Is this fungus?

[Kirk6]

Had long time to use my Lumix FZ35. Was placed in a camera bag in a wardrobe. Look in the picture upper left.

Tried to look into the lens, but the lens is so small that I could not see something. I cleaned the front element with a microfiber pad, still nothing.

What is your assesment? If it is fungus, it will be tough luck because fixing it in this country will be next to imposible. I am not even sure there is an official Panasonic representative.

 

[Dak on cam]

Had long time to use my Lumix FZ35. Was placed in a camera bag in a wardrobe. Look in the picture upper left.

Tried to look into the lens, but the lens is so small that I could not see something. I cleaned the front element with a microfiber pad, still nothing.

What is your assesment? If it is fungus, it will be tough luck because fixing it in this country will be next to imposible. I am not even sure there is an official Panasonic representative.

Looks more like lens/sensor dust. Try photographing a bright background while stopping down to the smallest aperture (largest F-number). That should give you a much sharper picture of the problem: fungus tends to have tendrils that this unsharp picture would not easily show.

--
Dak

 

[Kirk6]

Had long time to use my Lumix FZ35. Was placed in a camera bag in a wardrobe. Look in the picture upper left.

Tried to look into the lens, but the lens is so small that I could not see something. I cleaned the front element with a microfiber pad, still nothing.

What is your assesment? If it is fungus, it will be tough luck because fixing it in this country will be next to imposible. I am not even sure there is an official Panasonic representative.

Looks more like lens/sensor dust. Try photographing a bright background while stopping down to the smallest aperture (largest F-number). That should give you a much sharper picture of the problem: fungus tends to have tendrils that this unsharp picture would not easily show.

Here you are Dak.

 

[Kirk6]

By the way in the photo is the Castle of Mystras near Sparta, Greece. From there the last Byzantine Emperor Constantin XI Paleologos went to defend Constantinople from the Turks. He died 4 years later in the battle. Here are more details for those interested.

Behind mount Taygetus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_XI_Palaiologos

 

[Dak on cam]

Had long time to use my Lumix FZ35. Was placed in a camera bag in a wardrobe. Look in the picture upper left.

Tried to look into the lens, but the lens is so small that I could not see something. I cleaned the front element with a microfiber pad, still nothing.

What is your assesment? If it is fungus, it will be tough luck because fixing it in this country will be next to imposible. I am not even sure there is an official Panasonic representative.

Looks more like lens/sensor dust. Try photographing a bright background while stopping down to the smallest aperture (largest F-number). That should give you a much sharper picture of the problem: fungus tends to have tendrils that this unsharp picture would not easily show.

Here you are Dak.

Still not as sharp as desirable but of course it depends on just where the problem is. My guess here would be a tiny insect. Whatever it is, removal without at least partial disassembly is likely not feasible.

--
Dak

 

[AllFlawed]

Had long time to use my Lumix FZ35. Was placed in a camera bag in a wardrobe. Look in the picture upper left.

Tried to look into the lens, but the lens is so small that I could not see something. I cleaned the front element with a microfiber pad, still nothing.

What is your assesment? If it is fungus, it will be tough luck because fixing it in this country will be next to imposible. I am not even sure there is an official Panasonic representative.

Looks more like lens/sensor dust. Try photographing a bright background while stopping down to the smallest aperture (largest F-number). That should give you a much sharper picture of the problem: fungus tends to have tendrils that this unsharp picture would not easily show.

Here you are Dak.

Still not as sharp as desirable but of course it depends on just where the problem is. My guess here would be a tiny insect. Whatever it is, removal without at least partial disassembly is likely not feasible.

Giving my TZ40 a hefty do or die rap on the side when switched off solved a very similar problem but at users own risk of course.

Holding an electric toothbrush or other vibrating device to the side to the side may help and probably there are all sorts of vacuuming tips on youtube I am sure.

 

[Rambow]

If it's on the sensor itself, removing it might be accessible, just take apart the back panel, remove the screws holding the sensor and viola.

From what i have seen, this is a common design, however i've never opened a large zoom camera before, like the fz35.

However it the particles/s somehow got stuck in between the lens elements, don't think is fixable.

OK, it seems that the mainboard sits on top of the sensor. More difficult to access it, but i would still give it a go. These compacts are not as difficult to work on as a dslr would.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Panasonic+Lumix+DMC-FZ35+LCD+Replacement/64681

 

[Dak on cam]

If it's on the sensor itself, removing it might be accessible, just take apart the back panel, remove the screws holding the sensor and viola.

I feel it should be sharper then at the minimum aperture of F8 which makes for comparatively directional light from the almost-pinhole aperture opening.

I am not completely sure about this: after all, the sensor is pretty tiny.

 

[Kirk6]

I feel it should be sharper then at the minimum aperture of F8 which makes for comparatively directional light from the almost-pinhole aperture opening.

I do not understand what you are saying Dak!!

 

[Kirk6]

If it's on the sensor itself, removing it might be accessible, just take apart the back panel, remove the screws holding the sensor and viola.

From what i have seen, this is a common design, however i've never opened a large zoom camera before, like the fz35.

However it the particles/s somehow got stuck in between the lens elements, don't think is fixable.

OK, it seems that the mainboard sits on top of the sensor. More difficult to access it, but i would still give it a go. These compacts are not as difficult to work on as a dslr would.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Panasonic+Lumix+DMC-FZ35+LCD+Replacement/64681

Rambow,

No dice that I will touch the camera. I am not so dexterous as you may are.

 

[Dak on cam]

I feel it should be sharper then at the minimum aperture of F8 which makes for comparatively directional light from the almost-pinhole aperture opening.

I do not understand what you are saying Dak!!

At F8 on this camera, dust on the sensor should appear sharper.

 

[Kirk6]

The camera was not used almost at all and was placed in a camera bag for over 6-7 years. If it is dust I wonder how it entered in the camera and on the sensor considering also that the lens is permanently attached. If it is fungus I do not get how it got it, being stored under good conditions.

Also I am not willing and able to service it. I do not think is worth it. So it is going in the trash bin.

What problematizes me is my other cameras. If this one under the pretty good storage conditions got a spec of dust or a fungus, what can I expect from the rest of them. Mind you that the place I live has a dry mostly climate.

Thank you guys for your help

 

[Kirk6]

Had long time to use my Lumix FZ35. Was placed in a camera bag in a wardrobe. Look in the picture upper left.

Tried to look into the lens, but the lens is so small that I could not see something. I cleaned the front element with a microfiber pad, still nothing................

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NCV • Forum Pro • Posts: 10,398Re:

Dust problem - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100In reply to Ron Zamir • Sep 20, 20171

I bought a second hand LX100. It had the dust problem, just like another one my dealer sold at the same time.

Panasonic (in Italy) know about this factory originated problem and fixed the camera for me.