Showerthought: Old lens fungus cleanup is weirdly satisfying

Shane Gonzalez · 2026-03-06T12:15:43.504108+00:00

Cleaning mold from vintage glass feels like uncovering hidden art.

Totally get that. Working on a hazy 50mm and watching the fungus wipe away is its own kind of magic. It goes from this milky, foggy mess to crystal clear in a few careful passes with a swab and some isopropyl. That first look through clean glass afterward, when the contrast just pops back, is the best reward.

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lunar896mo ago

Does the type of swab make a big difference?

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patricia4066mo ago

That "uncovering hidden art" feeling hit when I used diluted white vinegar on my old lens.

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olivert785mo ago

What's the oldest lens you've brought back from the brink? I had a 70s zoom that was basically a petri dish, but after a slow clean with lens cleaner and microfiber, the colors it rendered had this wild, warm character you just don't get from new glass.

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