Lens cleaning help

[EastCoastHucker]

Hi..

I have two lens that BADLY needs a cleaning, internal cleaning, they have fungus.
Is a Nikon/NIKKOR 180mm AI 2.8 and Nikon/NIKKOR 300mm AI 4.5 .
I'm game to open the lens and try to do it me self but need tips of how to do it and/or anyone know a please in the NYC metro area that cleans lenses.

Thanks for the inputs.

[EOSThree]

Maybe this will come in handy?
http://www.chem.helsinki.fi/~toomas/photo/fungus/
I am very glad I live in a dry environment.

[another view]

I've never tried to take apart a lens - I'm afraid I'd wind up with a lot of "bonus parts"...

If it's not too bad, I'd just use it as is for now. When it is bad, you might be able to sell it for parts and find another decent but fungus-free used one.

[EastCoastHucker]

Ok...
thanks for the comments but I need help here...

Or some tips on how to open the lens and clean it
or
where to take the lens to get clean in the NYC metro area.

Thanks again

[yogestee]

Don't pull your lens to pieces,,,send it to Nikon...Lenses are very delicate and complex piece of equipment..All you need to do is bump it,,put the elements out of alignment and you might as well throw it into the trash...

I have heard horror stories of people pulling their lenses apart and then sending them off to the manufacturer who will refuse to service them or charge an arm and a leg for a lens service which has been "fiddled" with by the owner..

Jurgen

[another view]

You can send it to Nikon, but since it's fungus there may be no fix for it other than to replace some of the elements (after a thorough cleaning, of course). Last time I called them, their minimum repair charge was about $180 but I'd bet the bill would be higher, per lens of course. These are AI series lens and I'm sure you could find decent used replacements that were fungus free for less than the cost of the repair.

A few years ago (after the latest Nikons weren't working with MF lenses), I sold my 300 f4.5 and it was the ED version. It had seen a lot of use but was optically excellent and I think I only got about $250 for it, maybe less. BTW, it was one of the best lenses I've ever owned but I sold it because of the compatibility problems.

[EastCoastHucker]

Thanks a lot for the inputs...

I think I'm going to send the lens to NIKON, I called today and they charge around $40 for the 180mm and $50+ for the 300mm.
Since this lens are going to die with me is not that bad.

Thanks again.