Lens - Fungus - HELP!!

Just noticed fungus formation in one of my lenses (50mm). The other one (18-55 kit) does not show any fungus growth.

Wanted to know where in Mumbai (Fort/anywhere else) can I get the lens cleaned?


Despite keeping the lens in an airtight container with silica gel pack

Also, does anyone know where can I purchase the indicator type silica gel. I guess it's available in blue/orange colour and can be "recharged" once it absorbs moisture to the limit.

Thanks.

If the fungus is inside the lens a silica pack may not help much at this point. Someone told me once that if a lens gets fungus to keep the lens away from your other lenses since the fungus can spread. Don't know if there is any truth to that but better to be safe than sorry.
I read somewhere that setting the aperture wide open and placing the lens in direct sunlight will kill the fungus so you may try that so it doesn't get worse until you can get the lens cleaned.

Yep! Got the same advice from a lot of people, and did that immediately. The infected lens not kept with the other lenses.

Didn't know about the sunlight trick. Will try that tomorrow Thanks!

I was in a camera shop in Australia where the saleperson showed me a Nikon with fungus in the lens. It usually starts around the edges and I don't know if it makes much difference to the photos initially anyway. Had infected lens in 2 brands of camera lens, Pentax and Minolta after a long time when I bothered to look. I think it is possible that most cameras in a tropical climate may get infected eventually but are unaware of it as we have usually updated cameras. I could never see any difference in the photos that I was aware of anyway, not that I was looking even after the infection started. Unless it is very severe I dont think it will be a problem.
Out of curiosity I tried dismantling the Pentax lens's and only succeeded in destroying them as they are not meant to be pulled apart and put back together again.
Keeping the lens separate may not make any difference if attached to the same camera body as it could be an infected camera causing the initial infection.
Google will get you links on how to clean them but I think would be a waste of time as the fungus damages the lens coatings.

Yeah, I noticed that on my lens as well.. Just a tiny speck. It's been 10 days now.. and the fungus hasn't spread. So I'm guessing it's already dead(?), or maybe it's just dust and I'm making a big fuss about it

Tried a couple of test shots, and the "fungus" or whatever it is .. isn't affecting the image quality.

Checked with a few friends, and have got the address/contact details of a lens service person in Fort.. will see how it goes. Canon service center charges a bomb for lens cleaning

Just to clear few confusions...
The fungus does not spread so fast that it would be visible in ten days. It waits for appropriate condition, then starts spreading.
Once infected the only solution is to get it cleaned.
It's correct, fungus spoils the lense coating and the best treatment to the fungus is to avoid fungus.
Fungus effects the photo quality. Result would be soft in stead of contrasty.
vinceorian is correct when he says, keeping the lens separate may not make any difference.
My suggestion would be to avoid any casing specially leather casing; to remove camera from the case, in case it is kept in one ; get the lens cleaned at the earliest before the damage is increased. Also please avoid keeping camera in the same almirah where you keep your clothes and avoid damp corners.
Regards, PraKaant

I have the same problem with my 70-300mm Sigma, though I didn't clean it as it's not affected the image quality yet. Hopefully, I can manage it for some more months until I upgrade my very basic gear!

Some amount of fungus on the lens will not impact image quality in a big way right away. You are also correct that it might not be fungus at all and might well be just some dust which you think is fungus. Generally speaking a prime lens gathers fungus much later than a zoom lens - if exposed to the same conditions. And it is also more difficult and expensive to get a zoom lens cleaned, as it has a lot of elements inside.

From your questions about silica gel it is obvious that you don't know much about it and possibly the silica gel is already moist to the brim and is not working any more. I am explaining below how it works.

Go to the authorised service centre for the lens brand. These are googlable. If it is Nikon go to Nikon. If it is Canon go to Canon.

Silica gel, when it is dry, is blue in colour. As it absorbs humidity and moisture from the air it slowly changes its colour to pink. When that happens you either dry fry it in some metalic pot on the oven. Or just spread it in open sun on a piece of spread newspaper. It will turn blue again and be ready to absorb more. The exposed to sun process is more time consuming. But winter is the ideal time to do it, as the atmosphere is generally dry.

Therefore all silica gel comes with an automatic indicator. Silica gel alone is not an insurance against fungus. The container has to be airtight and the gel has to be dried every time it changes its colour.

I suggest make friends with a local senior camera person who will tell you what original fungus really looks like. You should also consider taking up a membership with some local photographic clubs.

A friend of mine keeps his equipment in airtight boxes with silica gel and keeps those boxes inside a glass box which has a 0 watt bulb on throughout the day. I store my equipment in a Digicabi dry cabinet, which is perhaps an overkill for just two lenses.

Calcuttan has given wonderful tips!
Further to Calcuttan's post, I wish to state that if the lens is effected, it requires to be attended fast, else it would spoil the coating of the lens. Result would be loss of contrast in the pictures.
Generally, the fungus could be identified by the shape of formation on the lens. It looks like a speck in beginning. Further it grows as if a cobweb has started forming on the lens. Then it seems as if a branch of tree has grown there. If left unattended, it could get spread on the whole surface of lens.
It depends on the ambient climate how fast or slow it grows!
Best way to observe this is to remove the lens from your camera; then open lens manually to f/lowest number written on the lens. Target the lens to light and see through the lens.
If you see some formation on the lens from inside (as if a branch of tree has grown there. Color of the same could be light grey). That means the worse has happen.
Generally cameraman lets it grow. But, I feel, it is harmful for the lens.
It's better to get it cleared asap. I feel exposure to sunlight is not a solution!
Regards, PraKaant

Well said Calcuttan Prakaant! Thank you