Front-element marks from filter

[Dante_Stella]

I am looking at a 75/4.5 Nikkor LF lens that has a tiny (1-2mm) spot in the front element that looks like it came from a filter being screwed down on it.

At some point I had a mark like this on an SLR lens from the 1970s, and a repair person was able to get it off (I surmised that in that instance, it was coating transfer from the filter).

Any ideas of how to lift this mark if it can be lifted? I'm assuming the worst and that this is marred glass, but I'll take any ideas before returning the lens.

Thanks!

 

[charjohncarter]

You could try rubbing it lightly with a lens cloth and see if it is transfer or burnished off lens coating. But try to rub only the part that you think is transfer. Good luck, maybe use the lens on a digital camera and see if you can find any aberrations caused by this 'spot.' Possibly, you won't see anything and the lens will be fine.

 

[Dan Daniel]

If you have any digital sensor cleaning fluid, try that (very localized, it will often eat paint). Eclipse or such. Pretty good solvent and evaporates quickly and cleanly.