anyone ever cleaned fungus off krasnogorsk / kiev lenses

[MattWalters]

anyone done this or seen this written anywhere

krasnogorsk bayo style lenses (vega etc) and Kiev 16u lenses are what I have, one is totally clean, one useable with some fungus, last one is a fungal forest

any input much appreciated thanks!

[cameratech]

Without using specialist cleaning fluid (and pulling the lens apart if the fungus is internal), the best you can do is leave the lens in direct sunlight for a while, which might help stop the fungus spreading.

I've cleaned a lot of fungus from lens elements using a special fungicide diluted with alcohol, but if the fungus has been there a while, it will have etched into the coating. So you can spend hours getting to an affected element, clean the fungus off and still have nasty fungus-shaped coating damage. If a lens is a "forest" of fungus it's a goner and I'd get rid of it. It can actually give off spores and infect other lenses.

[MattWalters]

its not really a forest at all, and I'd like to get to the problem before it gets any worse as its minimal now and I really like the camera. I do have the time to do this, and the lenses are primes, so not very complicated I dont think.. can you rec. me some products to use ?

[cameratech]

Well if you want to give it a go, probably just lens cleaner could remove it, though it might grow back. Depends on the type of fungus and how long it's been there. Also how you store the lens and your climate - fungus loves dark, warm and humid.

I use a fungicide I sourced from the Zeiss service department some years back but I don't think it's commercially available. I've read of people using vinegar, or a mixture of peroxide and bleach, or even Ponds Cold Cream, but I can't vouch for any of those. I'd certainly try lens cleaner or isopropyl alcohol first.

You'll need a wrench spanner to remove the lock rings holding in elements. And be prepared for it all to go pear-shaped, working on lenses can be tricky..