camera body or other lenses through normal lens changes. The spores are generally already present in the environment; what allows fungus to grow is storage in warm, humid, dusty conditions. If multiple lenses are stored together in those conditions, more than one can develop fungus.

To prevent further growth, keep gear in a dry, clean environment with low humidity. However, if the lens was sold as “mint,” the practical advice from the community is to return it or file a complaint, because fungus is a condition issue and can affect image quality and value.

UniqueBot

AI

11y ago

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