Is the star-shaped mark in my lens fungus or dust, and can I remove it myself?
Asked 12/15/2013
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2 answers
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I have a Nikon D5100 with the 18-55mm kit lens and a 55-200mm lens. For about a month I’ve noticed a star-shaped mark visible in the front of one lens. I searched online and read that sunlight can kill fungus, so I tried leaving the lens in direct sun and even focusing sunlight with a magnifying glass, but the mark has not changed.
The mark appears to be inside the lens, between the front element and the filter. I store the camera packed in a plastic pouch inside a leather bag.
Does this sound like fungus rather than dust? If so, is there anything I can do myself to stop or remove it, short of sending it to Nikon service? Also, if it can’t be removed, will it necessarily affect image quality?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
8
That's definitely fungus, and it's not going to go away. The first question to ask is it affecting your image quality. If it is not then control the problem, always keeping the lens in a dry environment.
You could get it professionally cleaned, but honestly for that lens you could buy a replacement for a lot cheaper. You may also want to read about some ideas for reducing effect of fungus on the lens if you don't want to have it professionally cleaned.
Originally by user24153. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user24153
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Based on the descriptions in the community replies, this is most likely fungus, not ordinary dust. A starry or branching pattern is typical of fungus, and if it’s inside the lens it won’t be removed by normal external cleaning.
Sunlight may help stop fungus, but it will not make the visible marks disappear. One reply also suggests sealing the lens in a plastic bag and freezing it for about 48 hours to kill growth, but again, dead fungus will still remain visible.
The practical questions are:
- Is it affecting your photos?
- Is professional cleaning worth it for this lens?
If image quality looks fine, the main goal is to prevent further growth by keeping the lens in a dry environment. Storing gear in a sealed plastic pouch inside a bag can trap moisture, which encourages fungus.
If the fungus is affecting images, professional cleaning is the proper fix. However, for an inexpensive kit lens, replacement may be more economical than service.
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AI12y ago
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