[ID] Fungi

[Action_Man]

I have some fungal growth inside a camera lens, which is now ruined, but it only cost a few pounds, so no worries.
And i wonder what type of fungi it is ?, i would like to find out and have a little read up about it, and perhaps prevent it in the future.

[goosey]

Can't help with the ID sorry, but find this interesting.
Do you think that fungi spores got into the lens for example by puffing puffballs or just getting too close when you have been photographing fungi?
Or maybe that its been caused by condensation or dampness?

Shirley

[Chris Yeates]

hi

again there's no way of naming the fungus (without trying to get it into culture!); what you see is the fungal hyphae and it's the chemicals in them (poshly referred to as 'metabolites') which are damaging the glass

fungi can grow in an astonishing range of places (there are even ones which have been found growing in aeroplane fuel tanks!), but they do need an organic food source and glass is not organic; in cases like yours there must be tiny particles of animal or plant origin in the vicinity of the lens; and as correctly suggested above some moisture present (though with glass that is hard to avoid completely, as cameras are brought out from warm buildings into the cold outside)

it's a salutory reminder to keep lenses spotless (and I'm as guilty as most in often neglecting to do that!)

[Chris Yeates]

quick follow up . . .

I don't think it makes a jot of difference whether you've been getting too close to fungi and their spores - don't stop taking photo's of them

the air is full of uncountable numbers of the opportunistic fellas (as are our cameras and our lungs!) - just think of how spores find their way on to our food at home

C

[Action_Man]

I think the fungus was on the lens when i bought it, i do keep my lenses in a cupboard, which is airy and dark, i also have some silica gel in there.

One thing did worry me though, i thought it may pass the fungus onto the other lenses in the cupboard, but after reading a little on the web, i find this probably isent the case.

[fairplay]

When I considered buying a new microscope the information for the one I finally bought (Olympus) stated the lenses had been treated with an anti fungal agent.

When I placed the order, the store manager told me I never need worry about fungi etching the lens glass unless I take it to the tropics.

I guess you were quite unlucky to have this happen to you, especially as you seem to have taken care of your equipment.

Neil.