Question about a nick on the surface of lens

[optikhit]

Perhaps my questions are too trivial or maybe answered many times, but I really need help. My new Kiev 4AM arrived today. The camera is nearly perfect, only I found a small dot nick on the surface of the lens. I wonder to know if it can affect the imaging quality. I will not worry if it is a dust inside because I know the dust cannot affect the image. Does the nick act the same way as dust?

Thanks a lot, guys.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

They cause less problems than you think.

My Take:

If it is a chip in the glass, near the center, it might do something. In that case fill it in with Black Paint. How can you tell? Hold the lens in bright sun and watch for the chip to refract the light and cast a "spot" on the next elements. I have one lens like this: I filled it in with black paint. If it is off to the side, and is small (fraction of a millimeter), do not worry about it.

AND TO ADD:
This is the front element of the lens that I sold to Raid:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=21791&cat=500&ppuser=205

Several RFF members thought it was the sharpest lens in his test of 50mm lenses.

I know it was the Ugliest Looking! I shot 4 or 5 rolls with it, and they all looked good.

 

[sf]

Depending on the size of the nick, the effect will be minute. Not noticeable, most likely, though it may have optical properties that something like dust would not have. Bending, refracting light in odd ways. Have to be a pretty serious nick, though.

I don't know the lens you are using, or the relative size of the nick compared with the lens diameter, etc., but you have a very slim chance of actually noticing any effect on prints. I believe that nicks on the rear element would be worse.

 

[optikhit]

The nick's diameter less than 1/2 mm something near the center of Helios 103. Everything of the lens is perfect except this nick.

 

[sf]

Maybe we need to get a little article together about optical science, just for everyone's understand of such topics as nicks, bokeh, etc.

If I have spare time, maybe I'll put some energy into melting down all those sources out there into a useful one pager.

Till then, that lens is just fine. You are not going to notice anything. Especially not such a small nick.

 

[pbjbike]

Who is this Nick? And how can one conclude he has no effect? Everyone does their best, even little guys like Nick. And if he might have an effect, you suggest filling him in with black paint? Shame on you. Let Nick be!

 

[optikhit]

Haha...Bike, interesting statement. Ok, let the Nick be!

Good idea, shutterflower. I am very interested in such articles.

 

[KoNickon]

Try this experiment -- attach a piece of paper, about the width of a pea, to the front element of an SLR lens (so you can see the effect yourself). A torn-off piece of a Post-It note works well. Attach the lens to the camera and look through the viewfinder. Nothing. Attach the piece of paper to the rear element of the lens and repeat the procedure. Again, nothing.

Sure, not a scientific experiment, but it does show that sometimes pretty dramatic-looking flaws in a lens have no effect on the image. I have several lenses with ugly scratches that product fine pictures. Brian's black paint suggestion is a good way to prevent potential increased flare problems from such lenses.

 

[yossarian]

Brian's right..."Paint it Black"

 

[dcsang]

They cause less problems than you think.

My Take:

If it is a chip in the glass, near the center, it might do something. In that case fill it in with Black Paint. How can you tell? Hold the lens in bright sun and watch for the chip to refract the light and cast a "spot" on the next elements. I have one lens like this: I filled it in with black paint. If it is off to the side, and is small (fraction of a millimeter), do not worry about it.

AND TO ADD:
This is the front element of the lens that I sold to Raid:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=21791&cat=500&ppuser=205

Several RFF members thought it was the sharpest lens in his test of 50mm lenses.

I know it was the Ugliest Looking! I shot 4 or 5 rolls with it, and they all looked good.

I have one of Brian's older Canon 50mm 1.4 lenses - there's a nick on the edge of the front element but there's no degradation of the image quality 🙂 Everything is, as Darkman used to say, "Just fine" 😀

Cheers
Dave