Sony vx 1000 mold on the lens?

Question

Hey guys, maybe someone out there can help me out, I havent had much luck with this problem so far. I have a sony vx 1000, and i havent used it for a while, it seems like theres a small patch of mold growing on the inside of the lens. Sony wants 700 bucks to fix it. the camera's worth about that much. I was wondering if there is anyway to clean the lens? if anyone knows how difficult that would be, or what i should use to clean it, or if this has ever happened to anyone else

Answer 1

Mould occours when the camera has been left in a damp 7 dark place for a long time, once it eats into the lens it is hard to erradicate.  You can help slow the progress by setting the camera up near a window, taking off any uv or skylight filters and let some UV light at the fungus, this may be enough to kill off what mould that is there and prevent more from forming.

The other thing to do is to keep a few bags of silica gel in your camera bag as this will absorb any slight humidity before it can form mould.

VERY IMPORTANT keep the camera seperate from any other optical equipment.  Once the mould has formed it is transferred very easily, don't risk cross-contamination.

If sony want 700 bucks then so be it, decide whether its worth fixing an 8-13 year old camera, or put the 700 bucks towards a new unit.  If the rest of the camera is in working order somebody may buy it sold with an honest description for parts.  If the mould isn't too bad it will only be a problem at very close focus.