Damaso
Photojournalist
I am hunting for some gear on eBay and a few times I have seen lenses for sale that are advertised as having a few "cleaning marks" on the front or rear element but that it doens't affect image qaulity. Anyone care to comment?
Cleaning marks on lenses?
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35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
depends how bad the cleaning marks and location on the glass. Front cleaning marks have less impact than rear cleaning marks.
gavinlg
Veteran
I personally don't think they affect image quality to an extent where they would make a noticeable difference to your photos. I think probably a very very slight loss of contrast maybe, but if you compare the surface area of the glass with the amount the cleaning marks take up, you realise it probably wont be noticeable.
Marks on the front element are generally not as detrimental to marks on the rear element - or so I'm led to believe.
Marks on the front element are generally not as detrimental to marks on the rear element - or so I'm led to believe.
E
Edward Felcher
Guest
Different sellers have very liberal interpretations of "light cleaning marks".
You could get anything from something so slight you'd need a microscope to see it, to something that looks like steel wool was used on it.
You could get anything from something so slight you'd need a microscope to see it, to something that looks like steel wool was used on it.
KM-25
Well-known
Rear cleaning marks make for lower contrast and sharpness, front not so much on sharpness but induce flare on older lenses with light or no coatings.
I bought a really clean 50 collapsable on the bay and it had a few, reeeeally light cleaning marks, but they honestly do not affect the image quality. I had DAG do a overhaul and the thing is like brand new!
It is all very subjective to both the seller and buyer though..
I bought a really clean 50 collapsable on the bay and it had a few, reeeeally light cleaning marks, but they honestly do not affect the image quality. I had DAG do a overhaul and the thing is like brand new!
It is all very subjective to both the seller and buyer though..
pizzahut88
Well-known
How much effect . . .
How much effect . . .
Lens with cleaning marks are worth less, and more difficult to sell later on.
Thus when you buy these lens you must factor in the discount you must give to sell it,
(eventually you always will, to move on and get something better).
They do not affect quality much at all.
I've used several lens with slight cleaning mark in the 2nd or third element inside.
I did not notice any detriment to my images.
But much would depend on how large your final output would be and the type of film scanner you use to get images into the PC.
Unless everything else in your workflow is tip-top gear. . . then this lens will be the 'weak link'.
Cheers,
Manfred
How much effect . . .
Lens with cleaning marks are worth less, and more difficult to sell later on.
Thus when you buy these lens you must factor in the discount you must give to sell it,
(eventually you always will, to move on and get something better).
They do not affect quality much at all.
I've used several lens with slight cleaning mark in the 2nd or third element inside.
I did not notice any detriment to my images.
But much would depend on how large your final output would be and the type of film scanner you use to get images into the PC.
Unless everything else in your workflow is tip-top gear. . . then this lens will be the 'weak link'.
Cheers,
Manfred
E
Edward Felcher
Guest
How did the second and third element "inside" get "cleaning marks"? Did Superman clean them with his X-Ray vision?
ZivcoPhoto
Well-known
I would stay away from rear element cleaning marks....the effect of front element ones, if minor, will most probably never be noticed on any pictures most of us will take.
pizzahut88
Well-known
Somone openned it.
Somone openned it.
I think it got moldy inside over the ages,
so some previous owner diassembled it himself,
cleaned it.
Stupid fool ruined it.
Money should have been spent sending it a decent repair guy.
😱
Somone openned it.
Edward Felcher said:
I think it got moldy inside over the ages,
so some previous owner diassembled it himself,
cleaned it.
Stupid fool ruined it.
Money should have been spent sending it a decent repair guy.
😱
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