So how screwed am I? (or, what is this?)

[AkumaX]

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/AkumaX1/DSC02187-1.jpg

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/AkumaX1/DSC02187.jpg

1st pic is normal, 2nd pic is 100% crop from 10mp raw
It's a Minolta 50mm f/1.7 (I have an A300). I used a Sigma 90mm f/2.8 MD with Adapter Ring (MF only) to take the pic (@ 1:2)

 

[996GT2]

Doesn't look like fungus, but rather like a water spot left over from water drying on the lens elements. If it makes your pictures noticeably soft you could take apart the lens and clean that particular element.

 

[corkyg]

It could also be where some substance has compromised the lens coating. The streak shape would suggest a liquid smear that dried on the objective lens. What shows in pics of a solid background?

 

[AkumaX]

don't see any noticeable effects, at least to my untrained eye. is there a picture i can take to see if it's affecting? and it's definitely on the inside of the lens :\

 

[corkyg]

Your photo looks like it is a smear on the outside of the lens. Such a smear is physically unlikely between lens elements. If you take pictures of clear blue sky and wh9ite walls, and nothing shows, it does make me lean towards a smear in the external coating on the objective lens. This is then a good illustration of the need to always have a UV or ND filter on the lens. Can you have it looked at by a good local tech in a camera shop?

 

[alfa147x]

FBB was talking about how easy it is to take off the first element in a lens

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

FBB was talking about how easy it is to take off the first element in a lens

No, actually it's quite difficult for the vast majority of lenses because the front retaining ring that holds the front element in place usually requires special tools to unscrew - these usually are spanners and/or rubber friction-type tools.

On the Minolta, you need one of the rubber things to unscrew the front ring:

http://www.pbase.com/pganzel/disassembly_repair_of_maxxum_50mm_lens

http://www.pbase.com/pganzel/image/35488690

The Tamron 17-50mm is the exception though. No special tools required.

 

[alfa147x]

No, actually it's quite difficult for the vast majority of lenses because the front retaining ring that holds the front element in place usually requires special tools to unscrew - these usually are spanners and/or rubber friction-type tools.

On the Minolta, you need one of the rubber things to unscrew the front ring:

http://www.pbase.com/pganzel/disassembly_repair_of_maxxum_50mm_lens

http://www.pbase.com/pganzel/image/35488690

The Tamron 17-50mm is the exception though. No special tools required.

Ah thats it, you posted on one of these threads about taking apart the front of your Tamron 17-50mm in 20 mins

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

To the OP, like others mentioned, the smear isn't fungus. Fungus will appear more as a cloudy film over your glass elements. Yours looks like a fluid smear of some sort, either water or oil. If it is not affecting the photos then I wouldn't worry too much about it, but judging from the disassembly guide that I linked to, popping off the front element to clean behind it will be dead simple if you can find a rubber tool like the one shown to twist off the front retaining ring.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Ah thats it, you posted on one of these threads about taking apart the front of your Tamron 17-50mm in 20 mins

With practice it takes about 3 minutes

 

[alfa147x]

With practice it takes about 3 minutes

Beast!