Advice re my lens requested.

Odd. Fungus generally spreads from the walls of the barrel to the lens and looks like a spider web. I've no idea of what this is. My guess would be either a faulty glue between 2 lenses, or some moist trapped between the front lens and the 1st aspherical element (see diagram here Olympus - Caractéristiques). In any case, it's bad. You should seek professional advice or try to use your warranty.

 

It looks like a water mark, are you sure it's definitely on the inside?

 

Try a tiny spot of lens cleaning fluid, applied very gently with a cotton bud, not direct from the bottle (to avoid accidentaly flooding the lens). Then very gently rub in a circular motion with a microfibre lens cloth.

I get similar marks frequently when using my E-3 in the rain or close to breaking waves. The other day my daughter blew a raspberry at the lens as her objection to being photographed, spraying it liberally in the process. I always use a clear filter for these reasons and am not quite so careful when I clean (a filter is easily replaced). I tend to breathe on the filter, through my nose rather than my mouth (don't want any more spray on it) and wipe with a lens cloth. Works a treat, but not sure I'd do this on the actual lens.

Good luck. :smile:

 

I'm old school.
I use a lens cleaning tissue and breath from my mouth.
Hold the lens closet to your mouth and breath on the glass. Clean with the tissue.
Every Leica Len I ever used/had was cleaned this way.
My 40 yo Crons are like new....

PS... Don't drink beer before this procedure!

 

Glad to hear it. :smile: