Removing light lens scratches

[holgaguy]

"The front element has scratches. Some of them are quite long, but all are very light and should have only small, if any, impact impact on the image quality. The rear element is great with no scratches."
This is how the lens is discribed, Can these light scratches be removed? by who ? how much?
thanks
holgaguy

 

[ferider]

If these "scratches" are defects in the coating only, the lens can be re-coated. The only place who does this at the moment, AFAIK, is focalpoint for US 190 per front-element.

If it's just a few they won't really matter though, in particular if you plan to use a hood.

Roland.

 

[nobbylon]

If you are getting the lens at a reduced price then I would just get it and use. Re coating can sometimes ruin the original characteristics of a lens.
I have a couple of zuiko 50 1.8's. One is as new, the other has a lot of rear element fungus and front element scratches. Both same series and i've compared them in tests and see no difference in pics at all. This is what convinced me that buying cheaper slightly scratched lenses makes sense. User not showroom! The only time i've seen any effects are when chips are there, makes lens flare and as long as chip is not huge can be filled in with matt black paint!

 

[payasam]

If the scratches are as described, then, as Nobbylon says, they should not matter. I'll only add that it becomes even more important to use a hood with such a lens. [oops] I see that Roland has already spoken of a hood.