I’ve spent over a decade working with cameras — buying, selling, and servicing them. Over the years, I’ve seen thousands of lenses and camera bodies pass through my hands. And if there’s one issue that quietly ruins more gear than people realise, it’s fungus.
Anecdotally, around 1 in 10 pieces of kit I’ve seen has been affected. That might not sound like much, but when it hits, it hits hard — financially and emotionally. I’ve seen incredible lenses, worth thousands, suddenly become nearly worthless.
One moment that really stuck with me was when a woman came in hoping to sell her collection of Fujifilm XF lenses — over £3,000 worth. She needed the money. But they were affected by fungus, and just like that, their value dropped dramatically. I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count, and it’s always a tough conversation to have.
That’s when I decided to do something about it.
To be honest, I wasn’t using any kind of protection in my own kit at the time — and I know most photographers aren’t either. Fungus just isn’t something people think about until it’s too late. There’s very little awareness, and even less education around prevention.
Then I came across anti-fungal chips — a technology that’s been quietly used for years in the clothing industry to prevent mould during storage and shipping. I wondered: Could these work for lenses and optical gear too?
So, I ran a simple experiment. I placed two UV filters in sealed jars, both exposed to moisture. One had an anti-fungal chip. The other didn’t. After a few months, the difference was obvious. The unprotected filter was covered in fungus. The one with the chip? Perfectly clean. I still have those jars today.
That’s how LensDefend started.
It’s not just about selling a product. It’s about protecting gear, saving money, reducing waste — and above all, educating people before it’s too late. Most people don’t realise how easy it is for fungus to grow, especially in humid or changing environments. And once it’s there, it can permanently damage optics.
LensDefend isn’t a magic cure, but it gives your gear a real fighting chance. And sometimes, that’s all it takes to save something you love.
