Small nick in lens

[john_van_v]

I just got a Minolta 202 w/ a Rokkor-X f1.4 lens. When I cleaned the lens I think all the coating came off onto the tissue.. no matter. The lens surface in no way resembles my other f1.4, which is an excellent Zuiko (except that I dropped it and it no longer accepts filters).

But what is bothering me about the lens is a tiny nick that is deep enough to feel with my finger (remember, the coating is gone).

I am assuming that it will scatter some light especially if I shoot in the Sun.

Is there any solution for this problem so that I can use the lens to test the camera, and hopefully get some good dusk or nighttime shots.

I have seen lenses with scratches with black paint put in the scratches; would this help, or make things worse?

Thanks in advance, John

 

[astroman]

I certain light it might become an issue but more than likely youll never notice it in the images.
I seen a pro sports photog using a 400 2.8 lens with a chip in the front element he told me it wasnt really a factor.

 

[JohnTF]

Before I sent a Tamron zoom in for a new element, we shot a roll to field test the lens with a more than one inch furrow gouged near the center of the outer lens element.

We shot directly in to the sun, shot reflections, every thing we could think of, and were surprised to find images that seemed to be a challenge to find anything that could be attributed to the damage.

Perhaps someone more capable could find something, but it was an eye opener.
I do not recommend the mistreatment this lens suffered, but the new element cost $100 so I went ahead a had it swapped, was a friend's lens.

Was an interesting experiment.

I do not think I would worry about a nick in user lens, at least try it out and see what it is doing. If an element is knocked out of place, that is something entirely different.

Regards, John

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If it is big, you can try filling the nick in with some black paint. That will stop it from scattering light.

 

[john_van_v]

I seen a pro sports photog using a 400 2.8 lens with a chip in the front element he told me it wasnt really a factor.

I want that lens -- but it probably needs a skyhook to hold it up :/

 

[dnk512]

What Brian said... It works for the front element. If you paid a lot of money you should not mess with it and return it. But if you decide to keep it then the fix is easy.