Fungus in cameras and lenses. What is it and how to avoid.

Fungus decimates the value of equipment, whether it be Hasselblad, Nikon, Canon, Leica, Sony, Fuji, Bronica, Mamiya, Olympus etc. All users of film and digital cameras and lenses MUST store equipment appropriately.

This video explains how to spot it and how to avoid;

0:00 Introduction
0:34 What is fungus
1:45 How to spot fungus
4:18 How to avoid fungus

Jonathan Harris - Worldwide Camera Exchange Ltd

[paceyombex]

If you live in the tropical region like myself, investing in dry cabinet is the best option IMO. It's a bit pricey but if you have an expensive gear that you want to protect, it's the most hassle-free way.

[LionFeldman]

Can't thank you enough for this video
For the past year I was sure that storing gear in a dark closed environment was the best way so I had everything in my camera bag in the closet. After watching this I went ahead and ordered a dry cabinet, specifically the ruggard 50L.

[billrossignon]

Great advice. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way after a camera lens and a rifle scope lens were permanently damaged by fungus eating the lens coating. The fungus was just on the outside but even after careful cleaning small patches of the coating are gone.

[philhodgkinson]

Hi Jonathan nice video... If you do have to store in a cupboard alway have a bowl of dry white rice nearby..
Speaking of enclosed spaces a friend runs a vintage camera shop some miles from me... his mantra is never store or display lenses with filters attached.
Otherwise you are creating a perfect nursery for propergatinng a fungus garden!!

[aristoioannidis]

Hey Jonathan, Thanks for your update. I, perhaps like many, take the silica gel packets for granted when used with each of my prized lens. I will aerate each lens weekly so to speak and replace silica gels regularly to ensure they are current. I will now take my storage practice to another level. Thanks again.

[deeanna]

Thank you for posting this. I have zero experience with photography except for cell phones and point and shoot cameras. I just bought my first one. I would definitely have stored it in my closet in the camera bag if I hadn't seen this video!

[loml]

HOLY!!! I went to so many camera gear repairs and most said you cannot fix at all. thank you for this. Some of my Nikon lenses has taken the hit. even though i stored it in a large box with silica gel, it seems the lenses were long gone :( Gonna invest in a dry cabinet because i live in a tropical country

[simplex_ger]

This is definitely a channel I can trust. Subscribed!

[Aniket]

Fungus on my lens looks more like a crack … but thank god!

I was totally unaware about this, After watching this video it's now OBVIOUS why my lens has fungus growing

[perlyg]

I just went on a hike in the rainforest to do a shoot, 2 weeks later I now started seeing one spot showing inside the lens

[DemonCactus]

Thank you for this informative video I bought my first camera sony a6400 and I live in a tropical country. This helps me understand how to take care of my equipment.

[cockylora]

Great advice, mate! Perfect real-life example of where not to store lenses! Have you been peeking in our wardrobes? 😊

[avim]

Thanks a lot. It was very informative. Sadly my Sony cam has the same spec of fungus like in 2:15 after I used it on a rainy day

[woods_roamer]

Thanks for sharing informative content! Do you happen to have a video about what to look when you buy an used lens?

[jerrycasier]

Hello Jonathan, to avoid fungus is it better to take of the lens caps while storing? Great vid by the way!!! Best regards.

[theblackandwhitefilmproject]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[paulcookies]

Thank you for your help, straight to the point 😊

[apwip]

Thanks for the informative video. Instead of silica gel sachets, I use one or two room dehumidifiers and place them in the cupboard with the lenses. Then I just replace the dehumidifiers when needed instead of having to dry out the silica gels. I make sure the cupboard has daylight and airflow going through it and away from strong moisture and humidity. A hygrometer/thermometer is placed in there as well to check on this.

[julesfisher]

Use indicating silica gel, as it changes colour. Then inspect and if changing colour place in microwave for 1.5 minutes, blow with hot hairdryer (repeat if required). Dusty environments are not recommended as they contain the fungal spores. Also add organic matter and fungus. 300g of silica to 25L volume is technically enough to drop the humidity to prevent fungal growth. Personally I use a hiking dry bag 20L with 300g silica and check after each use of the camera kit, before storage. Typically refresh silica after every 20 bag openings.

[stevenyes]

Hi Jonathan, great videos lad.
Thank you for this.
My Sigma 35mm 1.4 has a very gery small fungus i teckon which less than 1mm. Im kinda upset and trying to clean it but there is no camera repair shop nearby me. I asked my friend and he recommend me to expose the lens to Sun. What do you think of this method? How long should i expose my lens to sun? Thank you!