So I opened up 3 of the lenses that have these uniformed specks. The specks are in the glue layer between two lens elements. I don't think it's fungus. If it was fungus it would be growing in from the edges. Now I think it's a problem with the glue layer. Either separation or some other form of degradation.

According to the best source I have found with descriptions of old lens afflictions, lens element separation is indicated by an iridescent appearance near the edge of the lenses.

These whitish specks (if they're actually the color they appear in your photograph) are more likely to indicate a breakdown of the lens coating. I'm not really sure what (besides Father Time) would cause the coatings to break down. Are the spots more prevalent near the perimeter or the lens?

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I popped open another one of my "fungus" lenses today. The good news is that there's no fungus. The bad news is that the 2nd and 3rd element collided while I was taking it apart. I've take a lens or 10 apart in my day and this one was weird that when the slotted ring came off, everything just seemed to fall out of the tube. Now there's a quite visible scratch right in the middle of the 2nd lens. In another example of how much damage a lens can take before compromising it's IQ, here's a shot from it. There's no sign of the damage.



The front lens is quite hazy all along the edge, but it doesn't seem to be fungus. It just looks like the coating has gone bad. It was one of my Chinese c mount lenses. So not a classic lens loss. It was the one with the best coverage though.

I've been monitoring my humidity levels. I bottom out at around 45 and top out at 51 or so. All we within the recommended RH for a dry cabinent. I guess I live in a natural dry cabinent. So I don't think I have a fungus problem. I bought the two lenses with the classic signs of fungus from the same person. I think it was just always there but I didn't notice it before. It's been untouched in the cabinent for 2-3 years since the last time I looked at it. And this time I was specifically looking for it with a flashlight. Without the flashlight, it's hard to tell it's there.

Guess its recommended to meet up and see the lens for urself..

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