Early Mamiyaflex TLR: Fungus and Mold From Storage in a Case
Originally posted on Instagram. Notes from the repair bench, kept here as a searchable archive. View the original on Instagram
This early model Mamiya TLR (when they were still branding them as Mamiyaflex) came in for a checkup. It has probably been in this leather case for many years in storage. While the case certainly will protect it from damage due to drops and bumps, in this situation, the case provided a nice breeding ground for fungus. In addition to a light mold over parts of the camera, a robust fungus was found living out their life on one side of the rear element (photo three). This fungus, along with several other family members, had probably been here a long time and has permanently damaged the rear element.
Take home from this is to be very careful with storage of your camera in leather cases. Here in the Mojave Desert with low humidity, maybe not a big deal, but if you are living somewhere with high humidity, these cases can be a great breeding ground for mold/fungus.
