Posted by Stephen on November 14, 2000 at 19:02:20:
In Reply to: Re: Something in my lens HELP!! WARNING!!! posted by Mark Rayborn on November 14, 2000 at 17:06:49:: I'm posting this addendum as a warning. It appeared that a cursory cleaning with denatured alcohol got rid of my "frost trails on the lens. Upon closer examination, the trails weren't completely gone. I then cleaned meticulously and repeatedly with ammonia, bleach, vinegar and alcohol. The ammonia worked best. Afterwards, the lens surfaces looked clean, but with just a residual smudge. I breathed on the lens surface to provide moisture to remove the smudge, and lo and behold the marks were again visible on the lens. The lens or lens coating has been etched.
: I have changed my opinion of fungus. Previously, I had
attributed the descriptions to over imaginative people. What, an
organism that can eat glass? Now, I'm a believer!! This lens,
pristine in all other aspects, has been ruined!!
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Take some pictures with it before really declaring it ruined. The etching may not have much of an effect. You might get a soft focus or some flare.
The fungus has an acid which does the damage.
Stephen