2
\$\begingroup\$

I have a sigma 24-35 f/2 lens and it got affected by fungus and I cleaned it from a professional recently and after that, I am keeping it inside an air-sealed box with a lot of silica gel bag but again I can see the fungus starts growing inside the lens.

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
6
  • \$\begingroup\$ Do you live in a warm, humid area? Do you have silica-gel that colour-changes when saturated? \$\endgroup\$
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 14:20
  • \$\begingroup\$ No, It's not at all humid here. And yes the color will change when saturated also I put new gel bags after I cleaned \$\endgroup\$
    – Ryan
    Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 14:37
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ Your profile says Hyderabad - I'd call that warm & humid. weatherbase.com/weather/… \$\endgroup\$
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 15:21
  • 4
    \$\begingroup\$ One has spores in, the others don't. The cleaning didn't get rid of all the spores. \$\endgroup\$
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 15:49
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ B+W used to make a product called the "B+W UV-Pro". It's a UV-C light that mounts to the front or back of the lens to shine UV-C through the lens. UV-C is "ionizing" radiation that can break apart molecular bonds (so it can kill the mold spores). It wont clean the lens ... just kills the mold so it wont continue to spread. UV-C is dangerous... read warnings and use with care. \$\endgroup\$
    – Tim Campbell
    Commented Nov 18, 2020 at 17:12

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3
\$\begingroup\$

The best way to inhibit the growth of fungi in lenses that have already been infested and cleaned is to periodically expose the internal lens elements to UV radiation. This can be as simple as regularly exposing them to sunlight for a few hours, or as complicated as buying a dedicated UV light to shine through them.

Enough UV light in sunlight reaches the Earth's surface on sunny days to affect mold spores and inhibit them from growth. Nothing that wouldn't also destroy your lens, or at least make it so radioactive that you couldn't safely use it, ever actually kills mold spores. UV radiation doesn't kill spores, it just causes them to remain dormant for a while. Thus you need to repeat exposing the lens to UV periodically. Just be sure that the lens in question is not left unattended with the sunlight striking the lens elements in such a way that the sunlight is focused on something flammable at the other end of the lens from the sun. That's a good way to start a fire!

If you decide on a dedicated UV light source, be sure to follow all warnings carefully. Excessive exposure to UV light can cause all sorts of health problems, from degenerative vision up to and including permanent blindness if too much is allowed to reach your retinas to skin cancer if your skin is exposed to it too much.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.